In this Black Mirror-esque tale, a couple revisits key moments of their past, only for their memories to take an unexpected turn.

You know you’re in for a psychological treat when we call a Black Mirror-esque film. ‘It’s Okay’ by Justin Giddings and Ryan Patrick Welsh (Outpost, This Is Normal) certainly delivers on the timely bend that so gently questions the blend of moral ethics with technology. With its fragmented storyline, the duo captures immense emotions that truly makes you think about all the little moments, and how quickly they can all go away. Without giving away too much, we’re delighted to ask them a few questions about the film.

Can you tell us what inspired you to bring this story to life?

When we first got the script, we were entranced by not just the surreal nature of it, but also by the incredibly deep emotionality of it. There’s a Stoic saying that says memento mori – literally, remember that you have to die. And what might appear to be a very threatening and morbid statement on the face of it, the Stoics taught this as a way to provide perspective so that one could cherish the moment. In IT’S OKAY, we walk through these moments with our main character, and as her perspective shifts and grows, there is healing. In the end, the sum of this couple’s experience isn’t defined by [spoiler alert] the death of one of them, but by the shared special moments. And in the remembering of it all, she can say goodbye and, ultimately, it’s okay.

Tell us about the couple you chose to follow, what were the key elements you want to capture in their relationship?

It was really important to us that we caught as much of the spectrum of their relationship as we could in 8 minutes. We wanted to see them flirt, laugh, cry, argue, plan, and wonder together. It’s the richness of their shared experience that makes the end so impactful.

Minus the glitches, what tricks did you use to create the surreal feeling?

Editing was a huge one. A lot of the awards we won on the circuit were for editing. We worked closely with our editor (Summer Spiro) to try and craft an experience that both seamlessly flowed together but heightened the sense of confusion by both characters.

Do you see ‘It’s Okay’ turning into anything more than a short?

We’d love to do a full Black Mirror-style episode, but I think it may work best as a short because it’s gives just enough time to be curious about what’s going on but not enough time to decode it.