Back in 2014 I wrote and directed Rustling, which was a short intended to work with no dialogue and, hopefully, no exposition. The objective was to rely instead on other cinematic tools — performance, cinematography, sound design, costume, editing — to connect the audience to a particular emotion. In this case anxiety.

It’s the only project I’ve significantly re-written in post — with the guidance and help of mentors and colleagues — and it’s become a project Georgia and I are very proud to have in our back catalogue.

The film didn’t originally rely so heavily on the sound design, as the planes were intended to be real, not in the mind of the soldier. The film ended, too, with the photographer, rather than it leading into the planes. It was suggested the reality wasn’t clear, and that ultimately it’s the anxiety that’s most important. The suggestion was right. We flipped around the order of sequences and focused on the idea that the sound design is in the mind of the soldier (wonderfully performed by Dylan Mullan).

The meaning changed for me; it was about uncertainty holding anxiety — what comes next? Instead a better film accessed anxiety in a more general sense. Something that is easier to connect with and, hopefully, speaks more broadly to people. You can find out for yourself by hitting play below!

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.