An operating system tries to help a successful and overworked architect get over the break up of his family.

Can I Help? is a proof-of-concept short film, which was completed in 2021 and screened at many festivals internationally winning several nominations and awards including Best UK Short at the BIFA Qualifying North East International Film Festival, Best First Time Filmmaker at the cutting edge Ignite Film Festival and Best Actor at the BAFTA Qualifying British Urban Film Festival. Director Rupert Ratcliffe was also Runner Up for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Scholarship as part of the Asian World Film Festival in Los Angeles.


The film is a sci-fi drama set in London in the near future and explores themes of mental health, fatherhood and our relationship with technology. It was written, directed and produced by Rupert Ratcliffe – his debut film – and stars Nicholas Pinnock and Mark Strong.

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THE FEATURE

CAN I HELP? is an elevated genre film – a sci-fi human drama with a recovery story at its core – exploring themes of mental health, fatherhood and our relationship with technology; in particular focusing on how Artifical Intelligence will reshape our society in the years to come. 

 

The film is set in the near future and centres on a highly successful, creative and overworked architect (Daniel), who is fighting to save himself from severe depression – after the breakup of his family – with the help of his trusty, affable AI (Walter).

 

The feature length version – written and to be directed by Rupert Ratcliffe, with Nicholas Pinnock and Mark Strong attached to reprise their roles – broadens out the world and delves deeper into the main characters, the source of the protagonist’s depression and the battle to make sense of this reality.

 

We are seeking investment to start principal photography in 2025.

 

Please contact us for more information.

CREDITS

A Manticore Films Production

In Association With Silver Milk Productions

Writer, Director & Producer – Rupert Ratcliffe

Executive Producers – Nicholas Pinnock & Rupert Ratcliffe

Co-Executive Producers – Dan Baboulene , Teal Cannaday,

Jeff Golenberg & Oliver Slinger

Cast

Daniel  -  Nicholas Pinnock

Walter  -  Mark Strong

Jen -  Kezia Burrows (voice) / Katrina Bernard

Aaliah  - Janae Francis 

Tony  -  Silas Carson


Crew

Director of Photography  -  Andy Toovey

Production Designer  -  Simon Scullion

Editor  -  Jim Page

Composer  -  Dan Baboulene

Sound Designer  -  Paul Darling

Visual Effects Supervisor  -  Peter Eszenyi

Costume Designer  -  Jodie-Simone Howe

Hair & Make Up Artist  -  Nicky Weir

Story Consultant  -  David Baboulene

First Assistant Director  -  Tom Allan

Second Assistant Director & Stills Photographer  -  Machis Baboulene

Crew

3rd Assistant Director  -  Charlotte Blackburne-Birch

First Camera Assistant  -  Courtney AndrewsSecond Camera Assistant  -  Joe O’Hare

Third Camera Assistant  -  Robyn Hough

Sound Recordist  -  Cassandra Rutledge

Stunt Coordinator  -  Justin Pearson

Stunt Rigger  -  Barry Asterley-Green

Stunt Driver  -  Anthony Ratcliffe

Visual Effects Compositors  -  Dan Browne, Bharath Kumar

Lee Watson
Colourist  -  Rebecca Goodeve

Title Design  -  Lunarstorm


Special Thanks

Author Post Productions

Louis Chan

Shakira Hylton

The Little Yellow Door

Lunarstorm

Alex Marx

Paul Mustafa

Sasha Nathwani

Mercedes Ratcliffe

Verity Wheatley

Owen Williams