Filmmaker Statement

Directing 'A Helping Hand' was a very cathartic experience for me. The short follows Connie (Maisie Williams), a down on her luck teen, and an awkward catchup with her estranged Father (Dan Burgess). Having not seen my own Dad since I was young, I had originally approached the short from more of a wish fulfilment angle: what would I say to him if I saw him. These first drafts, however, were biased and often lacked empathy for the Dad character. Upon meeting Dan, I was able to place him in the part and take a personal step back from the story. Here I was able to write a human and balanced relationship which highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of both characters, and capture what it means to be part of an imperfect relationship. They became characters - not caricatures. I learned a lot as a filmmaker and as a person while creating this short. I'm extremely proud of this film, and hope you enjoy it as much as I do. - Joshua Francisco Mitchell Writer/Director of 'A Helping Hand'