SYNOPSIS

Cecilia and Albert are going to start living differently. With Albert's young-onset dementia becoming more complicated to manage, Cecilia is forced to make the difficult decision of seeking professional help. As Albert's mind locks him into a childhood memory, Cecilia strains to ground him in the present. Quicksand explores the unique complexity of rebuilding a relationship daily at the hands of dementia. 

CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS

Cecilia finds herself in circumstances she never imagined she would be in, her husband has been diagnosed with young-onset dementia and it’s a disease she was previously unfamiliar with. With their children moved out, she thought this time pre-retirement would be spent focusing on herself and Albert - their plans to travel and see the things they didn’t get a chance to the first time around. However, Albert’s deterioration has caused her to reframe how she views the future. 

Albert was officially diagnosed with young-onset dementia at 58. His world is transforming as the lines between his present reality and past memories blur. As Cecilia makes efforts to ground him in the present and assuage his confusion, Albert grapples with trying to understand what is happening. Much of the story and the empathy evoked from the film centers around how Albert views the world and how he relates to his memories. 

WHAT MAKES THIS A DIFFERENT DEMENTIA FILM?

There are a plethora of dementia and Alzheimer’s-related films but Quicksand specifically sheds light on the act of seeking and introducing professional help.

One of the most significant aims of the film is to recognise the role of carers. Cecilia’s response to Albert’s condition occupies considerable space in the film to highlight the impact of caring for someone you love.

We want to reduce stigma by showing a reality that is about finding a new way of life together. Quicksand is realistic about the hardships of being a carer but most importantly it is a story of hope. 

WRITER'S STATEMENT

"From my own experiences of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, both within my own family and as a volunteer, I know it can be uncomfortable to seek help when the disease progresses. It forces those around the sufferer to process their new reality and accept dementia's permanent intrusion into their lives. Denying its severity can be a coping mechanism for many but we want this film to address the act of accepting help. We want to spread awareness to those unfamiliar with the disease and extend support for those having to contemplate difficult decisions when considering the next steps."

Jessica Garton - Executive Producer, Co-Writer and Actor in Quicksand. (Pictured below with her grandmother, Carol, who is living with Alzheimer's.)

LOCATION

Quicksand will shoot in May 2024 in Jersey, Channel Islands.

Home to many of the cast and crew, Jersey has such a wonderful landscape for filmmaking and the role the sea plays in this film, as a metaphor for the ever-changing movement of life, is vital imagery to illustrate Cecilia and Albert's relationship.

FILM REFERENCES

• About Time (Richard Curtis, 2013).
• One Fine Morning (Mia Hansen-Løve, 2022).
• The Eternal Memory (Maite Alberdi, 2023).
• Little Fish (Chad Hartigan, 2020).
• The Father (Florian Zeller, 2020).
• Still Alice (Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland, 2014).
• Supernova (Harry Macqueen, 2020).
• Le Week-End (Roger Mitchell, 2013).
• Poetry (Lee Chang-dong, 2010).

We were inspired by a range of films during the creation of Quicksand but here is a small sample of some of them. 

MOODBOARDS

What can be seen here is a mixture of nautical exterior and interior references. We want Cecilia and Albert's home, where the film is set, to feel alive and lived in. Their home environment is very much another character in the film. It has supported them physically over time and will continue to do so in this next chapter of their lives. 

WHAT WILL YOUR MONEY GO TOWARDS?

By donating even £1 you will become part of the Quicksand team and for that we want to say the biggest thank you. You have helped this film to be made. 

