THANKS FOR THE HARMONICA is a short film set in one location about a dejected man who falls in love with a free spirited hotel clerk, who helps him to grieve the death of his estranged father by gifting him a harmonica.

About Me.

My name is Jemimah Mensah-Coker and I'm the writer and director of ‘Thanks For The Harmonica’. I've worked in the television industry for over 8 years and graduated from The London Film School in 2016. I tend to gravitate towards stories that look at black identity, the human condition, and broken relationships within families.

The Inspiration.

I've always been fascinated with the idea of a brief encounter between strangers that have a significant impact on each other's lives. In the script, Celeste communicates to Noah the importance of grieving, and that loss is a part of life but that one needs to know when it's time to move on.
 
I’m a very nostalgic person by nature, but I’ve recently learnt that there is beauty in things being finite. That is why I wanted to capture a moment in time set in one location. Exploring ordinary things like flowers wilting and a couple arguing by the lift. So, I played around with the theme of Winter that represents some of life's painful experiences that seems lonely and barren on the surface but actually leads to hope and new beginnings.
 
We experience loss in a variety of ways. Not only in losing a loved one or saying goodbye to a relationship, but when we lose part of ourselves. Additionally, I didn't want the lead characters to end up together like in most love stories. That’s not what the film is about. I wanted to create a sense of realism that in life things end, just like seasons... and that's okay.

THE TEAM.

Jem (Writer & Director)

Jemimah Mensah-Coker is a London based writer and digital content producer for Licklemor Productions. She graduated from The London Film School in 2016. Three years later, she worked as an Assistant Producer for What’s Up TV, and recently became an Associate Producer for the rebranded show, Unmuted, for Sky Arts. ‘Thanks For The Harmonica’ is her directorial debut that explores themes of life and death, mourning and new beginnings whether literally or metaphorically. Her favourite movie to date is ‘Ordinary People’, directed by Robert Redford. It is a passion of hers to create films that are raw, memorable, and human.

Iulia (Producer)

Iulia Avram is a TV Producer with a passion for storytelling. She started working in TV in 2014 and has experience in factual entertainment and documentary production. She has worked for broadcasters and networks like BBC, Channel 4, Netflix, CNN, Sky One and Sky Arts and is currently working on a documentary series for HBO Max. Iulia loves giving a voice to people whose narrative is not often heard and enjoys stranger than fiction stories, which unravel from something seemingly ordinary.

Jason (DoP)

Jason Ferguson is an up-and-coming Director of Photography, working across Documentary and Drama. His love for cinema drives his creativity and passion in creating visual art that blurs the line between reality and a structured scene, having worked across a variety of documentaries including, the Bafta award winning Gun No. 6, 24hrs in Police Custody, One Borough, The Baby has Landed and a handful of Dramas, The Water, Headcleaner, Ties of the Ribbon, Leavers of London. The experience of working in tricky access programmes, has made him a people person that is able to produce and shoot in difficult lighting situations. His cinematography heroes include, Roger Deakins, Emmanuel Lubezi for their use of natural light, which he strives to emulate in his work.

THE CAST.

Lewis (playing Noah)

Lewis Jamison is an actor, writer and fashion model who has appeared in several critically acclaimed short films, TV , feature films and commercials. He gained positive appraisal for his portrayal of Dr Simon Nox in CBBC’s 'So Awkward' and also gained a best actor nomination from the New Jersey horror con film festival for his role as Ethan Jones in the short film ‘Call of the void’.

Paige (playing Celeste)

Paige Wilson-Lawrence trained at the Identity School of Acting for several years alongside her BA Hons in Performing Arts. She then attended the Middleweek Newton Academy and since then has performed in Theatres around London including, The Cockpit, Waterloo East Theatre and Tristan Bates Theatre. Paige has now entered the stage of her career where she wants to surrender herself to the craft holistically by learning more, reading more, seeing more and performing more;  finding her identity as a Professional Actor.

What We Need.

I am hoping to raise the money to help pay for the location which is a really important element in the project. A minimalistic and understated yet aesthetically pleasing London hotel (although I’m open to film outside of London if necessary) as well as paying for props, camera, and sound equipment. Additionally, the money will go towards paying the cast and crew for their time and effort throughout the process of being part of my short film.