Coping Mechanism (2017)

Ben and Mikaela find themselves on a date. But there's a secret to Ben's lonely existence that only exacerbates his self-sabotaging desperation and threatens to forever prevent him from connecting with another human being.

Director:

Sean Leonard Roberts (as Sean Roberts)

Writer:

Sean Leonard Roberts (as Sean Roberts)

Stars:

Bonnie Ferguson, Michael Pisciuneri, Ryan Sobolski

Cast

Credited cast:
Bonnie Ferguson	...	Mikaela
Michael Pisciuneri	...	Waiter
Ryan Sobolski	...	Ben

Storyline

Two lonely souls find themselves on a date that has started poorly. Ben and Mikaela have different reasons for being there, but share a yearning for human connection that pushes them forward. Unfortunately, and despite Mikaela's patience and curiosity, Ben's awkward behavior and self sabotaging insincerity keeps a frustrating wall between them. But there is a hidden layer to Ben's existence, one that reveals a tragic scale to the extent of his loneliness. It drives his obsessive desperation to connect with Mikaela, and is simultaneously the root of his failure. As much as she needs him to truly open up and show her the real Ben, his situation is something she can never hope to understand.

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Genres:

Short | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 November 2017 (Australia)

Filming Locations:

Chez Pascal French Restaurant, 440 Rocky Point Rd, Sans Souci, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD 600 (estimated)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

10 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The multi-screen motif seen in the film's poster design was inspired by the original VFX concepts for how to depict the technology in Ben's bunker. The visuals were ultimately abandoned in favor of a more grounded and low-tech approach, however the idea still made for a striking thematic design throughout all the film's print marketing.

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Crazy Credits

The symbols are seen again at the beginning of the closing credits, this time their missing parts fill in revealing the film's title. The two halves of this title design are a reference to the two overlapping realities witnessed in the film, one real and one ephemeral.

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