Parallel

Aim

Following the death of her father, Joanna discovers a watch that transports her to a parallel universe where her father is still alive.

Parallel follows the story of Joanna Owusu as she navigates her grief following the death of her father. As tensions rise, Joanna finds herself growing distant from her family and begins to question if they knew her father like she did. Upon discovering one of her father’s experiments in his office, Joanna is suddenly transported to a parallel universe where her father is still alive. This second chance to be reunited with her father is disrupted when Joanna is faced with a dire circumstance. Consequently, she is forced to make a choice, face her grief directly and decide what carrying her father’s memory truly means.

The Cinematography vision for parallel is to communicate the themes of grief, closure and family through the lighting and camerawork. Our main character’s journey through the film will be reflected in the lighting by it starting off dark as representation of grief itself, then progressing to become warmer. This will highlight both the joy and intimacy during the family scenes in the parallel universe as well as the closure Joanna finally obtains.

The Owusu family home is a perfect blend of Ghanaian and British culture. Warm tones used throughout the house present it as cosy with a strong emphasis on family and intimacy while also being classy, presenting the family as being comfortable and well off. The father’s office is slightly cluttered with research communicating his profession as a research scientist as well as his devotion to his career. Despite the grief and pain that has now entered the home, it doesn’t become an outward reflection of it and still displays the memories of the love shared within the family.  

Parallel is a 15 minute short film written by Hayley-Vonzell Amegatcher. It delves into the themes of grief, closure and family. Grief is a feeling that we will eventually all experience (if you haven't already experienced it) and despite it being a universal experience that impacts people daily, how individuals respond to it can vary. The script highlights the difficulties of facing grief and gaining closure, while also expressing how the death of a loved one can impact dynamics within families. This film is inspired by the losses that the writer has seen those around her experience, as well as the losses that she herself has experienced first hand. The film incorporates the directors Ghanaian culture as well science fiction, bringing themes together that aren't often seen on screen.

Director and Writer

Hayley Vonzell-Amegatcher

Hey! I’m Hayley-Vonzell, the writer and director of Parallel. This film is truly a passion of mine that I have been working on for a while now, and getting to not only share this with an amazing crew that will make it a possibility but also you the audience, is something I’m so grateful and excited for. This film delves into the impact of grief, family and closure and I hope that it will touch all of you who will see it while allowing those who have experienced grief to also feel seen and understood. Thank you x

PRODUCER

Stevon Thames-Coke

I’m Stevon Thames-Coke the lead producer on parallel. I’m super excited to be producing along side our great director on this film as it is something never seen before, a blend of science fiction and cultural aspects. This film allows us to showcase the richness of Ghanaian culture while also telling an emotional story, with the tie of sci-fi. After months of hard work and dedication, I’m most excited to see Parallel come to life on screen and to share this amazing blend of culture, sci-fi and family tied film with the audience.

1st AD

Tilly Arthur

Hi, I’m Tilly Arthur, the 1st AD for Parallel. As soon as I saw the concept for this film, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted the opportunity to work under such a great director, and along side such a talented team. Parallel has the foundation to unite so many people through culture and shared grief. Who could pass that up?

Co-Producer

Steve Singh

Hi, I'm Steve Singh the Co-Producer for Parallel. I grew up on sci-fi and have always loved it's ability to explore everyday human experiences like grief and loss. Stories like Parallel's have always resonated with me for their ability to transform broad experiences like grief into tangible fantasy. This script fills me with a sense of connectedness and empathy that makes me confident that I know parallel will strike the same chord with people as it did with me. Being able to be a part of it's cultivation through production will be an opportunity like nothing else!

Director Of Photography 

Hugo  Bielecki 

Hi! I’m Hugo, the Director of Photography, and I am thoroughly excited to bring this screenplay to life through its cinematography. The film tells a meaningful story about grief and loss, as Joanna attempts to navigate her way through unforeseeable events in the world around her. It’s a very personal film, and the visuals will reflect this distinctiveness with the help of intimate lighting and tight camerawork.

Camera Operator

Tom White

I am excited to work on parallel. I have wanted to be a camera operator since I came to uni and now with my first chance on parallel a great film with a fantastic crew who I am looking forward to collaborating with on this film. The potential for visual storytelling and the composition in parallel is high and I hope to bring this film alive on the screen with the particular help of our fantastic director and DoP. I can't wait to shoot this thing.

1st AC

Caitlin Foley 

I am excited to join the cinematography team as 1st AC on a project with strong visual potential and deeply personal themes. I look forward to supporting the creative vision and helping bring the script to life with care, precision, and collaboration.

GAFFER

April Woodall

This film will be an important and incredible experience not only as a Gaffer, but as a Person of Colour. It will give me a creative outlet to express my culture. I’m most excited to create lighting that reflects the mood and atmosphere of the film and characters.

2nd AC

Lucas Ramos-Thornton

Hi, my name is Lucas Ramos-Thornton, and I’m the 2nd Assistant Camera on Parallel. I chose to be part of this project because the story immediately stood out to me, and I’m genuinely fond of the talented crew involved. With such a strong script and a team of skilled collaborators, I’m really passionate about what we have as a chance to create something together.

Production Design

Allanah-Mae

I’m really pleased to be working on parallel, as the production designer, what drew me to the film was its powerful visual concept, two parallel universes that represent nostalgia and grief. It’s been exciting to begin translating these emotional worlds into physical spaces, using design to reflect the contrast between memory and loss, and to help bring the story’s emotional depth to life.

Art Director

Hebe Thorp
I’m very excited to be supporting the visuals and art department for Parallel, as there’s lots of opportunity for the environment to reflect the characters and their relationships. I believe the story is one that will resonate heavily with audiences, as it explores bittersweet themes we will all experience and bond over, so being able to help create it is very special to me.

Editor

Penny Baker

I’m really looking forward to working on this project as an editor, the idea of being able to bring parallel universes to life in this story is so exciting, it’s beautifully written and au can’t wait to help shape the final outcome !

Sound Designer

Libonge Sonjani

As the Sound designer, I was drawn to Parallel due its quiet emotional depth and was eager to explore ways in which i can shape the atmosphere between two realities, using sound to reflect grief, memory, and connection with the goal of making the film not just seen, but felt.

Makeup Artist

Claire Cooper

As the Makeup and Hair Designer for the graduate film Parallel, I am thrilled to contribute my creative vision and technical expertise to a genre I have long admired. As a Level 6 Makeup student, I have developed a broad portfolio spanning theatre, editorial, fantasy, costume and historical projects, with a particular strength in characterisation and narrative-driven design. I greatly value collaboration and thrive when working within a creative team environment, especially when working closely with talented actors to develop and refine their on-screen transformations. Seeing my work displayed on camera and evoked so emotionally from the models and actors really gives me that rush!  Entering the world of film has been a long-standing ambition, and it is a privilege to do so through a sci-fi project that aligns so closely with my creative passions. I am committed to using makeup and hair design to convey emotion, authenticity, and believability, ensuring each character feels grounded and relatable within a futuristic context.

Costume

Elizabeth Rowntree

My name is Elizabeth Rowntree, and I'm the Costume Designer of Parallel. This film spoke to me because of the connections between family members, love and grief brilliantly explored in the story. Extensive research to accurately portray British Ghanaian culture will be integral to the costume design of this film. I plan for the costumes to feel warm and joyful.

Thank you. You’ve made it to the bottom of our page. On behalf of the whole Parallel film crew, thank you for taking the time to read everything. We appreciate all of your support for this film and may God continue to bless you all. Stay tuned for what we get up to in production! 

This project successfully funded on 12th December 2025