Unbroken – Melissa Wuidart Phillips  

Written from personal experiences, Melissa Wuidart Phillips immerses our viewers into the challenges of adapting to new experiences and celebrates the beauty in the smallest of details. The film provides a cinematic perspective on the uniqueness of the Asperger’s and celebrates the condition.

A powerful film which addresses preconceived ideas about Asperger’s in women. Developed over nine months with support from The Writing Squad.  Produced by Studio12 in association with Mojo Film.

The film explores often neglected aspects of Asperger’s.  It invites the viewer to share the inner dialogue and sensory overwhelm usually hidden from the outside world.  The film shows some of the pain experienced while dealing with daily life, but also the quiet inner strength.

“Asperger’s is greatly misunderstood.  The everyday challenges individuals face are vast: one of the greatest challenges is discrimination due to ignorance.  As a writer, I have a rare privilege to convey some of our experiences and hoped by writing Unbroken to help further understanding in the wider world.  Also to give other Aspies a feeling that, although we are each unique, we have shared experiences of the world and that we are not alone.”  Melissa Wuidart Phillips

After being showcased at the Leeds International Film festival the film is set for release on Thursday 16th July.

Written by Melissa Wuidart Phillips
Directed by Rob Pritchard Mojo Film
Director of Photography: Blackbox Creative
Produced by Studio12
Performed by Jess Neale
Music by David Wingo

WRITING BRITAIN CHALLENGES FIRST TIME WRITERS TO CREATE A SPOKEN WORD FILM THAT EXPLORES LANGUAGE AND NOTIONS BASED ON THEIR UPBRINGING, THEIR CULTURE AND HOW THEY SEE THE WORLD TODAY. SET IN LOCATIONS CLOSE TO THE LYRICISTS’ HEARTS THE FILMS DEPICT THE CHALLENGES, CHOICES AND DIFFICULTIES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE FACE TODAY.

Writing Britain is a project that relies on local support as it’s very much a project for the love of film funded by the Studio12 programme. On the project each artist gives their time for free and companies giving time and space for cost.

Leeds based social enterprise Mojo Film has been a key part in the creation of the film, from script and story development, visual development and directing the film

Adam Lyons from Blackbox was brought onto the project as the DP (Director of Photography) to create the visuals of the film.

David Wingo the award-winning hollywood composer gave us permission us to use one of his track for the music score

Provison AV for the hire of equipment and lighting at a reduced rate. Leeds City Council forestry for allowing us to film in their parks, Independent Leeds and hammerson for arranging filming at Kings House in Leeds. Without this support of local filmmakers and companies this film would not have happened.

“The value of the film is that we can listen to what the young people in the project are telling us and then work together to make sure this isn’t a one-off. The most challenging thing for us is reaching young people that we don’t communicate with. We know there are many young people out there who we want to reach out to. And this work has been a very fine example of how important that strand of work is.” Councillor Judith Blake, Leader, Leeds City Council