Support for 'Crossed Wires' - a student short film

*temporary poster above*

“Crossed Wires”

Juan’s night is disrupted by an unexpected visit from his flatmate Lewis and their friend Francesca, who’s suddenly back from her trip. With the strangeness in the air, things take a sharp turn when a sudden blackout traps the trio into tense darkness. With nowhere to go and nothing to distract them, small talk quickly unravels misunderstandings, hidden truths, and unspoken feelings. As tensions rise, another unexpected guest forces them to confront the truth they’ve all been dancing around. When the lights finally return, nothing is really resolved – but nothing is hidden anymore either.

Who are we

Hi there! We are a creative team of 4 MA Film students from the University of South Wales, enthusiastically working together to develop a drama-filled film.

The team:

Producer - Hannah, MA Film (Production Management)

Director - Jacob, MA Film (Director)

DOP - Ciara, MA Film (Cinematography)

Editor - Hsin, MA Film (Editing)

Our production’s progress (UPDATED)

‘Crossed Wires’ is the final project for our MA course. As of 30 June, our script has been completed, we have booked a location, and casted all our actors. Now, we are going through rehearsals (for actors and tech) and finalising storyboards and schedules. We were able to achieve these with your help, and for that we are super grateful!

We will be filming from 7 - 10 July and, with a bit more support, will be able to achieve a smooth and successful production that accomplishes our creative goals.

Why we are making this film

Crossed Wires is a dark comedy about the emotional disconnects we live with every day, the things left unsaid between friends, the fear of being vulnerable, and the tension of missed opportunities. Set during a sudden blackout in a flat, the story uses the chaos of a power cut as a metaphor for deeper emotional truths. When the lights go out, secrets come to the surface.

Drawing influence from ensemble stories like The Breakfast Club and Perfect Strangers, Crossed Wires explores friendship, longing, romantic confusion, and the roles we assign each other in our social circles. The film captures the kind of awkward, intimate honesty that can only emerge when distractions are stripped away.

We are telling this story because it reflects a universal experience, struggling to communicate what we feel, and fearing what might happen if we do. Our team believes in making work where people can see themselves on screen, whether as the friend stuck in the middle, the one who won’t make the move, or the outsider who unintentionally exposes everyone’s truth.

As a team made up of diverse voices and international perspectives, we’re committed to telling stories that are both grounded and inclusive. The characters in Crossed Wires may come from different cultural contexts, but their conflicts are instantly recognisable, because we’ve all been in rooms like this, in relationships like these, wondering when, or if, to say what we really feel.

What we’re using the money for (UPDATED)

Because of your support, we managed to secure the ideal location for our short film; one that allows flexibility and ease of mind for actors and crew alike.

The rest of the funds will be going towards transportation costs, gathering props, and, most importantly, providing proper care for both the cast and crew during production. This means ensuring everyone is well-fed and rested to provide maximum comfort and ease of mind to better focus on the task at hand. As we always say, a happy cast and crew = a happy set!

We also hope to submit the film to festivals, and parts of the fund will cover those fees.

Closing

Your kind support would mean a lot to the team in ensuring a smooth and memorable film production for all the hardworking people behind the scenes. Thank you once again for your contribution.

No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.