‘Sugar Days’

Two strangers find themselves at a playground late at night. They form an unusual bond over their hardships and find solace in the nostalgia of their childhood. 

This scene introduces Alex, who goes to a park looking to drink his sorrows away and escape his family responsibilities. He meets Guy, who is dealing with family loss. Their relationship grows as they playfully reconnect with their past, allowing their vulnerability to surface. This leads to an emotional exchange that helps them confront their respective challenges.

The story came about when I stumbled upon a park near my apartment, it was unique I must say –  built within trees and bushes with wooden structures that make up the majority of the playground. I was inpsired to write a story where this location played a significant part of the narrative. Using inspiration from quiet cinema like Aftersun, and Perfect days, and classics like Forrest gump and Fight Club, Sugar Days was crafted to be the quiet narrative that tackles masculnity, mental health, and familial bond.

I spent a couple days writing the script, spewing out different variations up until the day before the shoot. Rearranging lines and intergrating my actors’ suggestions. Rehearsals were held via video call, and my actors and I had many chats about the background of the characters, what their intentions are, and a bunch of other how, why and what questions that helped them better understand their characters.

With my small trusty team I pulled together, we waited for sundown and began filming once the park settled. We filmed late into the night with my crew and talent both perservering through the wee hours and ultimately wrapping a succesful shoot.

The film went through several itirations during post-production the final cut being one that significantly changed the ending of the film and potentially what audiences think of the character Alex entirely.

All in all, I’ve discovered what kind of director I am and what kind of director I want to be in the future. I’ve learned to be compassionate with my actors and my crew and realise that I set the mood and tone during production. It’s important to keep a calm and composed demeanor even when faced with disagreements or setbacks, and try to find the most efficient solution and keep the best interest of the talents and crew in mind.

With that said, I’d like to give a special thanks to my skilled crew and talented actors for helping me bring my small project to life.