WE ARE PUPPETS

INDIA MEALING

India Mealing is an independent film director, writer and Director of Photography based in Exeter, Devon and is the founder of Comfy Spider Productions, a production company that collaborates with local creatives. As a filmmaker, India has written and directed a series of short films that fuel themselves on innovation and in-camera practical effects, inspiring her to take her films back to the early roots of ILM (Industrial Light and Magic). India’s work is often inspired by sensitive topics, to which her last productions have featured such elements in some considerable depth. She views her work as a form of social commentary in an attempt to highlight important issues that affect many people in today's society. Growing up, the arts surrounded India, and she discovered her love for filmmaking through the groundbreaking works of Jim Henson. Following her chosen path, India went on to study Film & Television studies at the University of Exeter, which then led her to create her own video production company, Comfy Spider Productions, which aims to work with queer identities, women in film, and creatives who have a shared experience of living with a hidden disability.

Film synopsis:

A minuscule tale of two flatmates, one human, the other a puppet, and their conflict over the responsibilities of adulthood. In the end, who pulls the springs?

Credits:

Director / Director of Photography / Editor: India Mealing

Written by: Jessica Pender, Sage Nicolay, India Mealing

Cast:

Jessica Pender as The Human Flatmate

Alphonso as The Puppet Flatmate

Sage Nicolay as the voice and puppeteer of Alphonso