Your donation will help us fund the following aspects of our film:

CAST

'Cecilia'

Deborah Cornelius is a British actress who has worked extensively in film, television and theatre. Deborah began her career at Chichester Festival Theatre working with some of the greats, including Sam Mendes who directed her in Translations. Perhaps best known for playing Miss Blenkinsop in Netflix and ITV’s Sunday night drama, Mr Selfridge, Deborah has covered period drama in Poirot and crime in Silent Witness. She can also be seen in Harry Hill's Stars in Their Eyes as his sidekick assistant, Mandy. She has also appeared in a number of high-profile TV dramas including A Dance to the Music of Time, Take a Girl Like You, The Trial of Gemma Lang, Hidden, Law & Order: UK, Wire in the Blood, Lewis, Jekyll, as Olivia in Emmerdale and A Civil Arrangement. Deborah has starred in many theatre productions, including roles in Pygmalion at The Noel Coward Theatre, London and The Fall Guy at The Manchester Royal Exchange. 

'Albert'

Clive Mantle has had an incredibly successful career as an actor across multiple disciplines. His television career has spanned well known titles such as Robin of Sherwood, The Vicar of Dibley, Casualty, Holby City, Game of Thrones, White Man Van, Mount Pleasant, Bloomin' Marvellous, Minder, Smith and Jones, One Foot in the Grave, Bottom, Drop the Dead Donkey, A bit of Fry and Laurie, Damned, Sherlock, Midsomer Murders, Doctors and many more. Clive was also a chorister at St John's College Cambridge, as well as a member of the National Youth Theatre. He studied at RADA. A published author, his first children's historical adventure, The Treasurer at the Top of the World, won the 'People's Book Prize' in 2019. It has been followed in The Adventures of Freddie Malone series by A Jewel in the Sands of Time, and In the City of Fortune and Flames. Books 4 and 5 are on their way. Clive is also known for many radio plays, narrations, voice overs and talking books. 

'Young Cecilia'

Jessica Garton is a Jersey-born actor and singer based in London. Jessica is a first-class Drama graduate from the University of Manchester and spent a year at the RNCM where she studied singing on their 'Popular Music' course. Jessica performed in the sold-out two-hander Bundle of Joy at the Edinburgh Fringe where a reviewer called her ‘an actress to watch in the future'. Last year, she won the accent category in a monologue slam final at RADA and starred in the short films: Out Of Reach, The Soup and Crit. She also played ‘Tess’ in the sold-out run of Pimms and Piety at the Etcetera Theatre which was later reprised at the Union Theatre for 'A Pinch of Vault'. Last month, she wrapped on Eyes, Front - a short addressing the immense pressure put on recruits in the British Army. The film will premiere in July at BFI IMAX and then be submitted to the festival circuit.

'Young Albert'

Ted Walliker is a London-based actor and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School graduate from the MA in Screen Acting course. His work draws from techniques such as Meisner and Demidov which focus primarily on the foundational truth of a character. Ted has a range of experience in theatre and on screen including stage work at Camden People’s Theatre, the Union Theatre, and the Edinburgh Fringe. His screen work includes a recent TV pilot produced by Marlborough One Ltd/StudioPOW, and short films from Breakdown Bolton, Christchurch Studios and Whip-Pan Productions. Most recently Ted has performed as ‘Tony’ in Near To produced by Pliable Theatre as part of the SPRINT festival. He will also star in a forthcoming feature film Like God Intended by WhyProductionsWhy.

'Gemma' (Carer)

Flora MacAngus is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Powerhouse Performances C.I.C. She has worked in the creative industries for 5 years, as an actor, writer and producer both in the UK and Internationally. Flora has spearheaded four runs of Co-Founder Claudia Vyvyan's one person play 'Permanent Marker' which received 5 star reviews. Off the success of Permanent Marker, Powerhouse was awarded a Seeding Space Bursary at London Performance Studios where Powerhouse took our new show 'I LOVE SEX / YOU LOVE SEX' into development. I LOVE SEX / YOU LOVE SEX is now programmed in London theatres for the spring 2024 season. As a Channel Islander, Flora continues to develop in the creative scenes having directed her first short film 'Infinitely You' which was filmed through the Kino Project in Jersey CI. 'Infinitely You' was selected to open the 13th Parish film festival Kino Shorts screening. Flora is currently working towards a live performance at the Jersey Arts Centre of a commissioned original piece by Music in Action inspired by the acts of resistance of Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore during the Nazi Occupation.

