Tarantella - Student Film

When 20-year-old Violet arrives at the home of her drunken AA sponsor, boundaries blur as she’s pushed to the edge: To what lengths will she go to reclaim power?

In a web of deception and dependency, 20-year-old Violet navigates the final steps of her 12-step program under the ‘guidance’ of her AA sponsor, Henry. Their relationship blurs lines, veering into uncomfortable territory when an ego-driven comment from Henry hits a nerve. Violet's carefully constructed facade begins to crack, forcing her to contemplate the true cost of power and the lesson she's determined to teach—not just to Henry, but to the men that came before. As the stakes heighten, Violet grapples with the weight of power and the boundaries she's willing to break.

Exploring themes of power imbalance and betrayal, interwoven with horror elements, the film poses the question: what are people’s true intentions, and who can we trust?

You can check out a look book showing some inspirations for our aesthetic, cinematography and tone below!

Poppy Wright - Director of Photography, Editor 

“I first began making films from a very young age, often shooting short music videos, or making movies with friends just for fun. I then decided to take this hobby to a new level when attending college, as I finally got my first chance to study film and work on my own projects. Since then, I have continued learning about the industry and expanding my knowledge on film. I will be taking on the role of Director of Photography, whilst also editing this short film. I have shot nearly all my own projects before and have extensive experience in the cinematography field. I also believe that I have what it takes to assist in bringing this script to life, and I am extremely excited to work on pick your poison!”

Luke Miller - Director, Composer

"Always having been a massive film nerd but never studying it until uni I can't wait to get stuck into directing my first fiction short film! In terms of my background the majority of my experience comes from directing music videos and documentary based projects however fiction film is where I would like to end up with my career. As well as directing this project I will take the role of composer. In my own time I am member of multiple musical projects from an indie/funk band to a noisy punk band to writing for a rap collective to making my own ambient guitar music meaning I have the ability to traverse genres and styles with my score. The moment I first heard the idea from Aspyn I knew we had something special and I can't wait to get stuck into shooting it!"

Aspyn Phoenix - Writer, Producer

"For as long as I can remember, writing has been at the forefront of my life. Screenwriting offered me a way to materialise the worlds I imagined—a medium where stories could be seen, heard, and felt. I've always been drawn to psychologically intricate characters, I love a story that unravels unexpectedly, where you can rewatch it over and notice something new every time. This was my ambition with 'Pick Your Poison,' I’ve worked very hard to infuse Violet and her world with depth and dimension. She feels like an extension of myself, and I'm apprehensively excited for audiences to experience her story on screen.

I'm fortunate that my immensely talented sister, Jazzy Phoenix, will portray Violet. Our childhood and teenage years were spent creating together, and now, this film marks our first collaborative adult project. Jazzy, an accomplished actress, has graciously embraced this little film, and I’m very grateful to have her artistry in this story that feels so close to me.

‘Pick Your Poison’ depicts the value of female power, touched with a strong edge of femme fatale (my favourite). I’m really looking forward to watching these characters and this story find a place on screen! :)

Making a film is expensive! We need to hire talent, rent set locations, hire on set help, buy props, cater for crew and cast and pay for travel to and from set amongst other things. Your contribution is crucial in bringing our vision to life and presenting a film that resonates with audiences. With your help we can bring our vision to life and make our stamp on the UK's vibrant indie film scene.

The £1850 we are targeting to cover the production costs of the film will be split in the following way:

Thanks so much for reading and we appreciate any and all donations!