Help Bring True Story to the Screen

I'm Charlotte Rose Ainsworth the writer and director of my Art Teacher. I'm creating this short film with an incredibly talented team, producer Dana El Harake and DOP Daksh Hemdev for our MA graduation film at Central Film School.

my Art Teacher is inspired by the true story of how my parents, two abstract painters, got together. Growing up I didn't realise it was... different how my parents met until I got some strange looks at school. As unconventional as it is, I truly believe their story is an important one to tell. My mother took a leap of faith and went with her gut while living in West Belfast during the Troubles and her unconventional decision has inspired me to always trust my instincts in my own life. The story we are going to tell is poetic, hilarious and is sure to be a tear jerker. While it explores the excitement of new love with characters Mary and Dominic, and the function of art in our society, the film simultaneously tells the story of a beautiful and relatable friendship between Mary and her best friend Deidre.

my Art Teacher

“This new life could be for better or for worse...”

Logline

Mary, a young artist in 1990s Belfast falls for her English Art Teacher and becomes fascinated by his world of abstract painting. As the relationship grows serious, Mary must convince her best friend, and herself, that this is a good idea.

Synopsis

The year is 1990 in Belfast. Mary, a young artist from the Fall’s Road begins her studies at art college where she meets Dominic, the new art teacher who happens to be from Blackpool. The two strike an instant connection. Mary is fascinated by Dominic’s unusual abstract painting style and how he sticks out like a sore thumb. Dominic is intrigued by Mary’s deadpan stare and her ability to paint pretty watercolours. Their dynamic grows from student-teacher, to flirtatious friends, to lovers, to potential spouses.

Mary’s bubble has to be burst at some point and it is done so by her best friend Deidre. Deidre calls Mary out on how Dominic has taken over her entire world lately, how marrying her art teacher could be the stupidest idea Mary has ever had, and how this relationship is never going to work. Fourteen years age difference! Does Dominic even like the same music they do?

Even still, Mary is smart and grounded. What does Mary see in Dominic to make her think he looks like the rest of her life? Mary and Deidre weigh up the reasons, where Mary realises what she would be leaving behind for her new life with Dominic, for better or for worse.

Genre

Comedy/Drama

Format

15 minute short

We've completed some test shoots and mood reels so you can get a better feel of the project!

Meet the Team

Charlotte Rose Ainsworth (Writer and Director)

Charlotte Rose Ainsworth is a director and writer from Bangor, Northern Ireland. She studied her BA in filmmaking at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and is currently studying MA Filmmaking at Central Film School.

Charlotte is co-director of Lights, Camera, Action! Productions Ltd. Their recent credits include Little Riots (2022) created for the BBC Centennial, Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights (2023), and Bringing Up the Brontës (2023).

Check out Charlotte's directing showreel below:

Dana El Harake (Producer)

Dana El Harake is a British-Lebanese film and cultural producer. She has worked with world-renowned cultural institutions like Somerset House art gallery and BBC associated post-production company, Onsight Ltd. She also has previous experience working in live-events, previously specialising in the culture, media , and creative industries. Her passion for facilitating creative work as a film producer proceeds to grow stronger everyday, as she hopes to continue creating entertaining films that either make people laugh or provoke thought around change in today’s world.

Daksh Hemdev (DOP)

Daksh is a talented cinematographer from India currently based in London. Daksh has experience in a wide range of media including online publications, advertising films, reality TV shows, short films, music videos, influencer content, e- commerce shoots, and projects related to still photography and product photography.

Check out more of Daksh's work below:

Daksh Hemdev Portfolio

Emma Pagano (Production Designer)

My Emma Pagano is a French writer/director based in London. Her passion for art and painting in particular is why she wanted to be part of the project. She has a big interest in set dressing and great insight on production design.

“The script Charlotte wrote is a great story about friendship and choosing your life path. Filming in Ireland set in the 90s is a great opportunity for me as set designer and I am looking forward to conveying the artist life through our visual creations”

How Funds Will be Used

Central Film School is a London based university so we have to raise funds to get our team over to my hometown Bangor, NI so we are ready to shoot in Belfast in July this summer. We are bringing our equipment over with us which will be expensive to ensure we bring our kit over safe and sound.

It is also very important to us that we pay our cast and hired crew National Living Wage for all the hard work they put in to bring this project to life. Further costs include funds for locations, posters, music, and since our film is set in the 90's we'll need some funds to recreate this iconic time for fashion!

After completion, we want to share this amazing story with everyone by submitting it to reputable film festivals. Everyone who donates £100 or more will receive an EXEC PRODUCER credit in the film.

We are incredibly grateful for donations of all sizes. Thank you for helping us bring our project to life!

Charlotte, Dana, and Daksh