Lacuna is a film about life after trauma, and how we use art to heal and process our emotions. It was made as part of the National Film & Television School x Prime Video Director’s Workshop (which was, of course, a huge honour for me!).
When I was selected for the workshop, I was eager to use my creative voice to say something which perhaps hasn’t been said before. While many films focus on abuse, it’s rarer for us to talk about what comes next: the limbo period between leaving ones abuser and finding happiness again. That’s the important space that Lacuna sits within. Although the film acknowledges that we can never fully escape our demons, at every stage of production I wanted to ensure that Mia’s journey was treated with tenderness, warmth, and an ultimate message of hope.
The shoot was achieved within just three days and only TWO locations – not that you can tell by looking at the film! Pulling off an ambitious film like Lacuna within those constraints was definitely a challenge, but luckily I was working with a masterful crew, comprised of a mix of talented NFTS students and industry professionals.
One key thing to highlight about Lacuna is the cinematography; we wanted everything to be connected to Mia’s headspace and how she views the world, so not only are influences from the art world present in every frame, but the oppressive aspect ratio and use of shallow focus is representative of Mia’s social anxiety. Shout out to DOP Seán Mackey for his suggestion to shoot the film with warm-flare anamorphic lenses, whilst actually operating the camera at 90′ (and then converting the footage back to landscape in post-production), which was a complex process but one which definitely aided our unique intended visual style, as it created a lot of distorted, sometimes creepy-looking textures in frame.
I am delighted to have a film screening at Worcester Film Festival again. It is, of course, a treat to attend a festival in the Midlands, but Worcester has always elevated itself beyond a purely local vibe, due to the big-name features, guest judges, and workshops they host; their recent BIFA-qualifying status is a testament to the years of effort from the festival organisers, and I’m so pleased for them.
You can catch Lacuna at Worcester FFA at 11:15 on Thursday 24th September, and I can’t wait to share the film with the festival’s audience. There should hopefully be some more festival screenings for the film soon, and you can follow me (@SophieBlackFilm on Insta/Threads, @Sophie_Triskelle on TikTok) and Lacuna’s producer Olivia Song (@oliviasongfilms on Instagram) for news and updates.
About The Author
