From Part-Time Filmmaking to BFI Flare with Shaun Kitchener

Our Shorts Courses always prioritise the practical aspect of filmmaking – and for Shaun Kitchener, who completed our Part-Time Filmmaking Course last year, that meant shooting his debut screen project, Toothbrush.

Showing as part of BFI Flare’s sold out Connect/Disconnect Short Collection, Toothbrush was written and directed by Shaun for his London Short Course.

With experience writing for the likes of Hollyoaks and various theatre projects, we spoke to Shaun about what led him to enrol in this Short Course, his upcoming Flare screening, and more…

Firstly, can you tell us a little about your short film, Toothbrush?

The film is set on the night of protagonist Liam’s stag party. He’s a week away from marrying the mother of his young child, but really, he’s in love with Will, who he secretly had a fling with during a ‘break’ from his fiancée.

When it hits him that he’s running out of time to face up to who he really is, he finds himself ditching the party and knocking on Will’s door…

The film is your debut screen project as a Writer and Director – how does it feel to have been selected for BFI Flare?

Flare is my favourite film festival – I’ve seen so many amazing LGBTQIA+ films there over the last few years.

I submitted Toothbrush knowing it was a bit of a long shot, given how many submissions they get, and the fact that this is my first short film. I was so happy when it was selected! The screening is really a testament to the hard work of everyone who helped put the film together.

Where did the concept for the film come from? And from the first idea to the final project, did it change very much?

On my course, we were very wisely advised to keep our short films simply, so that they could realistically be shot over a weekend.

I remembered that, over the pandemic, I’d tried to adapt an old play into a short film – so I dug that out and got to work.

Things definitely changed along the way, from the scriptwriting process, to the actual shoot – and even the edit (there’s one part of the film I had a lot of fun with in post, reordering dialogue and playing with pauses).

Even with all of these changes, though, the general vibe is absolutely in line with the initial idea!

You filmed Toothbrush while on our Filmmaking Short Course. What led you to enrol in this course?

I’ve been very lucky to get to write for a TV soap over the last few years, and it made me even more curious to learn about the production and post production side of things, to see how scripts actually get made.

I’m also just generally a bit of a film nerd – I used to love making little films as a teenager!

The course was exactly what I was looking for. It introduced us to the basics of so many elements of filmmaking, all in manageable, bite-sized chunks. And most excitingly, it culminated in us getting to actually make something!

While on the course, were there any particular lessons that inspired you as a filmmaker?

Oh God, loads! The session that blew my mind was the one on sound – I’m embarrassed to admit I’d barely thought about it before (which shows how amazing the professionals are!), but now, it’s one of the first things I notice!

When we came to make our shorts, I was also just inspired to be around so many different people, and to be on so many different sets.

Writing can be quite solitary, and I had forgotten how much I love being part of a team, being creative together. The day we all reunited to watch one another’s shorts was brilliant, each one full of different ideas and ‘omg’ moments.

And looking at Toothbrush, are there any scenes that you think demonstrate your unique filmmaking voice?

I never really thought I had much of a ‘voice’, but looking back at all my work, I definitely see patterns!

In my writing, I like to add lightness to my dialogue, and to hone in on complex relationships between people who fundamentally love one another – whether that’s romantically, or platonically. And of course… the gayer the better!

In terms of filmmaking, I’m still finding my own visual style, but working with the incredible Julio Cármenes (DoP), he helped me create so many shots that felt spot-on to what I wanted. I’d say that Toothbrush is definitely in line with my voice.

Did you find it challenging, writing a short film after so much television and theatre experience?

I suppose it was similar to theatre work, in the sense that the characters and their world are all down to me (before the actors make it their own, obviously), whereas on a TV show like Hollyoaks, you’re working with pre-established characters and a mix of storylines compiled by a brilliant editorial team.

On the other hand, it’s different to theatre and similar to TV, because you have to consider the practicalities of the production: the time you have, the locations, factors like daylight and audio… all that fun stuff!

And finally, what’s next for you!

I’m knee-deep in a theatre project this year, which is super excited, as theatre is what I started out with! I’m writing the jukebox musical for the band Steps (which 10-year-old me would be losing his mind about!) – it premieres at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham later this year, and hopefully other places will follow in 2025!

Other than that, I’m really motivated from my course and the process of making Toothbrush, so I’m trying to finish the first draft of a feature – and thinking of new shorts all the time, too!

• Shaun Kitchener studied our Part-Time Filmmaking Course in London. This course is most comparable to our current Certificate in Practical Filmmaking.
• Check out the full line up for BFI Flare here.