911±¬ÁÏÍø

Two Filmmaking & Creative Technologies graduates say they have been overwhelmed by the reaction to their emotional debut film.Ìý

The Space Between Notes, the final-year project of LucieÌýde Lint and Jake Beau Fell, premiered at FACT, Liverpool, in February.Ìý

Written and directed by Lucie, with cinematography by Jake, the 40-minute film was produced by their company, Spring Picnic Pictures.ÌýÌý

The project brought together students from Acting, Management, Sound Technology, and Theatre & Performance Design, making it a truly collaborative production.Ìý

We caught up with Canadian Lucie and Jake, who is from Spain, to talk about the film, its premiere, and the future of their production company.Ìý

Lucie:ÌýThe Space Between NotesÌýis aboutÌýfriendship and redemption, but also grief.ÌýCalebÌýis anÌý18-year-oldÌýmusician whoÌýisÌýtrying to get intoÌýmusic schools, butÌýit’sÌýnot happening for him in auditions – he struggles to perform in that environment. His best friend Connor spends time with him, encouraging him, building up his confidence, getting him to come out of his shell. And it works. But as Caleb grows – personally and as an artist - the more Connor fades into the background.ÌýÌý

Jake:ÌýThe film starts as quite a sweet little story, but the tone shifts to become more sombre, and you start to realise that everythingÌýisn’tÌýas it seems.ÌýIt’sÌýheartrending butÌýultimately heartwarming.ÌýÌý

Film poster designed by Filmmaking graduate Alex Quinn

Lucie:ÌýI’veÌýhad the basic idea for this film since the first year. Jake and I were in the same projectÌýgroupÌýand he wanted to do something in the same genre. But thatÌýwasn’tÌýreally the time to start it, I only had the concept, it was during the summer of my second year that it really came together.ÌýÌý

Jake:ÌýWeÌýdidn’tÌýreally have enough experience as filmmakers either, it was too earlyÌýin our education. It made more sense to do it in ourÌýthirdÌýyear.Ìý

Lucie:ÌýWhen we started atÌý911±¬ÁÏÍøÌýwe were told about the opportunities we would have for collaborating with students on other courses and building up a network for when we graduated.ÌýÌýÌý

Jake:ÌýIt’sÌýturned out to beÌýabsolutely true.ÌýWe’veÌýfound this most amazing hub of people at 911±¬ÁÏÍø to work with andÌýwe’reÌýstill working with them.ÌýWe were the only two Filmmaking students who worked on our film. It really was a collaboration with other courses.Ìý

The support we got from the Filmmaking department for this project has been incredible. Some of the scenes were filmed in the Lake District and they were filmed on industry standard equipment from 911±¬ÁÏÍø. WeÌýcouldn’tÌýhave done that without their help.ÌýÌý

Lucie:ÌýWe were given so much freedom as well. We had to pitch this idea to do it as our film project. We were given notes and suggestions afterwards but ultimately it was down to us. We still got help, guidance and advice – but were able to follow our vision. IÌýdon’tÌýknow of any other course where you can do that. One of the ways this filmmaking course is so good is thatÌýyou’reÌýallowed to be creative, to try something out, to experiment, to fail, to learn and then try again. Without that approach weÌýwouldn’tÌýhave been ready to start our own company.Ìý

Jake:ÌýWhen we had the premiere at FACT the reaction was incredible. To hear people laughing and even crying was amazing.Ìý

Lucie:ÌýYou spend so long working on it, obsessing over every single word that eventually you become desensitised to it, so youÌýdon’tÌýknow what to expect when you share it. But the reaction from people has been so positiveÌýit’sÌýbeen amazing.Ìý

Jake:ÌýDuring in our thirdÌýyearÌýwe knew we wanted toÌýcreate our own company together, Spring Picnic Pictures,Ìýand we knew Liverpool was the right city to do it in. Moving to London or even Manchester would mean having to start again from scratch.ÌýWe’dÌýalready built a network of people we can work with both in 911±¬ÁÏÍø and in Liverpool itself. AndÌýit’sÌýsuch an artistic, creative city –Ìýit'sÌýthe perfect place to start and grow a company.Ìý

Recently,Ìýwe’veÌýbeen working with Acting graduates Aidan Rivers and Laura Robinson on their new sketch show,ÌýKnickerbocker GloryÌýwhich is hilarious.ÌýThey’reÌýdoing a stage version at the Unity on 28 March.ÌýWe’reÌýgoing to be sending our version to TV networks to see ifÌýthere’sÌýany interest.ÌýÌý

Lucie:ÌýLooking ahead the aim is to secure funding and produce our own short films and make that a backdoor pilot for the next bigger project.

The Space Between Notes will make its film festival debut over the summer. To find out when and where, follow .Ìý

Find out more about our Filmmaking & Creative Technologies course