Stained Canvas Review

Directed by Jayne Slater

2022

“It pays the bills”.

Midlands filmmakers Jayne Slater directs new short film Stained Canvas, an intense drama that touches upon artistry, passions and mental health.

Inspired by her real-life experiences, Slater opens her short with artist Marion (Eleanor May Blackburn) gazing upon her work. Staring at the camera, the shot immediately pulls us into her psychological film as she looks at the audience.

And we get our first glimpse of the themes of the film as we become another group of people looking upon (and judging) someone’s artistic endeavours.

Marion is in an art class where a clothes designer named Lily (Chrissie Wunna) encourages her work that is being prepped for a competition.

Elsewhere, her parents express their interest but are concerned her creative endeavours are not a money-making career choice. Of which many artists (especially filmmakers) can no doubt relate to – whether it be family or friends and peers.

Stained Canvas was nominated at our Midlands Movies Awards 2022 for Best Editing for Lisa Rustage and she arranges Slater’s footage well to ensure that we follow Marion’s complicated journey and is in every single shot – again piling the metaphorical pressure on.

A second nomination for the film was Chrissie Wunna for Best Supporting Actress. She’s in a brief but important role as a supporter of her work. The encouragement and support of these people in our lives can pay huge dividends in our future outlook on life.

Midlands Movies Awards 2022 jury panel member and respected film writer Tim Coleman also wanted to give further feedback with his thoughts on this absorbing film:

“As artist Marion (Eleanor May Blackburn) struggles for recognition – both in competitions and from her unsupportive family – and cracks begin to form in her fragile mental health. Director Jayne Slater’s blend of paints, pressure and impending horror evokes beats from Joe Begos’ Bliss, with a payoff that’s not for the squeamish. However despite this Marion’s arc feels under-developed, landing somewhere which perhaps needed more time and tension in order to fully convince ★★★” 

Tim Coleman

Twitter @fatscoleman

As the film develops it explores pressure, artistic expression and the toll these can take on a person’s wellbeing. Slater’s warning suggests if these are not acknowledged and supported in a healthy way, they could spiral out of control. Whether that be self-harm or explosions of anger, conflict and even attacks on others.

With Stained Canvas though, talented director Jayne Slater ends by providing a palette of raw emotions and a gallery of dark and intriguing behavioural themes which successfully challenges the audience.

Michael Sales