MORTAL

MORTAL is a film that tackles the issue of the immense pressure that’s placed on young people during the exam season. The film follows Jonathan, a student preparing for his final A Level exams which will decide whether he can pursue his dream of going to university or fail and have to try and pursue a career in writing without a degree. As the weight of this pressure becomes unbearable he turns to drinking to cope although this cause major issues when he meets up with his friends for a few casual drinks

  • James A. Potts
    Director
  • James A. Potts
    Writer
  • James A. Potts
    Editor
  • Sarah Dunn
    Producer
  • Selim MacLean
    First Assistant Director
  • Chris Orr
    Cinematographer
  • Francis Chrisofis
    Original Music/Composer
  • Jack Simpkins-Woods
    Sound Recordist
  • Alex Murphy
    Sound Editor
  • Jack Abernethy
    BTS Photographer
  • Jess Shepherd
    First Assistant Camera
  • Chris Gibson
    Second Assistant Camera
  • Simon Ramshaw
    Script Supervisor
  • Jake Hunter
    Line Producer
  • Linda Jones
    Associate Producer
  • Kurtis Thompson
    Key Cast
  • Dennise Clasper
    Key Cast
  • Ryan Nolan
    Key Cast
  • Arthur Thorpe
    Key Cast
  • Jonathan Iceton
    Key Cast
  • Rory Greener
    Colourist
  • Charline Louise
    Poster Art
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Fiction
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 20 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 30, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    230 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    HDV
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Newcastle Film Festival
    Newcastle Upon Tyne
    United Kingdom
    March 30, 2018
    Official Selection
Director Biography - James A. Potts

James A. Potts is a filmmaker born in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Although not initially interested in pursuing any form of career in film, he was drawn to the behind the scenes of theatre and trained in stage lighting for a short while before taking the leap and making his first short Edge of the Abyss. After making a number of short films he moved from Newcastle to Bournemouth to become a student at the Arts University of Bournemouth where he is continuing to produce and direct short films while studying practical filmmaking.

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Director Statement

MORTAL is my most personal script to date and tackles the issue of the strain on mental health by the stress that the toxic exam system fosters, in particular the immense stress before the final A Level exams. It’s often overlooked and disregarded as something that you have to deal with and this dismissal often leads to a lack of support from colleges and sixth forms who have little time to deal with student’s “moments”. I’ve seen a lot of my peers, myself included, turn to substances to deal with this stress with alcohol being the easiest escape possible and, unlike some of my peers, I was lucky enough to pull my head together before the exams hit.

MORTAL is a film that explores that need for escapism through alcohol as a small gathering of friends looking to blow off some steam with a few casual drinks turn bitter as the booze runs dry. This is an issue that I’ve rarely seen committed to film despite the scale of the issue alongside the growth in underage drinking and binge drinking. This is a film that needs to be made even if only to spark a conversation in its viewers about the problems with the education system and the obvious harmful effects it has on the minds and bodies of young people.