Blindsided Short Film

Aim

Help bring Blindsided to life: A short film breaking the silence around men's mental health and sparking honest conversations.

My name is Wesley Antonio, and I’m the writer and director of Blindsided and the founder of Ninth Frame Studios. I’m building a production company that tells honest, emotionally driven stories—stories that help people feel seen and start conversations we too often avoid.

The story we want to tell:

Blindsided follows Roman, a talented young athlete who seems to have the world at his feet. His team depends on him, his community looks up to him, and the people he loves turn to him for support. But behind his charm and reassuring smile is someone struggling under the weight of everyone’s expectations.

As pressure, unresolved grief and abandonment build, Roman keeps putting others first. The person everyone relies on becomes the person nobody thinks to ask: “Are you actually okay?”

Through his story, we explore young men’s mental health, relationships, masculinity and the belief that being strong means keeping your pain to yourself.

Why this film is personal

Roman’s story comes from a very personal place. I understand the pressure to be the older brother, the provider, the leader and the person who keeps everyone going. I also know what it means to carry grief while trying to make the people you love proud.

Writing Blindsided has given me a way to explore those experiences honestly. I want audiences to recognise something of themselves—or someone they love—in Roman.

Our team and vision:

Through Ninth Frame Studios, I’m bringing together a creative team working collaboratively to bring this story to life. Across production, camera, sound, design, hair and makeup, and post-production, every contribution helps build Roman’s world.

Our vision is an intimate, powerful film that captures both the warmth of being loved and the loneliness of feeling unable to speak. From the youth centre where Roman supports his community to the sports field where he must perform, we want audiences to feel the demands placed upon him.

We want Blindsided to encourage honest conversations between friends, partners, families and teammates. At its heart is one question: “Am I genuinely okay, or have I just become good at bottling everything up?”

How your support will help:

We’re developing Blindsided on a limited budget. The money we raise will help cover the practical costs of making and sharing the film, including:

Camera, lighting and sound: equipment hire to capture clear performances, strong visuals and quality audio.

Locations, props and costumes: creating believable spaces that reflect the characters and their lives.

Travel and meals: helping our cast and crew get to set and stay supported throughout filming.

Post-production: editing, colour grading, sound design and the final sound mix.

Reaching audiences: festival submissions, screenings and promotional materials.

We will prioritise the essentials that allow us to complete the film to a standard the whole team can be proud of, and share updates as the project progresses.

Help us bring Blindsided to life:

Every donation, whatever the size, helps us move closer to telling this story. If you can’t donate, sharing our campaign can help us reach someone who can.

Thank you for supporting Ninth Frame Studios and helping us create a film that asks us to look closer, listen more carefully and check on the people who always seem to be okay.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 8th December 2026 at 12:00am