Shoreditch Films: Joshua by Tim Porter

Joshua stars rising talents such as: Cyrus Trafford (Community, Luck), Christian Okoli (The Coon Hunting: 21st Century Dystopia) & Nancy Boo Orchis Evans (Les Soirs). The film follows a young man called Joshua who seemly lives a normal, mundane ordinary life yet when we begin to look beneath the surface it’s clear everything is not what is seems.

I am a humanist filmmaker and my objective for this film is to be a wake-up call on a subject which as a country and a world at large seems to want to avoid discussing. ‘Joshua’ is controversial and unique in its approach and subject matter dealing ultimately with one of the most horrendous heinous crimes, that of child abuse. Controlling its perceived exploitive content and subtext very carefully, I believe I have crafted an intimate and deeply unsettling film initially from the perspective of the abuser.

One of its core thematic elements and goals was to: show people who target children in this manner are not monsters. On the face of it, these people live ‘normal’ lives and are very much part of local communities. Sadly recent events here in the UK such as the Jimmy Saville case and the abduction of April Jones in Wales have brought the subject to the forefront of society once again.

 

‘Joshua’ was filmed in July/August 2012 way before any of these incidents occurred. We are not riding the wave of current events in any way shape or form. This project was always conceived to set up the situation as a precursor to its ultimate successor in 2013. ‘Eileen’ continues the story from the victim’s perspective. Following on from the horrific incidents which occurred, the new feature length film explores Eileen’s recovery and progression seven years on when she has reached her early teenage years.

The film will be an exploration in examining the psychological effects of Child Abuse, how they shape one’s existence and the pitfalls which come with it. Our goal with ‘Eileen’ is to create awareness, not exploitation of the subject to financially gain on recent news stories. Some may argue it is ‘insensitive’ to release ‘Joshua’ around these events.

Our film has no bearing or association with such crimes. It was merely coincidental which goes to show that: Us highlighting the fact these events happen every day and more than often they are not reported is a vitally important issue in itself.
Independent filmmakers have the power to create change. There are no shackles or studio executives holding them back. We are able to deliver a truthful, authentic depiction of a subject matter that bigger studios would not dare risk their reputations on.