Mental Health Struggles During Lockdown Featured in Ealing Film Festival

"So Tired" is short film made by Questors' member entered into new competition

Fionna Gough stars in So Tired as a woman struggling during lockdown. Image: Lauren Harper

A film laying bare a woman’s struggle with mental health during lockdown is among the entries to the first ever Ealing Film Festival.
The eight-minute feature, ‘So Tired’, follows the spiralling thoughts of a woman as she tries working from home, struggling to cope with boredom, isolation and worry during the coronavirus pandemic.

From waking up late, getting distracted from work, to worrying about her mum’s health and messages she sent to her girlfriend, the nameless character is a way of showing how this could be anyone during the turbulent year which has weighed heavily on many people’s mental health.
Writer and director Lauren Harper began working on the piece at the beginning of the first lockdown with her partner, and actor, Fionna Gough, who stars solo in the film.

For Lauren, it serves as a “partly semi-autobiographical” story wanting to focus on those with pre-existing mental health issues from before the pandemic.
“If you say it out loud it makes everyone in the room breathe a sigh of relief, it’s important to write something like that, a problem shared is a problem halved,” Lauren said.

“I wanted it to be quite shocking...realistically shocking, it would scare people other people might think all that.”

Fionna added: “Everyone had a habit of putting pressure ‘we have to do something every day’, and accepting the fact it is OK to not do anything for a bit.
“It is a ridiculous situation, we can allow ourselves to relax a bit you don't have to do 100 things at once.”
Lauren, who struggled with her mental health such as anxiety prior to lockdown, said there is “no real right answer” in coping mental health issues.
“I struggled quite badly at university, a different time of life then when you are younger, what I learned was to be honest with people, reach out to tell people even if it might scare them,” the 26-year-old said.
“There’s a lot of places out there you can get help... I used a lot of volunteering to fill my free time, busy doing something that would make me feel good.”

Lauren and Fionna: Image: Fionna Gough

The film originally featured in Ealing’s The Questors Theatre online series over lockdown called ‘Scenes in Solitude’ and the couple were amazed to be “flooded with messages” from viewers who felt exactly as the film depicted.
And while not designed to be the main takeaway of the film, Lauren was keen to write the character in a same-sex relationship as a way of normalising LGBT+ relationships on-screen.
In what’s been a tough year for the film industry, the pair were also happy to be able to keep the production simple with filming taking place at Lauren’s flat in New Malden.

While Lauren has been working full-time as a content producer from home over the crisis, Fionna said on acting: “It’s been a real tough time. I very recently started at an agency in March, I didn't get to utilise it properly during the first lockdown, really nothing at all.

“But I feel people are adapting to it a bit better now.” Fionna is an active member of The Questors Theatre, which is one the largest community theatres in Europe. She was happy to do an outdoor production in the summer with the company, and is now working on an outdoor interactive Christmas show for children.

The 23-year-old believes that Ealing is a “great area” to start a film festival, as the borough home to Ealing Studios - the oldest working studio in the world - as well as MetFilm School. Work is also going on to build a new cinema.

Lauren also feels it’s a helpful opportunity for those in the creative industry who may feel they have “lost their purpose” due to the pandemic’s impact on the sector. The festival launch was first postponed due to lockdown, but founders Annemarie Flanagan, Alan Granley and Peter Gould later decided an online event would encourage film makers to stay active during the pandemic.

EFF Founders: Annemarie Flanagan, Alan Granley and Peter Gould

“We want to raise people’s spirits and shine a spotlight on new talent,” Annemarie, co-founder and festival director said.

After entries closed on December 2, the inaugural year saw 162 films entered from across 20 different countries including Australia, Japan and Thailand.  

Those ‘officially selected’ will be announced on December 14 – with plans to showcase them online – while the winners will be revealed on December 31.

Annemarie added: “We have been overwhelmed and delighted with all the entries for Ealing’s first Film Festival. In this most challenging of years it has provided a focus and proven  that creativity has absolutely not been stifled, quite the reverse. 

“There is so much talent out there and we are really pleased to be able to provide a platform to help show it off…

“Ealing Film Festival has been a beacon of light in this dark year, and although online we are hoping to host some real life screenings when possible and already making plans for EFF 2021, bigger and better with guest speakers, workshops and all important networking  opportunities.”

To find out more click here.

To watch So Tired click here. 

Anahita Hossien-Pour
LDRS Reporter

December 10th 2020