A Personal Errand

Directed by Oliver Griffiths

2022

OGK Pictures

We are transported to the American past in new film A Personal Errand which explores both the natural world and the nature of man in an award-nominated 18-minute short.

Amazingly shot in the Midlands, yet set in 1864 America, the film opens with a female voice (Felicity Donnelly as Jessica Sullivan) narrating a series of letters that are being sent to a man of the wilderness Henry Sullivan (Jacob Jay).

Henry is a bounty hunter and is searching for Sylvester Reed (Jonathan Butler), an outlaw on the run, but between these three characters there is a mysterious link that is slowly revealed as one man tracks another through the wild.

Nominated for two Midlands Movies Awards in 2022 – Best Editing for Daniel Harden and Best Cinematography for Christian Cole – the structure and look of the film is excellent. The natural surroundings are captured incredibly well whether it be day or night.

And the voiceover gives context to an interesting backstory and the fire and candle-lit visuals pull you into the past of not only a different time but a different country altogether.

Gone too are the Midlands accents mostly seen in the films we receive and the cast do well delivering the minimal dialogue in a convincing American inflection.

In addition to our thoughts, guest Midlands Movies Awards jury panel member and well respected film writer Tim Coleman gave further feedback with his high praise for this unique US-infused short film:

“Director Oliver Griffiths successfully evokes the American wilds – despite being shot in the Midlands – with luscious cinematography recalling the poetry of Malick and a third act that delivers both tension and elegy in equal measure. There are limitations in some of the performances (though Jonathan Butler shines) and pristine costumes, but overall this is a compelling, micro-budget epic ★★★★”.

Tim Coleman

Twitter @fatscoleman

With a tense face off at its conclusion, in the end director Oliver Griffiths has aimed high by providing a successful deviation to the gritty contemporary dramas of many other Midlands filmmakers with a trip to an untamed frontier.

With the addition of great period costumes, beautiful (Midlands) landscapes and a cinematic sheen, A Personal Errand is an ambitious and pioneering production.

Michael Sales