FilmsSolitudeUnited Kingdom 2015Director: Jordan CrichlowWith Brandon Townsend, Shannon IrvingCertif icate 15Whilst this short f ilm is Jordan Crichlow?s second in his short, niche f ilm career it marks the acting debuts of two South-London inhabitants, 17-year-old Brandon Townsend (Young Man), and 18-year-old Shannon Irving (Young Woman), the iron-clad couple who come together to provide the ultimate chemistry needed to tell Crichlow's story. Said director reveals to us that he grew up with these two young adults, attending secondary school with them and becoming personal friends. The entrustment of these two people was not taken lightly by Crichlow, due to the expression ?f irst impressions are lasting impressions? very prominent during the analysis of a director?s f irst f ilm; it shows what kind of approach the director takes to f ilm, and how well they can convince their actors to play their part well, just to name some of the characteristics that are heavily examined.

When we are f irst introduced to "Young

Credits

Produced by

Jordan Crichlow

Jules Becker

Written by

Jordan Crichlow

Film Editor

Jordan Crichlow

Lee Cheeseman

Production Designer

Jules Becker

Becky Snell

Props Master

Jordan Fincham

Rohit Tahme

Casting

Jordan Crichlow

Jules Becker

Jordan Kent

stand in a river for god knows how long, whatever method he used in doing so.

Jordan Crichlow?s newest short does indeed remind us of his f irst project Truant (2014). It revisits the scene style and genre of Social Realism, which shows his commitment to said f ilm genre. Truant received a number of the most promising young directors coming into the business. The tit le itself , Solitude, is similar to Truant, as they are both short, yet have a powerful meaning; plus, they both refer to their respective storylines; Truant sees a middle-aged teenager inf luenced by his peers to deviate from the norms of school, whilst Solitude sees a young man attempt to establish a connection between himself and a young woman, in his path to manhood.

Whilst every f ilm has its f laws, the question must be asked; what can Crichlow do to improve after this? His arsenal of cinematography angles and shots must vastly improve, whilst his ability to make his actors feel their way into their role - in his defence it may be down to the already established connection with said actors - is questionable. But remember, 17 is a young age to create your f irst short. Credit to the young man and good luck to him.

SYNOPSIS Wallington, Surrey. Outside, daytime, present day. A 17-year-old young man is f ilming the streams and trees of Grove Park, through the lens of his camera. Quietly and humbly, he admires his work. Suddenly, a face comes into view of his camera. It is that of an 18-year-old young woman, who sits alone by the riverside, cuddling herself t ightly against the wind. The young man, out of view, admires his new acquaintance, and f ilms her.

The young woman takes out a bottle of beer, and some tablets, surprising the young man. She gulps down two tablets, with the help of her beer, which leads her to stand up, and walk towards the stream. Her feet go under the water, and she continues to walk forwards. Meanwhile, the young man is in a state of panic; f inding out his phone is out of range, and seeing nobody else in sight, he screams at the young woman.

These actions, in turn, startles the young man more so than the young woman, and f inds the young woman directing him to enter the stream. He hesitantly does so, and exchanges a kiss with the young woman, much to his surprise. The young woman winks at the screen, as the young man's camera turns off .

Man" (Brandon Townsend), we are greeted by the silent rustling of trees, and the gentle rhythm of the f lowing stream. Already, we see Townsend plays his part well, keeping soundless in comparison with the already peaceful environment. We are kept from seeing his face fully, having to watch the slow movements of his hands and eyes, as he examines the environment through a stable positioned camera. As we begin to become relaxed and enjoy the artwork of the young man, the Young Woman (Shannon Irving) disrupts the privacy, by exposing herself in Young Man?s camera frame. Young Man, however, in contrast to the disruption he should surely feel, becomes intimately interested with this new specimen he has found in his camera frame, and eagerly examines her through the lens.

Crichlow mostly avoids the obvious, through his compelling storyline, and drastically changing scenes. One minute, the Young Man is f ilming the peacefulness of the river, and the next (after an intriguing sign of alcohol and drug abuse), the Young Woman is violating the river with her contaminated feet! It is Crichlow?s ambitiousness as a young new director that shows his desire to deviate from the social norms, and also jeopardising his actor?s wellbeing; having young Irving

Visual Effects

Jordan Crichlow

Ben Phill ips

Art Directors

Jordan Crichlow

Jack Taylor

Liam Somerscale

Cast

Brandon Townsend

YOUNG MAN

Shannon Irving

YOUNG WOMAN

Dolby Digital

In Colour

[2.35:1] Distributor

Beacon Studios

204 ft + 3 frames

Michael Brooks

"The lonely protagonist"