In the middle of 2017 we shot Staying the Night. It was a year-long journey to take it from page to screen, beginning with a simple script meeting with the writer, Alex Beauman.

Alex brought Staying the Night to me to help develop the script – this snowballed into the gift and responsibility of being asked to direct. I had to – I loved it.

The process of bringing the film to life was one of incredible collaboration; talents loaned, passions invested, spirits injected. Our cast and crew – many new in my professional sphere – went above and beyond, and much of that is owed to an inspiring script. Since embarking on the weird adventure of a career in filmmaking, I have longed to direct another writer’s work, and I can’t think of a better film to have had that experience with.

What caught me immediately was the positivity with which the subject matter was approached. Alex told me his experience of coming out hadn’t been what many films had portrayed. There was no devastating banishment, no harmful words; just love and support.

I would hope that many parents accept their LGBT children, but how does this acceptance come to be? It was delightful to explore the lead up to the moment it happens in Staying the Night.

Upon entering production we managed to pull together an incredible crew, with most returning from A Shared House, along with some new-found collaborators who played a huge part in elevating the short to something beyond the sum of its parts. We shot for full days, rolling into two night shoots for our exteriors.

Post was handled by two magnificent editors, Stewart Arnott and Lily Davis from The Editors. They worked with me, Alex and Georgia to pull together the tight little film — it was a thrilling, satisfying collaboration in which we felt safe to explore, contest, discuss and query.

Staying the Night, in its festival run, premiered at Byron Bay Film Festival in 2018. It’s still being sent off around the place, so I’ll leave you with a little teaser.

Joshua Lundberg is a Writer and Director at Barking Mouse®, and co-Founder along with Producer Georgia Woodward. Together they create films, web series as well as commercial and corporate content for clients.