CREW

Director

Rebecca Coley is an award-winning director. Rebecca works in documentary and fiction, and is interested in creative ways of storytelling and is often attracted to challenging subjects and likes to explore the nuance and complexity of being human. Rebecca’s feature documentary POINT OF CHANGE is currently on the film festival circuit and picked up five awards at the first four festival screenings in 2023 and will be released in late 2024. Rebecca has made many award-winning short films, including narrative shorts PRETTY BITCH, HARD TO SAY, JACK BLOND + PANTS and the documentary STEAMERS, which was commissioned by Channel 4 as part of the cult late night 'Shooting Gallery’ screening platform for new talent. Rebecca also directed award-winning short surfing documentary CHANGING POINT which planted the seeds of the feature documentary film, POINT OF CHANGE, which developed out of this production process. Rebecca was selected for the Stowe Story Labs with her next feature film and currently has a number of projects in development. Rebecca is a Berlinale Talent Lab alumini and is a member of Cinesisters, Free The Work and DIRECTORS UK.

Producer

BAFTA film member Julie Daly-Wallman has extensive feature film and television experience and worked on films such as Divine Rapture which starred Marlon Brando and was shot in Ireland, Suicide Club and Disney’s Incredible Studio. She has also worked with some of the most experienced film producers in the world, including Roger Corman of Concorde Horizons Corp USA and Ovidio Assonitis (Piranha). Julie was also involved in the setting up of the first fully digital TV company in the world (Orbit Sapienza SPA). Julie produced the 2002 award winning The Crooked Mile, a movie that has since performed in 60 film festivals around the world and won an award at Tribeca, the New York film festival set up by Robert de Niro. It was the first film made outside the USA to win this award. Now released on video and DVD, it has been sold to a number of countries around the world. Julie is currently producing a movie titled Genuine Fakes with actor Colin Morgan (The Crown, Merlin, Legend).

Director of Photography

Will Jack Robinson is an experienced Filmmaker/DP and is influenced by the greats of cinematography. He has a passion for lighting and composition and how that can evoke certain feelings that help to tell a story or deliver a message and has worked alongside iconic brands and films that have been screened at various festivals picking up awards.

Editor

Georgia Robinson is an experienced video editor with a diverse portfolio who loves the variety that each project brings whether it be working on campaigns for iconic brands, documentaries or short films. Her dedication to storytelling has led to some of her work winning awards and being shown at numerous film festivals.

Production Designer

Born and raised in Oxford, currently based in East London, Helena is an art director, artist, and set decorator with a track record of creating thought-provoking and captivating sets for film, television, still life photography, and commercial advertising. Collaborative by nature, Helena works seamlessly with directors and creative teams to transform artistic visions into immersive realities.

1st AC

Cameron Aird is a dynamic Filmmaker/ Photographer known for his passion for storytelling and his ability to capture the essence of global narratives. With an adventurous spirit, he travels the world, recently collaborating with international artists, Il Divo.
 

1st AD

Clara Wilson is a fresh new face to the industry, she has spent the last year working on a variety of short films and commercials. She has recently graduated from the National Film and Television School with a post-graduate First Class Diploma in Assistant Directing and Floor Managing. Before this she was awarded a First Class Degree, from the University of Leeds, in Business Management with Marketing. Clara believes that filmmakers have a huge responsibility, as films inform our generation and leave a mark on society. Clara has already built some strong collaborative relationships with directors: Edie Moles, Aella Jordan-Edge, Gilbert Kyem Jnr and Mitya Lesnevski. For Clara, being an effective 1st AD on set is all about a well-managed schedule, carefully considering the cast and all the different departments needs and clear tight communication between the: Director, DoP, Cast and the AD department. Clara hopes to bring her energetic smiley-self to every project that she works on, doing her best to ensure that the atmosphere on set is always quiet, supportive and collaborative.

