Nick's uncle played 'got your nose' with him when he was very young and never gave him his nose back. He's now grown up having to live his life without a nose.
"Its like the film is holding a loaded gun to my head and DARING me to laugh."
For many years, I treated my mental health like a joke. It was a trivial issue that didn't need to be taken seriously. This caused me a lot of damage. When I've spoken to others about their mental health, this seems to be a common problem.
The idea for 'Got Your Nose' was to create a premise that SOUNDS funny, but to treat the impact on the character’s mental health with the utmost severity. If I can make audiences take the mental health of a character suffering from such a silly condition seriously, then maybe they can take their own and others' mental health seriously too.
CAST
Jack Forsyth-Noble
'Nick'
Jack Forsyth-Noble is a British/Australian actor who’s appeared in the BBC mini series 'Life after Life' and independent horror film 'Casting Kill'.
When I first saw him try this role, I nearly dropped my drink. Jack is the sort of actor who can appear vulnerable while confidently selling the material, which was vital for this film.
Michael Fenton Stevens
'Uncle Roger'
BBC Legend Michael Fenton Stevens has had one of the most interesting careers in British entertainment. He's appeared in almost every British Comedy you'd care to name, from Only Fools and Horses to Nighty Night. He also recently appeared in the hit Apple+ series 'Slow Horses' starring Gary Oldman.
When we approached him, I pitched the premise, and he nodded and immediately said "okay, where do you want me and when?"
Rowan Williams
'Therapist'
Rowan Williams is a classically trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and is based in London.
From the second he walked into the audition, I was convinced he was an actual therapist. (He isn't). His soft tone that implies warmth while keeping professional detachment which reminded me of my own therapist.
Charlie Stagg
'Young Nick'
Charlie is 9.
I met his father, Chris Stagg, on a networking livestream hosted by the London Horror society in 2022.
When shooting 'Got Your Nose', Charlie got to sit on a motorbike. He had the most amount of fun I've ever seen anyone have doing anything.
FAQ
What did people say when you told them the premise?
The first thing they did was laugh, but when I elaborated, they stopped and thought “wait what if someone actually had to live like that?” The funny premise drew them in, but exploring the idea with depth caused them to empathise with the character.
He hasn’t ACTUALLY had his nose stolen, right?
I deliberately planned shots that show the world through the eyes of someone who sees the world differently to others. ‘Got Your Nose’ is a game adults play with children - but I wanted to illustrate through shot setups and props what it would look like to someone who believes in the game. From reactions from test viewers, they’ve believed he’s legitimately stolen his nose. Whether he has had it stolen or not...well, that would be telling.
Are you concerned people might think you’re making light of mental health?
That did occur to me, but an often overlooked aspect of mental health is that sometimes a problem you’re experiencing CAN be funny when looked at from a different perspective. Often in sessions with my own therapist, my therapist has set a problem in context, and as a result, I’ve burst out laughing, and that laughter causes a breakthrough. I have never seen a moment like this explored in a film about mental health before, and that was part of my motivation and I believe the mixture of comedy and drama in this context makes the film unique.
What are your hopes for this project?
I’m hoping with a run on the festival circuit, the film will be seen and engaged with by a wider range of people than I can reach on my own. While I have an existing audience online, I’m fascinated to hear differing perspectives on my work. I want to see what other people think.
