Undertow

A male university student with aspergers syndrome is invited out for coffee by two female peers. As we get an inside look at his stream of consciousness, he struggles to find common ground with the girls, and begins to wonder what is more important: friendship or integrity?

  • Jack Hockaday
    Director
  • Jack Hockaday
    Writer
  • Jack Hockaday
    Producer
  • Robin Boros
    Producer
  • Jack Hockaday
    Key Cast
    "Wesley"
    All In
  • Scarlett Barrett
    Key Cast
    "Flaux"
    Girl In The Shed
  • Susy Nutt
    Key Cast
    "Dara"
  • Matthew Campbell
    Key Cast
    "Barista"
  • Robin Boros
    Unit Production Manager
  • Robin Boros
    Director of Photography
  • Harry Tomlin
    1st Assistant Director
  • Marta Bukša
    2nd Assistant Director
    Baked (short film), Shapes of Mine
  • Saulė Bunikyte
    Production Designer
  • Jack Hockaday
    Editor
  • Jacopo Scutti
    Sound Mixer
  • Jacopo Scutti
    Sound Designer
  • Bansi Jani
    Gaffer
  • Anna Bliner
    Associate Producer
  • Angelos Tzouanakis
    1st Assistant Camera
  • Mirko Laflamme
    2nd Assistant Camera
  • Liam Allan
    Best Boy (spark)
  • Anna Bliner
    Script Supervisor
  • Ella Walker
    Sound Assistant
  • Ben Youatt
    Sound Assistant
  • Danielle Gray
    Make-Up Artist
  • Niamh Fitzgerald
    Make-Up Artist
  • Saulė Bunikyte
    Make-Up Artist
  • Matthew Jones
    Caterer
  • Charlotte Jones
    Caterer
  • Lyn Reynolds
    Caterer
  • Dave Reynolds
    Caterer
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 18 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 18, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    600 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Director Biography - Jack Hockaday

I'm initially from the Portsmouth area, though I now live in Bournemouth. My specialisms in Film are: Writing, Producing, Directing and Sound Design, though I enjoy writing the most! I have keen interests in: philosophy, modern history, classical literature and the occasional video game if I can find the time! If there were a particular quote I'd say I most connect with it's from the late, great Robert M. Pirsig: "The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there."

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Director Statement

Undertow is the peak manifestation of my own self-acceptance as someone with Aspergers Syndrome. It is a loud celebration of the autistic spectrum, treating people with it not as empty vessels who can sometimes be good at maths, but as a profound niche in human psychology and behaviour. It closes a chapter for me, enabling me to move on to different projects, knowing that I have successfully expressed myself through this film, and not kept silent in the wake of inaccurate portrayals of autism I see so often in film & television.