Earlier this November, Tara Tchablakian, who graduated from The London Film School with a Distinction, had her 17-minute short film, WRONG WAY FORWARD, screened as part of the NewFilmmakers’ Short Film program. A month after its appearance on North American soil, WRONG WAY FORWARD will travel across the Atlantic Ocean to the 6th annual London Lift-Off Festival, which takes places between 28th November and 3rd December. “[I feel] incredibly happy and honoured. Seeing WRONG WAY FORWARD get accepted to various festivals just reinstates how proud I am of my WRONG WAY FORWARD family and all that we have achieved.”
In Tchablakian’s comedy drama, which draws on films such as SUCCESSFUL ALCOHOLICS, YOUNG ADULT and 28 DAYS, a high-functioning alcoholic has the world at her feet until her friends and family confront her about her drinking problem. Tabitha hasn’t a clue as to what they’re talking about, or why indeed why she’s woken up with a black eye. This complex battle of strength and vulnerability that plagues us all is what drew Tchablakian to the character of Tabitha. “She’s sassy, independent and confident..and she knows how to have fun. She’s also very vulnerable and has this disease that she was able to control for a while but it got the best of her. At her weakest point - rock bottom - she admitted defeat, accepted help and dealt with the issue head first, which is a very courageous thing to do."
Other members of the crew representing The London Film School include Abeer Al Hedeithy (Production Designer), Riccardo Angelucci (Art Director), Hinnaa Al Sulharia (First Asstant Director) and Cait Lyn Adamson (Script Supervisor).
Inspired by listening to the band DeVotchKa while writing the script, the film also has a similarly quirky soundtrack. "I wanted music that enhanced the scene without forcing an audience to feel a certain way and I wanted the music to be completely unique.” For Tchablakian, there was only one man for the job. "I worked with AJ [Churchill] on another one of my films - SMACK, and he did such a fantastic job. AJ is able to take my notes and references and make tracks that are so well suited for a scene, a moment, even a character. He completely knows what the filmmaker wants, what the film needs and what will suit the audience’s experience.”
Click here to listen to the soundtrack for WRONG WAY FORWARD.
As Tchablakian continues to enter WRONG WAY FORWARD into festivals across the world, she has also had meetings with the BBC, Babycow and Lucky Giant about turning her short into into a TV dramedy: "I’m currently writing the TV pilot of WRONG WAY FORWARD and once I’m done I’ll redistribute it to everyone and see if I can force it to get picked up!”
Written by Ben Corbett
Photo Credit: Dankuro Shinma