So then, you may or may not be aware that I’m (along with our director and producer) about to start work on a short film project called Departure. I thought I’d let you in on what it’s all about.
Departure is about the loss of a loved one and the impact this has on the people left behind. It’s about the strong bond between a father and daughter set to an emotional and often humorous backdrop of a science fiction tale about alien intervention. It is a visual metaphor about losing someone close to you to illness.
Robert is convinced that he is about to be “taken” from the very specific location of an airport hotel room. His daughter, Beth has come along with him for moral support – she doesn’t think he’s going anywhere. Robert believes the same thing happened to his wife, Beth’s mother, and his departure will lead him back to her.
Beth tries to convince her dad that her mum wasn’t taken, but died. However, Robert won’t hear of it and continues his preparations for intergalactic travel leaving him emancipated and poorly.
As the night progresses, father and daughter reminisce and Beth gradually begins to accept her father’s reasons for believing he is about to go off world – heartbreak.
Then the lights go out…