Stills Photographer

Trained out of the London School of Photography, Max Young is a documentary driven Jersey based photographer passionate about illustrating the variety of diverse lifestyles, experiences and culture throughout all aspects of society. Max blends his natural and unique style of images with engaging storytelling and an eye for detail, delivering visually stunning narratives to the wide variety of projects he undertakes. 

Sound Recordist & Mix

A full time musician and music producer, Nic Dinnie has found himself on sets both advising on and capturing audio. Using industry standard equipment and a tuned ear, the audio is sure to be as good as it can be. The ADR, foley and set audio is cleaned and edited in his studio to best suit the aesthetic of the piece. Nic is Jersey-based and has a love for the sea, understanding the nuances of Jersey’s big tidal range and the impact it has on location recording.

Composer

Ariella Koorlander Ereira is a British composer for Film & Television based in London. Recently graduated with an MA in Composing for Film & TV from the National Film & Television School, Ariella is highly versatile with an extensive output, including scores she recorded and conducted at AIR Studios, London. Recent credits include The Tornado Outside, finalist for a student BAFTA, Gossip, shortlisted for a student BAFTA, Khayelitsha, semi-finalist for a student Oscar and winner of the One World Media Awards, as well as The Thin Green Line, recently premiered at the Jackson Wild Wildlife Film Showcase in partnership with the UN.

Hair & Makeup Artist

At 21, Bethany finished her HND Performing Arts Production with distinctions in every project. During her time studying, Bethany worked on a number of short films and gained experience in design work for theatre companies, leading her to become head artist on several film, TV and theatre productions, including working with brands like Sony, BBC and Alton Towers Resort. As lead artist, Bethany has worked on great indie films with some winning coveted awards, like 'Follow The Crows' which won Best Indie Film at the Global Film Awards and 'In A Year' which won awards at MMF and Long Beach Indie Film Festival.

Runner

Tegan grew up in Jersey and moved to Manchester for University where she gained her Television and Radio degree before starting her professional career working in the Media industry. She has since been working in Manchester on shows ranging from Waterloo Road to Naked Attraction, with her favourite role working as a VIP assistant for a Harry styles gig, she has truly gained experience across multiple genres. Her career so far has mainly been in the Locations department and has worked her way up with her recent debut as Location Manager on a short film which is premiering soon. She's also interested in Scripts, Production, and the AD team, with an end goal of Producing she hopes to understand all roles in depth. With experience working with kids, animals, and the public, Tegan's unflappable and always ready to lend a hand wherever needed.

Crowdfunding Advisor

Mariella Driskell is a Londoner who, since graduating film school, has worked as a creative freelancer in the film and photography industries, taking on a variety of roles while she finds her feet in her early career. She can usually be found in the camera and production departments on film sets or photo shoots working most commonly as a photographer, lighting or camera assistant, production assistant and more recently as co-director or co-producer. Mariella prides herself on her creativity, organisation, and passion for working as part of a team. Much of her work is inspired by art that inhabits minimalism, (sur)realism, experimentalism and/or explores key issues, new waves and contemporary approaches to conventional practices.

PARTNERSHIPS

Supported by ArtHouse Jersey

We are extremely grateful to be receipts of the ArtHouse Jersey 'Development Grant' which helps local artists create new work as they pursue a career in the arts. Check out their website for more information on the projects they support and upcoming events!

In Association with Dementia Jersey

"Dementia Jersey was delighted to have been approached by Jessica and Ted at the start of the production of Quicksand. We are confident that this short film will not only raise awareness of dementia but also touch the hearts of many, both in Jersey and beyond. We look forward to the release of the short film and seeing the impact it will make within our community.”

Visit the Dementia Jersey website for more information about the amazing work they do in Jersey and the resources they provide!