Drifting | Interactive Short Film

About Me

My name is Kyle O'Neill and I am a final year student at the Ulster University, studying Interactive Media. I have always had a passion for film and storytelling and I am excited to be able to combine this with my love for cinematography. This is my interactive short film for my Major Project , which aims to raise awareness of mental health issues, and how small decisions can have a huge impact on a persons life. Depression and mental health issues have always been a topic that resonates with me and I have always wanted to create something that can help others. Enjoy!

The Project

Depression in cinema can be depicted in many ways, and quite often it is depicted as violent, when in reality, the person suffering could be the one with the biggest smile on their face. The aim of this project is to build empathy from the audience towards the protagonist. I plan on doing this through an interactive short film, to allow the user to make ONE cruial decision, which will ultimately have a drastic effect on the outcome of the story. Showcasing how a small decision can have a huge impact on a persons life.

Interactive Short Film DRIFTING

The Characters

Arthur is the main protagonist in this narrative, although he can be percieved as the antagonist to himself. He is a 20 year old university student, struggling with the heavy burdens life has put upon him and it all starts to get too much for him to handle

Emma is a close friend to Arthur, she is the supporting role in this film. Emma provides a sense of calmness and loving towards Arthur, and shows care in his time of need, allowing him to have the opportnity to open up if he (the audience) chooses to do so

Jake is a close friend to Arthur from university, he notices that Arthur is not himself and tries to help him, but he is not as close to him as Emma. Jake is the one who pushes Arthur to go out and have fun, but he does not understand the struggles that Arthur is going through. He reaches out to Emma worried about Arthur who then goes on to talk to Arthur

Support Services

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, it is important to reach out for help. There are many resources available to support you. Here are a few:

Survey

Thank you watching my interactive short film. For constructive feedback and to allow for more research into the topic of mental health and interactive narratives, I would be very grateful if you could take a few minutes to fill out my survey.

Thank You