Projects

PAINTED ROOM

A person standing in a room with a red painted wall, which has a picture frame, a ladder, and a hanging object, with a work light on the ladder illuminating the wall.
A lit incandescent light bulb hangs in a dark room, illuminating a branch with a small black and white object resembling a toy or figurine on a yellow surface below, with a red shadow extending from it, and a foldable chair to the left.
Man in yellow shirt standing in doorway at night, illuminated by a bright outdoor light, with plants and household items nearby.
A man with dark hair and light skin in a dark room, partially illuminated, looking to the side with a serious expression.
White circular icon with a black right-pointing triangle in the center, resembling a play button.

dir. Alec Simmons

Shot entirely on VHS, Painted Room is an eerie, esoteric exploration of displacement and memory, told through the quiet rituals of a painter moving into a new home. As he brushes fresh coats onto the walls, strange visitors begin to appear—ghosts not of the dead, but of the displaced.

The film interrogates what it means to replace the old with the new. Each layer of paint becomes a scar of those who came before—a visual metaphor for lives overwritten but not erased.

Painted Room was selected at several independent and genre-focused film festivals, where its analog aesthetic and quiet unease resonated with audiences. It went on to win Best Micro Short at Hastings Rock Film Festival, recognised for its inventive style and powerful thematic depth.

Black and white graphic with text announcing Romford Horror Festival 2025 Official Selection, featuring horror-themed decorative elements surrounding the text.
A black background with white text inside a laurel wreath that reads: "WINNER Hastings Rocks Film Festival 2025."

7 DAY EXPERT

Purple circular logo with yellow stylized number seven and the text "Day Expert" in yellow across the middle.
Two hairstylists working on clients in a salon with floral decor and pink lighting.
A group of hairstylists and a man in a blue suit are in a salon with mirrors, hair mannequins, and salon equipment, engaged in conversation.
Three young people wearing black shirts with a logo, standing in front of a wall of flowers, with studio lights on either side, engaged in a conversation or presentation.

dir. Hannah Dodge - producer: Julia Waller

Student RTS nominated for best entertainment format, and produced at the world-renowned National Film and Television School by Julia Waller, 7 Day Expert is a sharp reality-TV concept that pits three contestants against each other for a single job — but only one is actually qualified. The twist? Two are faking it. In this episode, set in the world of hairdressing, the competitors must convince a panel of judges and each other that they’re the real professional.

Fast-paced, and funny, 7 Day Expert explores the fine line between confidence and competence, asking what it really means to be an expert — and who gets to decide.

Laurel leaves surrounding the text "Student RTS Nominee 2023" on a black background.

(UNTITLED SWEAT LODGE PROJECT)

A snowy winter landscape with pine trees, a small cabin with smoke coming out of the chimney, and footprints in the snow under a full moon and cloudy sky.
Silhouette of tall pine trees against a twilight sky with pink and purple hues and wispy clouds.
Interior of a traditional hut with a central campfire burning inside, surrounded by simple furniture and decorations.
Dark, foggy forest with tall pine trees surrounding a calm river that reflects the trees and overcast sky.

dir. Alec Simmons

Currently in pre-production, Untitled Sweat Lodge Project follows two First Nations sisters as they share a sweat lodge, where buried family tensions and repressed trauma begin to surface. Get in touch if you would like to be involved.

More to follow…

GRAVE DANGER

A man with a chain necklace holds a woman by the chin, and she looks distressed with tears in her eyes, inside a room with red roses.
A middle-aged man with short gray hair and a beard wearing a black turtleneck sweater and layered gold necklaces standing indoors and looking at a person with curly hair.
A woman with curly hair looking at her reflection in a mirror, with a man and another woman also looking at their reflections. The man is drinking from a glass. The setting appears to be a dressing room with candles, roses, and decorative objects.
A woman with natural, curly hair wearing a black spaghetti strap top sitting at a dining table with a glass in her hand, in a room with light-colored curtains and vintage-style decor.

dir. Giada Bagnatti

Grave Danger centers on a woman trapped in a brutal world ruled by men, where loyalty is demanded and power is hoarded. Married to a feared gangster, she’s treated as disposable—just another pawn in a violent, male-dominated game. But beneath the surface lies a woman of depth, intelligence, and quiet resistance, navigating a world that constantly underestimates her.

