Derry film shines spotlight on eating disorders, body image and self-worth

Made with the assistance of talented local actors and a sterling crew, all of whom joined the project despite the lack of a budget, the short film could soon be showcased around the world.

The Bennigans Film Society production stars Roma Harvey as Lucy, whose life is spiralling out of control due to her illness, during the breakdown of a relationship, with a supporting cast which includes Michéal McDaid, Muire McCallion, Fergal McSwiggan, Aoibhin Byrne and Tina Cheuk.

Séan said the film was a project he had been in the planning for several years, and because of the lack of finance and the aspiration to make sure to give a true depiction of the major issues involved, it took around 18 months to complete. The film is currently being considered at the Lift Off Global Film Festival and if successful will be shown at forthcoming festivals in Hollywood and elsewhere. It is also hoped that once restrictions are lifted the film will be screened in Derry.

Speaking about how the project came about, Séan said: “For a lot of years I myself had a bit of an uncomfortable relationship with food. I lost six stone in two years at one stage and that’s not natural. I had a bit of an eating disorder. It is a very common thing, but is strangely still taboo and not a lot of people talk about it. There’s not much of an understanding about it. Unfortunately a lot of people see it as a ‘first world problem’ and don’t realise its a voice inside your head and an illness. There are a lot of people with anorexia and bulimia and body dysmorphia. I also wanted to focus on the world of social media today. It has it’s positives in terms of keeping people connected, but it also has massive implications for people’s mental health - a lot of people are judging or branding themselves, there’s a competitiveness and a strive for the perfect image, people measuring themselves against ‘perfection’, but it’s all fake, images are created with filters, lights but it gets into people’s heads, ‘I don’t look like that’. That can lead to major mental health problems, and people resorting to cosmetic enhancements.”

And Séan points to recent studies which show men and boys are just as vulnerable to this as women and girls. “It’s leading people down a bad path where image is everything, people are measuring their self worth in terms of body image when there are far more important aspects. If your goal is to be perfect looking you are always going to want more.”

Getting such an important film made is an achievement, especially when you consider that there is no specific funding stream for the array of talented local actors, writers, directors and technical experts who are passionate about an industry with massive potential to promote the north west in terms of global tourism and the arts.

Talented filmmakers in Derry include those involved in ‘Nervosa’ and others including Michael Barwise and Myrid Carten. “There’s a lot of amazing work being done here with either no budget or a shoestring one,” Séan said. “There is not enough support in the north west when you work in the arts, especially in film, trying to get projects off the ground. There’s not really any network or support system there.”

While this means that there is total creative freedom and that those making films are doing it because they have passion for their art, they are not receiving the support to showcase what they can do. However Séan remains hopeful this will change in the future.

Bringing Nervosa to life, would have been “completely and utterly impossible without the amazing cast and crew”. “They did it for nothing; I did it for nothing, we all did it because we believe in it.”

‘Nervosa’ was written, produced and directed by Séan Coyle, with cinematographers Fiachra O’Longain, Sean Mullan and Colm S. Herron, music by Conor Mason, edited by Colm S. Herron and additional editor John M. Chambers. Sound recordists were Jason Bonner, Fergal Bonner and Fiachra O’Longain, camera assistant Joe Millar and second camera assistant John M. Chambers. Sound master was Kevin Gillen.

‘Nervosa’ will be entered into film festivals across the world in the coming months and will be screened locally when lockdown ends, so keep an eye out...