Studio 2 -
Don't Look Back

Don’t Look Back has gone through multiple iterations during its creation. but the core story themes and attributes have always remained the same. The story follows the process of internalisation following one extremely traumatic event. It is a process we are all too familiar with, often when placed into a situation that causes discomfort, anger or stress when we try our best to "save face" and keep our true feelings locked away to ourselves, afraid to be blamed or misunderstood by saying how we really feel. Don’t Look Back takes that process to the extreme, placing its protagonist Mary into an incredibly daunting situation that forces her and the audience to identify those walls we so quickly build around ourselves and finally let them crack.

Building this story from many areas of reality, I think what gives this film one of its main drawing factors is its choice not to shy away from what it wants to show you. We established early on that we wanted to create this feeling in the audience that they were present with Mary during the film but also completely helpless to do anything. There's this retrospective position many find themselves in after being told or seeing something occur they may never directly experience themselves, feeling almost disingenuous when we then embrace or sympathise. Breaking down these emotional walls that get built is what I think to be a step that will allow each of us to connect on a far deeper level.

I believe it becomes incredibly important to start a dialogue around these feelings and situations. I hope that through this story, we've been able to help that in some way.