Screenings / Awards

Hamilton Film Festival

Asti International Film Festival - Awarded Best Actress

Wick Monet Film Festival

Toronto Film Week

Vancouver Short Film Festival - Awarded Best Sound Design

Get Reel Film Fest

Revelation Perth International Film Festival

Director’s Statement

My first panic attack was five years ago. My heart was racing, my chest felt tight, and my breath was shallow and out of control -- I was sure that I was dying. It wasn’t until I left the hospital that I learned that there was nothing, physically, wrong with me. I was left with the guilt that I had wasted precious time and resources, but also a lingering fear that one of these random attacks could happen again. 3 Seconds In, 6 Seconds Out seeks to explore these emotions that straddle the fluctuating boundary between comfort and anxiety.

From the earliest stages of the film, I knew that I wanted to build upon my Master’s research on dynamic aspect ratios and take a formal approach to portraying anxiety. The switch between horizontal and vertical aspect ratios creates a counterbalance between comfort and anxiety that invites the viewer to consider how the framing reflects Hanna’s state of mind. One of my goals in taking this approach is to invert the notion that a narrow aspect ratio can only be used to convey a sense of danger, fear, or constraint. Instead, we see Hanna most at ease within the narrow vertical frame, which functions as a kind of firm embrace reminiscent of the deep pressure therapy techniques used to treat anxiety.

I wish that this could be a story of resilience in the face of adversity, but it’s not. I still struggle with panic attacks -- some that even occurred during the production of this film. The shame has waned, but the anxiety still remains. Like Hanna, the most I can do is recognize what my body is doing and manage the sensations. Instead, I have tried to depict the fluidity of these emotions as authentically as possible while inviting the audience to reflect on their own conceptions of anxiety.

Cast & Crew

Claire Shenstone-Harris as Hanna

Dianne Manaster as Sarah

Suzanne Pratley as Subway Passenger

Writer / Director / Producer Christopher Beaulieu

Co-Producer Alissa Chater

Director of Photography Christopher Beaulieu

Production Assistant Jenny Mao

Editor Christopher Beaulieu

Colourist Zach Cox

Sound Designer / Re-Record Mixer Lucas Prokaziuk