As tensions rise and the stakes grow deadly, she’s forced to confront not only the danger around her but the strength within her. Grave Danger is a powerful exploration of survival, identity, and the courage it takes to rise in a system designed to silence you. Through a diverse lens, the film speaks to women’s resilience and the unyielding will to rewrite their own stories.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A PEACH

A person sitting alone in an empty movie theater, watching the screen, with empty seats around them. There is a small peach on a seat to the left.

dir. Alec Simmons

How to Take Care of a Peach is a charming hand-drawn animated short that follows the life of a relationship between the narrator and his beloved peach. Told through the lens of gentle, often humorous advice on romance, the film traces their journey from the blossoming of new love to the quiet intimacy of growing old together.

Blending warmth, whimsy, and emotional insight, the film offers a unique and tender reflection on what it means to care for someone over time. Winner of Best Film at Penticton’s Reel Peach Fest, How to Take Care of a Peach is a poetic celebration of love in all its simple, enduring beauty.

THE ESCAPE

A vintage wooden table decorated with a lace doily, a porcelain figurine of Mary holding baby Jesus, a framed photo of a group of people, a wooden box, a black cane, and a tall white lamp, against a wallpapered wall with small pink flowers and a white curtain.
Three women and a man dressed as a policeman in a bedroom, smiling and holding hands, with the man wearing a costume and the women in casual dresses.
Two elderly women sitting on a park curb, laughing and enjoying each other's company, with a grassy park and a child in the background.
Three women and one man appear frightened and concerned, standing outdoors at night near a brick wall and a metal fence.

dir. Julia Waller

The Escape is a short film about two sharp-witted elderly women who, feeling forgotten and fenced in at their retirement home, decide they’re not going to wait quietly for the end. When an opportunity arises, they blackmail a nervous young nurse into helping them pull off a secret late-night breakout — determined to reclaim one final, glorious night of freedom on their own terms.

Blending humour, heart, and a touch of mischief, The Escape is a celebration of agency in aging, and a reminder that the desire for connection, thrill, and autonomy never fades — no matter how old you are. With defiance in their step and lipstick in their purses, these women remind us that it’s never too late to raise a little hell.

PRUNEY

dir. Alec Simmons

Pruney is an absurd dramedy about a writer who finds his greatest creative inspiration in the shower—only to become increasingly addicted to the ritual. As his obsession deepens, and his skin grows ever more prune-like, his grip on reality (and relationships) begins to slip. What starts as a harmless creative habit spirals into a surreal, waterlogged descent.

Meta, playful, and tinged with melancholy, Pruney explores the fine line between artistic passion and personal sacrifice. It’s a sharp, self-aware reflection on the cost of chasing creativity at all costs—and what happens when you pour everything into your work, but forget to come up for air.

DAISY

Close-up of a young woman with red hair and fair skin, wearing a blue sweater, with a surprised or concerned expression.
Two women are standing and talking in a living room with a blue patterned wall behind them. One woman has a ponytail and is wearing a floral dress; the other has loose hair and is wearing a gray sweater and dark pants.
A woman with brown hair tied back, wearing a cream-colored floral lace blouse, stands indoors with a neutral expression.
A young woman with brown hair and light skin, wearing a gray sweater, is talking on a cellphone in a dark setting.

dir. Alec Simmons

Daisy is a sci-fi short film exploring mental health, isolation, and the quiet power of human connection. It follows a young woman living in quiet isolation — until an unmarked package arrives at her door. Inside is Daisy, a coldly programmed "end-of-life support companion," designed to assist in her final decision.

But what begins with artificial apathy takes a turn as Daisy's presence — paradoxically — forces the woman to confront her own worth, her grief, and the life she's been trying to leave behind. In the irony of being offered help to let go, she finds a renewed desire to hold on.

