Director Notes / Signing Off Sunnyside
Hey everyone,
It’s been a while since I’ve written anything about Men’s Sheds or Sunnyside, but after working away at this one for quite a while, I’m pleased to say that the film is finally being released!
If you don’t know or if you’ve forgotten (unlikely!), Sunnyside is a mini-documentary about The Men’s Sheds Association, which is just one of many incredible organisations that helps to fight loneliness, but does so with such a simple but almighty premise. It provides people (Shedders) with a safe space where they can work, talk or simply have a cuppa.
With it being Mental Health Awareness Week and with everyone in lockdown, the subject matter has become more important than ever. We had big plans for the release, a cinema screening with the Shedders, family, friends and hopefully some gatecrashers - the whole shebang. That idea quickly came to a halt as you can understand.
Preventing loneliness is at the heart of the Men’s Sheds cause, and we explore it in this film. I wanted to take the Shedders away from Sunnyside Men Shed to contrast the amazing warmth that comes from the shed, whilst also showing the timelessness of isolation. So, we picked apart their stories to create several images that summed up their individual experiences of loneliness: the photos of a widower; the locked door and the half-finished pint. We also set about capturing more common images of isolation, such as sitting alone in the underground (don’t ask about permission), waiting in a desolate laundrette, or pulling on the intimidating surroundings of Barbican buildings. The overall aim was for the visuals to paint a portrait of isolation in everyday life. It was a difficult balancing act - I didn’t want to move into recreation, but I also didn’t want it to fall into the trap of feeling too wistful or generic.
The thing is, these scenes don’t just relate to the Shedders at Sunnyside Men’s Shed - they’re a reality. Places like these are a haven for isolated men and women and right now, people around the world are experiencing the effects of isolation. Ray, the shed’s Chairman, rightly points out “...if I look out that window now, I can see probably 20 properties. I bet there’s a man sat in at least one of those, just wondering what to do for the next hour” and echoes the fact that raising awareness for mental health has never been more important. I’m proud that this film celebrates the coming together of a community and the importance of finding your tribe. I also can’t wait for Ray and the gang to open their doors again, I know they’ll be looking out for each other from afar.
That’s all for now - I hope you enjoy the film!
Danny and the rest of the Angry team.