Alex Lawther - acclaimed actor from End of the F*cking World, Black Mirror, and much more - has made his directorial debut for childhood friend and artist Linus Fenton.

Sponsored by mental health charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) and beautifully shot on 16mm by DoP Adam Singodia, the film examines a difficult friendship between two young boys. They are close as brothers but find it impossible to make one another aware of their feelings.

For the film, Lawther worked closely with movement director Grace Nicol to build an avant-garde visual language, which expresses the two boys' attempts to connect with one another, drawing on his experience as an actor to inform his directorial approach.

“Linus called me up towards the end of the first Lockdown," Lawther recalls. "He’d written an album, [and] it was the first time I had heard him writing in this way. It was beautiful. I was very moved.  

"He then asked me if I’d like to direct a video for one of the songs. I was not only lucky to get to work on my first directing gig with a dear friend, but also a brilliant creative team and two wonderful actors - Roman Griffin Davis and Connor Mason."

The video was produced by Blink, with whom Lawther worked when starring as Declan McManus's 'double' in the Key To Life On Earth video directed by Will Hooper last year. 

“Collaborating with Alex on his first music video has been such a wonderful experience," says Laura Northover, head of music at Blink. "His experience as an actor really informed his approach when working with the boys on set and during the rehearsals in the lead up to shooting.

"He’s not only the loveliest person, but also ridiculously talented. I’m looking forward to working together more in the future as he develops as a director.”