Will Webb's Personal Effects

Tell us about Personal Effects and how it came about?

The film is closely inspired by my brother’s death in 2019, and the process of meeting with his friends to decide how we would celebrate his life. That process was a comforting experience in some ways, and difficult in others. It also struck me as something pretty universally human, but often presented melodramatically in film. I wanted to bring that story to screen in a different way.

Above: Webb's short film, Personal Effects. 

Why did you decide to make this film?

The story was obviously one that I felt deeply connected to, and fictionalising that experience was a cathartic process (although the actual story differs a lot from my life – my brother would have loved to have dramatically left behind a mysterious CD, but it just didn't happen like that!). 

The film is closely inspired by my brother’s death in 2019, and the process of meeting with his friends to decide how we would celebrate his life.

My films have been really varied, across horror and comedy-drama, but Personal Effects was an opportunity to tell a straightforwardly dramatic story in a way I hadn't done before. That creative challenge was a draw, on top of the personal resonance of the project. I had also worked for a while, in 2019, on developing a drama with cinematographer Samira Oberberg, which ultimately didn't come to fruition due to funding. We worked on some other commercial and lower budget projects together after that, and I really wanted to bring her in early to develop the film visually, working with her on something with a bit more budget – something we could really sink our teeth into.

Above: Director, Will Webb.

What were your expectations before starting out?

I am a chronic short filmmaker - I think this is film number nine! So, my expectations were pretty well set. That said, I have often worked with small crews and micro-budgets, and this film was a departure from that. We had a healthy budget (for the scope) and my biggest crew so far. It was great to work with so many committed professionals and artists in their own right. I remember watching Samira manage her crew and being inspired by her communication and leadership!

Can you tell us about the two cast members, how you found them and why they were right for Personal Effects?

Casting the film was quite complex because of the need to have resemblance to the younger actor playing Katie in flashback scenes. There was also a glut of film and TV production at the time, due to the lifting of Covid protocols, which meant that availability shifted a lot for available talent.

Casting the film was quite complex because of the need to have resemblance to the younger actor playing Katie in flashback scenes.

Ellie Duckles actually didn’t get involved in our initial casting call as she was on holiday. However, the aforementioned delays meant we got to see her self-tape. It was a sad monologue, but she was the only actor to smile during it, in a moment of reminiscence. That warmth was the reason we wanted her onboard. Rebecca Hesketh-Smith was our initial choice, but unable to make the filming dates. Covid delays led to her being available again, so we were really happy to have her in the final film. She has such a ‘big sister’ energy, on camera and off, that felt central to Sophia.

Above: Ellie Duckles, left, with Rebecca Hesketh-Smith, who was almost unable to make shooting for the film until Covid delays, for once, proved beneficial. 

There's no music in the film, apart from the last scene; was that intentional, because of the emotional connection to the CD?

We talked about adding some ambient score, but I’m always a bit wary of using it in that way, to guide audience response. Grieving people often talk about the world feeling muted, colourless. If the film is Katie’s POV, I think of her world as having the music taken out of it; reconnecting with her brother’s memory after trauma is the final beat, so reflecting that with the gorgeous song felt impactful.

Grieving people often talk about the world feeling muted, colourless. If the film is Katie’s POV, I think of her world as having the music taken out of it.

And on the song; we searched high and low for something with less mainstream recognition, but with a soulful and emotive feel, and from an era that a music-obsessed teen in the noughties might be able to find. I’m so happy that we got Geek Love, and that Bang Bang Machine were happy to license it to us. Helps that they are film buffs!

Above: Will Webb [centre left], and cinematographer Samira Oberberg [centre right].

What did shooting Personal Effects teach you in terms of directing?

My favourite thing about directing is that every project teaches you something new, and often my films are motivated by a desire to address something from the previous film, by shifting direction, or interrogating a new technique. Personal Effects actually taught me to embrace the practical side of directing. The shoot schedule meant that about 80% of the film was shot in one day; a formidable number of set-ups to get through, with lots of emotional moments. Getting through that shot list was really difficult, but also rewarding, and working with the crew to do it showed me the importance of the people-managing side of the job.

What was the most creatively challenging aspect of this project?

It was difficult to communicate a story to cast and crew that featured elements of my life, but without prescriptively saying ‘it's like this, because that’s how it was for me’. That kind of instruction is actionable, but also restricts the ability of other creatives in the film to contribute their own expertise. 

It was difficult to communicate a story that featured elements of my life, but without prescriptively saying ‘it's like this, because that’s how it was for me’.

In a way, it's shutting people down. So, addressing that meant making space for cast and crew to bring their own feelings and experiences to the film, including long chats about childhood and nostalgia, and all of those contributions, in the end, made Personal Effects all the richer.