Surrender To It is a Nottingham made film, made by Director Tim Bryn Smith of The Actors Workshop and Film Maker Chris Wetton of besq.
Our charity Founders Carly and Martin were pleased to act as consultants on the film script, and to provide emotional support to cast and crew, to ensure that the loss storyline felt true to, and representative of, the experience of bereaved parents.
If you have been affected by the loss of Tobi in the film, and the storyline of the bereaved parent characters Dani and Celina, please find below a list of support organisations that you may wish to turn to:
In the UK:
- Child Bereavement UK
- The Compassionate Friends
- Samaritans Helpline open 24/7, 365 days a year
- Drowning Support Network
- Royal Lifesaving Society UK (not a bereavement charity)
In the USA:
In Australia :
Beyond :
TCF The Compassionate Friends have links and offer support in a number of other countries, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, South Africa, Canada, America. Take a look and find out more here
On support from Carly and Martin, Director Tim says :
” Having been touched by the themes explored in ‘Surrender to It’ myself, I have some understanding of the fear, fragility, and strength that lives inside these experiences.
Zephyr’s support was essential in shaping the script and helped ground the characters experience in the lived reality of bereaved families.
It’s an honor to have partnered with the charity and the support they offer to families is incredible. It’s a privilege to help raise awareness for the amazing work they do.”
Film Maker Chris adds :
” The script development for Surrender To It was a lengthy process, with many months of midnight oil burnt! Tim and I soon realised that the central story arc, built around child loss, required genuine lived experience. Support came in the form of Martin & Carly from Zephyrs who were instrumental in shaping the script in those early days. Their ongoing support for the project entailed group and one to one support with members of the cast, particularly Daemian Greaves (Dani) and Melissa May Smith (Celena), a couple who are going through a very turbulent time after the loss of their son Tobi in a tragic accident. Martin & Carly’s presence allowed us to approach the table reads and subsequent actors rehearsal sessions with confidence, safe in the knowledge that the emotive storylines and potential triggers were being portrayed with sensitivity and authenticity, something we held in the highest regard. Going forward, Tim and I are committed to supporting Zephyrs in the work they do and have been very humbled by their willingness to support our “little film with a big heart”. We can’t thank them enough for their involvement and I hope the film goes some way to telling a story that is the most difficult to tell.”
You can find out more about the film here
View the film on Apple TV or Amazon Prime or YouTube
*SPOILERS* A pause here to note, that if you have not yet watched Surrender To it, and you intend to, we’d like to make you aware that the theme of child loss is woven into the whole story line. It is done in a thoughtful and careful way, however if you are feeling sensitive to watching at this time, you may want to return to the film on another occasion.
Please also note – that the loss of the child is by drowning, and there are scenes that feature the reminiscence/flashbacks to this. Whilst it can be of some comfort for some, to see your own experiences reflected in film (and other media) avoid if this feels too much for you.
