The Leap

Synopsis

After a newly graduated university student visits his dying mother in hospital, he embarks on an adventure in hopes of clearing the air by reminiscing about his childhood.

Process

The Leap was a film I made almost entirely on my own, with only actors to assist me. I felt drawn towards the idea of making a coming-of-age story, mixing personal growth with adventure to paint a picture of childhood innocence blending into adulthood. This film is personal to me as it relates deeply to the bittersweet feelings of nostalgia, dealing with grief and accepting the past while moving forward.

I chose to film from a point-of-view perspective in 4:3 during the protagonist's younger years, before transitioning into third-person perspective in 16:9 as he grows older. I envisioned this creative decision as symbolising the character's growth and shifting perspective, both literally, and psychologically, as he goes from experiencing the world for the first time to becoming more self-aware. Visually, I also felt it was fitting to contrast the idea of fading memories and lost passages of time, which is why some of the younger years' footage includes boosted saturation and blur effects.

Credits

• Jesse Finn Segrue
• Older Mother Borra Garson
• Young Mother Louise Baverstock