What About The Devil
Judah, a young man living among the city’s lower echelon of inhabitants, grapples with his religious beliefs, particularly his Catholic guilt, as he has become seduced by the criminal underworld.
The excitement of each illicit deal and the high stakes of his criminal acts give him a fleeting sense of power and invincibility. For a while, he revels in the danger, the lawlessness, and the freedom from societal constraints. He feels alive, his senses heightened, and his fears momentarily forgotten.
But as the night fades and the thrill dissipates, the euphoria turns to ash in his mouth, and the reality of his actions crashes down on him. Haunted by the faces of those he's wronged, their silent accusations pierce his conscience. His dreams offer no solace, filled instead with images of fire and brimstone and the devil’s mocking grin. He prays, seeking forgiveness, but the words feel hollow, his guilt too profound to be washed away by simple repentance.
He attends confession, hoping for a miracle that will sever his ties to the criminal world. The priest offers absolution, but Judah remains unconvinced, believing his sins to be beyond redemption. His fear of the devil grows, not just as a personification of evil, but as a symbol of his own failings. He dreads that his preoccupation with Satan is a form of idolatry, elevating the devil to a place in his mind that should be reserved for God.
— Role
Writer
Director
Producer
Assistant Editor
Location Manager
Prop Master
Costume Supervisor
Background Stand-In
Marketing Designer
— Release Date
June 14th, 2024
Written over two days, What About The Devil was originally conceived as a hybrid between a short film and a music video set to Crystals by Clams Casino.
Music often plays a key role in my writing process, and this track immediately sparked a vision of a gritty, crime-ridden city that Judah inhabits, contrasted with a cold, desolate church where he seeks repentance for his sins.
The film draws inspiration from Mean Streets (1973, Martin Scorsese), particularly its exploration of Catholic guilt clashing with a life of crime in a chaotic urban landscape. Good Time (2017, Safdie Brothers) was also a major influence, shaping the film’s contrast between the harsh, artificial glow of neon-lit streets and the stark natural lighting within the church, as well as the use of its score.
This project was shot over three days, from January 22nd to 24th, 2024, with an additional day of drone filming on February 24th, 2024. Filming took place in central London and Surrey on a budget of no more than £150, primarily spent on props, travel and VFX. Securing locations was a major challenge, requiring access to a church, city areas suitable for drone shots, and atmospheric city streets that frame Judah’s journey.
— Stills
— Tree Shot x Insanity Radio Interview #2
On June 3rd, 2024, I had the exciting opportunity to return to Insanity Radio for a live on-air interview hosted by the station manager, Lottie Macro.
Alongside a fellow member of Tree Shot Studios, Alexander Roffey (DoP, Editor), we discussed the launch of our social platforms, our recent releases such as ZAY, and offered insight into our imminent short film, What About The Devil.
Delving into our humble beginnings and Tree Shot’s roots, we reflected on how What About The Devil feels like a full-circle moment - connecting back to the types of films we set out to make in our early days.
Sharing on-set experiences, our creative process, and our drive toward filmmaking, we explored not only past projects but also those still to come, and how they resonate with us on a deeper level.
Edited by myself, this making-of documentary visually brings the interview to life, weaving in behind-the-scenes imagery, videography, and more to complement the stories we told.
— Behind the Scenes Photography
Behind the Scenes Photography by Alvin Lo (1st Assistant Camera, Drone Operator),
myself, Nicola Jaros (2nd Assistant Camera, Kayla), and Alexander Roffey (DoP, Editor)
— Premiere Event
On June 9th 2024, What About The Devil had its premiere at the Royal Holloway Boilerhouse Auditorium. Presented by Lottie Macro and Chloe Hayler of Insanity Radio, myself and Alexander Roffey (DoP, Editor) premiered the first screening of What About The Devil. Following the screening, we delved into the film’s creative process, discussing key artistic choices and behind-the-scenes insights.
In addition to this, I officially announced the next and heavily anticipated project, American Wedding. I reflected on my two-year journey leading up to this music short film whilst providing the audience with a chance to appear in the project’s pivotal wedding scene.
We were met with an incredibly warm and supportive audience, many of whom had travelled from afar to spend the evening with us. Their enthusiasm and thoughtful words about the film made the experience all the more special and we couldn’t have asked for a better audience for the premiere.
Event Photography by Alvin Lo (1st Assistant Camera, Drone Operator)
— Premiere Reflection
Such an incredible night. I’m still processing the support and the kind words from everyone who came. What I do know is I want to say thank you! It’s hard to imagine so many people (many of whom I’ve never met) travelling from a range of distances to spend their evenings with us in support of our project. However you did, from wherever you did, I’m not sure if I can put it into words how much it truly means.
As touched on in the event, this project ties back to the earliest films we dreamed of making. Before I even made my first short film, I was in awe of the Safdie Brother’s blend of style and substance as well as Scorsese’s early depictions of gritty urban life. I adore Good Time and Mean Streets and to have written a piece in the vein of both is something truly special to me.
Bringing the film to life wouldn’t have been possible if not for the amazing crew and cast: Alex Roffey, Alvin Lo, Nicola Jaros, Billy Sulayman and Robert Vladimirov. I strongly believe this shoot to have been the best I’ve ever experienced. It sounds cliche but filmmaking truly does have the power to bring a group of people together to make something bigger than the sum of its parts. I couldn’t have asked for a more passionate and dedicated crew and I hope to work with all of you again in the future!
This premiere also marked the official announcement of American Wedding. As I said at the premiere, anyone who knows me personally knows how much this project means to me and how dissimilar it is to anything we’ve ever made. I truly believe What About The Devil serves as the perfect preliminary to this project and each project we’ve worked on this past year has strongly helped build to this. I have carried this story and the journeys of its two central characters for two and a half years and I’m ecstatic to finally have a chance to share their stories.
Thank you again to everyone who came to the premiere and I hope you had an amazing time!
