Dandelion short film

THE FILM:

Dandelion is a comedy drama about one woman’s journey to support her husband in his battle with depression.

The film revolves around Rose and Bax, a couple on their way home after a night away. When Bax’s mood takes a familiar turn for the worse, Rose does what she can to distract him: suggests a quickie; talks his ear off; even tries to wish on a dandelion. But after making a wrong turn Bax finally breaks down. Taking a time out, he leaves Rose in the middle of nowhere, where she finds herself dreaming of the day he can finally ask for help.

Dandelion reflects on the reality of supporting those you love on their mental health journey—and the moments of light and joy that can occur alongside the struggle. It’s these periods of comedy and connectivity that Jane focuses on in this ‘anti-Hollywood’ love story of a couple whose love is tested when one is simply unable to keep going.

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WRITER/DIRECTOR - JANE BALLENTYNE:

Dandelion is Jane Ballentyne's third short film. Most of Jane's storytelling comes from a deeply personal place and she loves to expose our universal vulnerabilities, celebrating our awkwardness with heart. Jane enjoys using comedy to explore the complex themes around women on the periphery and although not autobiographical, this particular story is based on her own lived experience of supporting someone close to her in their struggle with maintaining mental well-being.

Jane has previously won recognition in numerous International Film Festivals with her independent shorts — notably the 2020 Melbourne Women in Film Festival and the Austin After Dark Short Film Festival. Her first short film Man Up was shortlisted for the New Zealand Film Commission's Development Lab and was recently produced by the NZ Film & TV School. 

Jane is currently developing another short film, a proof-of-concept for a feature film she hopes to write in the next year. For more on Jane's work have a snoop on her website.

OUR PEOPLE:

Our wonderful team of independent and professional filmmakers are passionate about building a supportive environment to enable authentic, diverse stories to be told from the inside.

OUR ACTORS: Tess Jamieson-Karaha and Rob Mokaraka (SHOT BRO - Confessions Of A Depressed Bullet.) play 'Rose' and 'Bax'. Together these two beautiful people weren't afraid to use their own personal experiences of mental health to bring their characters to life in a way that is authentic and relatable.

Our amazing PRODUCERS, Isobel Mebus (Great Maiden's Blush) & Corey Le Vaillant, together with magical DOP Jess Charlton, and PRODUCTION DESIGNER extraordinaire Chris Taylor-Connoly, are some of the key creatives involved in bringing this story to life.

WHAT WILL THE MONEY COVER?

Thanks to an energetic and talented group of filmmakers, we’ve already shot the film! (*note to self - don't shoot outside in the middle of winter immediately after level 4 lockdown if you can help it)

Now we need your support to finish what we started. 

Your support will go towards finishing the film to a high standard with quality post-production, before getting it out to you - our gorgeous audience. This will include the all important:

• editing
• sound design
• colour grading
• music composition
• visual FX

This support will also, very importantly, help us with festival submissions (!), where we hope to get this important story out there to as many people around the world as possible.

DID YOU KNOW?!

If you're a NZ income earner, you qualify for a 33% tax credit on your donation! Boosted will email a receipt after the campaign closes. Whoop whoop!

*!NGA MIHI NUI KI A KOUTOU + THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!*