THE MAKING OF US

Short Talk with Gavin Stewart (director) and Lauren Pouchly (producer)

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY FILM Category

22nd IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival 2025

United Kingdom, Documentary, English, 00:20:45, 2024

Synopsis: This documentary follows a group of marginalised people in Manchester, England who have experienced homelessness and addiction. The one thing that has kept them going is a drama group where they have spent years coming together and creating films as a community. The film follows them as they receive bad news, and a question is explored - should the arts be a human right? This documentary not only celebrates the resilience of the clients but also serves as a powerful reminder of the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity.

Biography: Gavin's journey began at Salford University, where he honed his filmmaking skills studying Media & Performance. This launched him into a decade-long career in freelance television production. He's been fortunate to be involved in a diverse range of projects, from broadcast TV and charity work to corporate films and weddings. Gavin's passion for collaboration and creativity, coupled with his talent for working with people, fuels his ongoing artistic pursuits. By sharing powerful stories, Gavin hopes to inspire others and foster a greater sense of empathy and understanding in society.

Gavin Stewart, director

Raya Hristova: The documentary was filmed in Manchester. Tell us about the situation on the streets that we see in the film.

Gavin Stewart: Yeah, so there has been, and still is, a big issue with homelessness in Manchester, and in the UK more generally. In Manchester, because it’s quite a small, contained city centre, you can see a very visible concentration of homelessness. There are a lot of charities working to try and prevent it and to support people who need help. Lauren started a charity called Acting on Impulse, which was focused on using drama projects to give people who’ve struggled with homelessness somewhere to go, and a sense of community.

Raya Hristova: How did you find the people who feature in the film? How did you get them to open up and share such personal experiences?

Stewart: Many of the people in the film have been involved with the charity for years. Acting on Impulse has been running for 17 years, and this was actually the final year. So a lot of them have been on a long journey, participating each year. For this film, it was really about capturing that final year, where the charity started, where it ended up, and maybe where it’s going next. So the people featured were already involved, and while they had a choice to be part of the bigger project, they didn’t get much of a choice when I turned up with a camera.

Pouchlyn: Like Gavin said, a lot of them had already been coming to workshops, so they were used to the presence of cameras and quite relaxed around them. Gavin had also been involved in the projects before, so they knew him. Trust was a huge part of it, and that’s something that built up naturally over the years. Of course, there were moments when people questioned our intentions, but over time that trust developed. The charity really became like a family for many of them, and they’re going to miss it, because it’s been such a consistent presence in their lives.

Raya Hristova: Tell us more about what happened behind the scenes. Were there moments or information you had to leave out?

Pouchlyn:  Like with any edit, you have to be sensitive especially with people who are being so honest and giving so much of themselves. There were emotional moments that didn’t make it in. But at the same time, a lot of them were quite proud of their journeys, and they were happy to share their stories. We wanted the film to be entertaining, but also truthful. So the challenge was cutting down months of footage into a piece that still captured the essence of what this journey meant for them. And yeah, there were some tough choices in the edit room.

Raya Hristova: I want to ask you about the title, The Making of Us. What does it mean to you?

Pouchlyn: It’s a mix of things. Every year, we used to make a drama film with the group, and then we’d also do a behind-the-scenes piece the making of. So initially, it came from that. But for us, it also took on a deeper meaning. It’s really been the making of a lot of people, especially in terms of their confidence. Some came to the workshops unable to make eye contact, too nervous to speak. By the end, they’re laughing, joking, surrounded by 20 people they now consider friends, people they’ve made a film with. And personally, it was a family project too. Sue, who you see in the film, is my mum. My dad was part of it as well. So for us, we always say it’s been the making of us, too. I’m a film producer, but out of everything I’ve done, this is the one that’ll stay with me.

Raya Hristova: Gavin, what’s the lasting message you wanted the audience to take from this film?

Stewart: For me, the challenge was to make something that looked and sounded good, but also told the truth. That was the priority to translate the feeling of community, of growth, and of hope, especially for people who maybe haven’t had much hope before. It was really about showing how people can shine when they’re given the space to do so. That was the intention to make something that touches people.

Interviewer: Raya Hristova

Editor: Martin Kudlac