You love your partner – you spend years living with them, but do you really know what’s going on? Do you know exactly what they’re thinking? Do you want to know?

Relationships can be very complicated. And if you really start to think of what the other is really thinking, it gets even more complicated. ‘Everything You Didn’t Say’ is a provocative, character driven film that aims to confront the thoughts and desires we have about ourselves and our lovers, but are too scared to voice and too deaf to hear. What really goes on beneath the surface – behind the role of ‘boyfriend’, ‘girlfriend’, ‘husband’ and ‘wife’? Director Charlie Reader introduces us with a familiar evening dinner setting between partners. But the film takes an unsettling, darkly comic look at the uncomfortable truths behind a comfortable relationship.

I’ve always been very interested in monogamy, relationships, and those romantic ideas of “soul mates”, and “love on first sight”. So the film stemmed from wanting to explore what these ideas actually meant. What it is to be something so sacred to someone. What is it to be involved in a loving relationship and make it work. Why we want to make it work. I suppose the film is not necessarily just about a relationship but also what it is to be human in a relationship. Two inherently flawed people striving for a perfect union.

It’s beautiful, difficult and requires a lot of give and take. It’s about knowing when to be heard, and when to be quiet. But I suppose the point of the film is to say that no matter how comfortable or secure you are in a relationship, there will always be these hidden thoughts and questions flowing like currents beneath the surface in varying degrees, and perhaps that’s normal.

It was a really interesting experience -if not a little tricky at times

I wanted the film to feel honest, truthful and really resonate with its audience. Even if making them feel a little uncomfortable along the way. I felt that the dialogue should stem not just from my mind or Petes mind but from the experience of real people in real relationships. So we went about asking people to share with us that which perhaps they hadn’t before. It was a really interesting experience -if not a little tricky at times- and provided the framework to write a screenplay that felt not only true to the two characters but, hopefully, true to many of those who watch the film.

‘Everything You Didn’t Say’ stars the wonderful Olga Kurylenko and Christian Cooke (Shield 5), who bring an incredible dynamic to the film. The intriguing screenplay was written by Peter Fellows & Charlie Reader, who were able to dig really deep to create familiar thoughts, that almost anyone can resonate with.

The Objective

Narrative storytelling has always been where my heart is and ‘Everything You Didn’t Say’ marked my entry into that world. I could definitely see ’Everything You Didn’t Say’ as part of a bigger story. There is something unresolved in the characters, I like idea of pushing the two worlds -‘inner-thought’ and ‘real-world’- even more.

For now though, Pete and I are writing a feature film that is completely unrelated to the short. It’s a very personal story. A coming-of-age tale set against the political backdrop we’ve been experiencing over these last five years. We’re looking forward to getting it up and running!

Other than its magnificent writing and its superb performances, the film holds a stamp on key production elements like photography and sound design. The attention to detail on the sound editing definitely heightens the intensity of the moments, while loosening it when we briefly return to real world. The splendid photography also had a large role to play in the story. It was shot beautifully by Steven Cameron Ferguson on Alexa Mini with Zeiss Superspeeds.

Cinematography of Everything You Didn’t Say

Our intention was to create a false sense of security – a feeling of warmth with the tungsten light and of grace with the camera movement, that juxtaposes with the cutting dialogue. Paulina and Laura did a great job in building that world as well with the art direction – together, we created a sense of comfort that acts almost like a veneer around the characters – it all feels pleasant and sumptuous but when the inner dialogue starts, we know there’s something more going on beneath the surface.

A big shout out also to Toby Tomkins at CHEAT London. Who did an incredible job elevating the visual world further using his film emulation wizadry.