Balancing speculative storytelling with emotional intimacy, Daisy is a stark but hopeful reminder that reaching out — in any form — can spark the will to survive.

989

Man with brown hair and beard smiling while talking on a black telephone in an office setting.
A person with dark hair viewed from behind working on a computer in a dimly lit room.
Two adults walking in a dimly lit computer lab with multiple people working on computers, some wearing headphones.
Three people sitting at a dining table during a tense meeting in a dimly lit room.
White circular icon with a black right-pointing triangle in the center, resembling a play button.

dir. Julia Waller

989 is a near-future short film that reimagines crisis helplines with chilling detachment — set in a dystopian world where a private company provides “end-of-life consultations” under the guise of emotional support. We follow one operator on the job, trained not to help people live, but to manage their final moments with sterile efficiency.

Dark, restrained, and thought-provoking, 989 is a meditation on apathy, connection, and the urgent human need to be heard — especially when it matters most. The film was selected for several international festivals, including the Venice Shorts Festival, where its unsettling vision of care gone cold resonated with audiences.

Laurel wreath surrounding the words "Official Selection Milan Gold Awards 2020" in light purple font on black background.

RED NOSE ANIMATION

Colorful background with portraits and graphics, with clown noses on a colorful mat, two speakers, and a black box in the center.
A computer desktop with pixel art-style text and includes four people with clown noses in Windows-style windows, surrounded by a red patterned background celebrating Red Nose Day.
Colorful animated scene of a jungle with a river, palm trees, and rocks. There are three red clay-like objects with faces in the foreground. The background is a painted jungle landscape with trees and hills.
A toy cupcake inside a small, blue toy oven with pink buttons on top. The cupcake has a winking face, rainbow sprinkles, and a red and white candle. The background is plain, and a red decorative border with confetti surrounds the image.
A large black play button icon on a white circular background.

dir. Alec Simmons

Red Nose Animation is a 3-minute stop-motion short created for Comic Relief. Designed to thank and celebrate donors, the film traces the evolution of the iconic Red Nose across the decades — from its earliest form to today — capturing the humour, heart, and history behind one of the UK’s most beloved charitable symbols.

Playful and nostalgic, the animation honours the enduring impact of giving, decade by decade.

A POKER FILM

A man with glasses sitting in a dimly lit room, wearing a white shirt and a striped tie, looking serious or contemplative.
Two men sitting at a poker table in a dimly lit room with a brick wall, playing poker with chips and drinks.
A man with a beard in a white shirt and black tie is sitting in a dimly lit space, holding playing cards in his hand, with a beer bottle and some chips on the table in front of him.

dir. Alec Simmons

A Poker Film is a gritty short shot on 16mm, set in a dimly lit basement where an employee and employer face off in a tense, high-stakes poker game. What begins as a simple wager slowly unravels into a psychological standoff — where money, power, and unspoken resentment hang in the smoke-filled air.

Stylised and tightly wound, A Poker Film explores class, control, and the games we play to shift the odds in our favour.

A man laughing joyfully, wearing a red and white sweater, in a dark setting with two other people partially visible.

SMALL MEDIUM

Three men in a dimly-lit garage, one wrapped in a red blanket with a pattern, two others standing close to each other, one with his hand on the other's shoulder, appears to be having a serious conversation.
Two young men standing outside at night, looking down at the camera, with one pointing and the other with hands on hips, near a white wall and a metal fence with trees in the background.
Two men having a conversation in a storage room or garage with shelves filled with boxes and supplies in the background.

dir. Alec Simmons

Small Medium is a short digital comedy sketch about two friends who visit an eccentric spiritual medium for a reading — only to find themselves caught in a hilariously awkward séance full of mixed messages and questionable clairvoyance.

Weird vibes, dodgy spirits, and a medium with zero filter — Small Medium is what happens when fortune telling meets group therapy... badly.

UNTITLED ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST DOCUMENTARY

dir. Alec Simmons

Currently in post-production, Untitled Elvis Tribute Artist Documentary follows a young comedian as he dives headfirst into the world of Elvis tribute artists — attempting to find out what it really takes to become The King.

More to follow…