Filmmaker Statement

The writer Nolo and I met during a film course at the Metropolitan Film School in London and we both wanted to tell a story about the struggles of the creative process. What was important for me to represent was how mental health issues are often misconstrued for romantic parts of the artist’s craft.The image of an artist resorting to self-destruction in order to fuel creative inspiration is often romanticised but less often analysed. Is this Faustian bargain self-reinforcing or is it necessary to push oneself to the utter limits in order to bring artistic genius into the world? With Wunderkind we began with a painter Jacob who realises he can’t paint anymore. What begins as self-doubt turns into desperation and anger and finally hopelessness. Despite the dark tone throughout we wanted to end with a message of hope. While there is no easy easy road to recovery - there can be a way forward.