Mission: Clean-up (2022)

Our first-year student short film wasn't without obstacles. 

We set to produce a light-hearted comedy short film about a clumsy spy who wants to prove himself competent by uncovering the boss of the biggest dealing group in the city. 

The deadline was approaching... 

But, it wasn't long till our preproduction rendered least instructional as our shooting location turned unavailable — very late notice. We didn't account for last-minute changes, and our time was shrinking.

We recovered some of our work by adapting our script to fit an alternative location: The boss was no longer a part of the biggest dealing group in the city but the university instead. 

We shot in our student accommodation, which makes our storyboard least salvageable. Though, with the knowledge of our new backdrop, we felt that subtle glimmer of optimism passing through the team again.

We became adaptable, resourceful, and ever-more collaborative, ensuring the best outcome for our film and ideas.

This obstacle made the experience uniquely challenging and, consequently, perhaps most rewarding in the end.

Crew

Editor, Unit Photographer, Xavier Sonski 

Writer and Director, Diana Mihailescu

Producer, Jeanette McNichol 

Cinematographer, Dominic Maloney

Cast

Emanuel Uduma as Ayo

Nichola Botha as student

Joshua Harrison-North as Alex