Experiencing Interruptions?

sometimes i get these feelings i don't know what to do with

A man and woman vibe on a night out. She invites him back to her home and he agrees, with some trepidation. As the evening leads to greater intimacy, their connection is put to the test as they confront their vulnerabilities and the unexpected complexities of their desires.

First dates can be a lot, huh?

  • Michael Becker
    Director
    Samsarsa, Super Fans, Omission, All The Things You Could Have Been, No Film Sets in Bankstown
  • Michael Becker
    Writer
  • Nat Cartney
    Producer
  • Michael Becker
    Producer
  • Michael Smith
    Key Cast
    Rake, The Secret Daughter, Deep Water: The Real Story, Carded, To Be A Warrior
  • Eleni Cassimatis
    Key Cast
    Eleni's Confessions, Tales from 88, It Takes A Village, Streamed Shakespeare, The Story of Us, Insatiable, A Class Act, The Enemy, Mirror Friend, Deadly Forecast, Gecko
  • Liam Webber
    Key Cast
  • Nico Nalbandian
    Cinematographer
    The Itch, Prism, The Good Guys, A Girl's Best Friend, House on Fire, Lovestuck, How to F*** A French Woman, Kick Ons, Where is Damien Stafford? Windscreens: The Australian Dream
  • Kathryn Blom
    Art Department
  • Ian Warwick
    Costume Design
  • Michael Becker
    Editing
  • Monique Muskens
    Hair / Make Up
  • Lisa Mangion
    Hair / Make Up
  • Grace Brighton Hall
    Set Dresser
  • Tilly Murphy
    Production Manager
  • Chris Le Page
    1st AC
  • Jeremy Ghali
    2nd AC
  • Lucky Chen
    Gaffer
  • Ashley Bresland
    Key Grip
  • Nat Cartney
    1st AD
  • Nova Khang
    Best Boy
  • Darcy Allen
    Sound Recordist
  • Heidi Kaye
    PA
  • Andy Eisenberg
    VFX
  • Grant van Zutphen
    VFX
  • Nico Nalbandian
    Colourist
  • Teni Bada
    Music Supervisor
  • Aves
    Music Pieces
  • Ariel Shalom
    Music Pieces
  • Randy Sharp
    Music Pieces
  • Yannick Lawry
    ADR Recording
  • Tim Knowles
    Sound Design + Mix Engineer
  • Tom Bass Sculpture School
    Special Thanks
  • Robert & Thuy
    Special Thanks
  • Gordy Hoffman
    Special Thanks
  • Millie Bashmet
    Special Thanks
  • Shane Law
    Special Thanks
  • Martin Becker
    Special Thanks
  • Anne Becker
    Special Thanks
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Romance, Drama
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 47 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Michael Becker

My creative credits include award winning stage and screen work.

Theatre wise, I co-wrote an original cabaret called Caught Between the Sheets & Stage Lights, which was nominated for a Broadway World Sydney Award for Best Cabaret Performance in 2017. In 2019 I directed a staged reading of Jump for Jordan by Donna Abela at New Theatre & assistant directed Follow Me Home for Australian Theatre for Young People, directed by Artistic Director Fraser Corfield.

In 2020 I produced the Australian premiere of The Spoils by Jesse Eisenberg and wrote and directed a one act play called inner weather (Chippen St. Theatre) which played a sell out two week season to positive critical response. In 2022 I produced and acted in the Australian premiere of Radiant Vermin by Philip Ridley.

Film wise, I directed the short films I Love You Fish (Uni Shorts Film Festival - Best Short Film nomination 2013), All The Things You Could Have Been (Melbourne Underground Film Festival Official Selection 2018), Super Fans, for Young Actors Assembly in Sydney, as well as Omission and Samsara (Lift Off Sessions Official Selection 2020), both of which I wrote, directed and produced.

Most recently I co-wrote, co-produced and acted in a short film called No Film Sets in Bankstown (2022) which played at Sydney Underground Film Festival in 2023 and was funded by Western Sydney Uni.

This is the 6th short film I've directed and the 4th I've written or co-written.

My acting credits include the Australian premieres of Radiant Vermin (Chippen St. Theatre) & The Spoils (Flight Path Theatre), The Lieutenant of Inishmore (New Theatre), A Servant of Two Masters & Madame Ballet, both directed by John Senczuk, Wasted (Southwark Playhouse, London), Assassins (SUNY New Paltz), Mad Forrest (West Australian Youth Theatre Co.) and How to Change the World and Make Bank Doing It (Limelight on Oxford).

I have completed the long form improv curriculums @ Laugh Masters Academy, Improv Theatre Sydney and the mecca of long form improv, iO in Chicago. I have a Bachelor's degree in theatre, which I completed on exchange @ SUNY New Paltz, New York and a Masters degree in directing for film from the WA Screen Academy.

I’ve completed acting, comedy and voice classes at The Lee Strasberg Institute in New York City, Stage Door School of Performing Arts, the Hub Studio Sydney, Acting Mastery and independently with Wayne Blair, Darren Gilshenan, Ben Matthews, Donald Woodburn, Stevie Ray, Ian Toyne, Michael Sheasby, Zeke Simat, among others.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I set out to make the 'rom com' I'd never seen before. The sex scene I'd never seen before. The date's that I've been on but haven't seen depicted in film.

I grew up with very intense OCD and a fear of getting sick and when I became 'sexually active' that fear began to manifest in terms of sexual health.

The more open I became about sexual health with women I was dating, the more I leant into the awkward vulnerability, the more interesting the conversations and reactions became.

I was so used to seeing characters start making out and then fall into bed with each other with seemingly no barriers to intimacy and that's not my experience.

It felt like the characters in these films were going from 0-100 and missing all these vital steps in between - at least steps in my reality. Steps that I gradually gave myself permission to take, the more I became aware of and honoured how I felt.

So I thought it would be fun to put my experience of navigating physical intimacy and sex on the big screen.

I'm also used to seeing men and women depicted as the 'seller' and the 'buyer', respectively. The male trying to court the woman and the woman seeing if the male meets the standard. The male being keen and the woman making the man work for it.

In sync with my experience, it seemed fun to flip the script and have a woman that knew what she wanted and put herself out there with vulnerability, and a man that has these specific health related concerns and objections that need to be talked through, throwing the woman into new, awkward territory.

Seeing men depicted with raw, vulnerable sensitivity can be really enjoyable cinema for me. I feel it's important for both men and women to witness this side of men. Men that have a mindful use of language, a respect for women's - and their own boundaries. Men that want to make intimacy and sex a physically and emotionally safe space for themselves and their partners.

But our character's are not masters in these areas, they're struggling, as many of us can be from time to time when it comes to relationships. I thought it would be more realistic and authentic to show the noble struggle through harsh terrain. I'm excited to have depicted these themes and am keen to see who the art resonates with.