Ed’s got a plan, a time machine, and a hole in his heart, but has he got the patience to help his teenaged parents grow up?
old Edward Reid is a successful man, he has a degree in engineering, a well-paying job, a house he’s paid off, and a nice car, but something in his life is missing – a family. His parents, Darren Reid and Emma Jones died when Ed was two, leaving Ed to grow up bouncing around foster homes and angry at the world. When Ed gets home from work every day, he doesn’t kickback, he sits alone, in his workshop and builds his greatest invention yet. Ed’s got a time machine and he’s going to save his parents.
The problem with Ed’s plan is that his parents were drug addicts who died of an overdose when they were 20. When Ed arrives in 1992, he soon realises he hasn’t got the patience to deal with two high teenagers who haven’t ever been told no in their lives. They aren’t going to give up drugs easily and they aren’t going to listen to a grown stranger telling them what to do despite their newborn son they’re meant to be caring for.
Darren and Emma manage to turn around and end up forming a close bond with their new father figure/future son and Ed doesn’t do too badly with taking care of the baby version of himself either. Unfortunately for Ed, his days are now spent fending off Darren and Emma’s childhood best friend and drug dealer, Dave. Dave sees right through Ed, and he wants his best customers
A few months later, satisfied with his parent’s progress, Ed prepares to return back to the present, he leaves the house, alone to buy Darren and Emma a farewell card and a gift. Dave spots Ed leaving and uses this opportunity to finally speak to Darren and Emma without Ed interfering. Ed returns to the house later that night and discovers his parents have relapsed and overdosed. On the realisation that Ed’s interference has killed his parents earlier than they originally died, Ed prepares to take Baby Ed back with him to raise by himself but has a change of heart and drops him off at the foster home that Ed hated so much, choosing to interfere no longer.
The human necessity, a need for connection, something we all feel or experience, be loved ones or friends, sense of belonging is something we all share. Considering this growing up, my own lost family members now reconciled with, the idea of having a chance to go back and change how things were, makes me consider how different things would be today.
When I received the script of State of Love and Trust, it construed those similar feelings, importance of not holding on to past events, yet consumed by the idea of what if? Looking at the creativity within the Scifi/Drama genre, set in a 90’s period aesthetic, we explored balancing the retro and futuristic tonality of film. I aimed to blend both, giving the audience a rustic and naturalistic idea of time-travel, intertwined with the ‘rough-around-the-edges’ 90’s Britain.
The narrative backbone is structured in the bonds created in the Protagonists arc, this poignant film, considers love, loss and change. Something Chris, Amelie, Sam, and Brad all engaged with, truly developing in front and behind the camera, expressing their shared talent in vulnerability and dedication to their craft.
Throughout the project, I really enjoyed exploring the duality of the characters alongside the cast, contriving different performance styles and perspectives relating to the narrative. Ed learning about himself, nurturing his parents and little Eddie, serves the idea of truly healing your inner child.
Aja Skeggs
State of Love and Trust being the second short film directed by Aja, she is a passionate creator in many creative avenues. Having worked on internal and external student led productions, she flourishes in expanding her creative lens through Directorial work, as well as learning other roles within the filming sphere, such as an Assistant Director or Producer work.
With her first Directing short-film experience on university project, Monstrum, State of Love and Trust has been the most ambitious yet, expanding on her strengths, and stylisation.
Developing this Graduation film, she was inspired by adapting the Naturalistic and Experimental cinema, looking for the weird and wonderful in exposing and playing with sensory experience (Cinematography and Sound scape) in relation to performance. Developed skills from this project, Aja is passionate for the next chapter, using her experience after graduation when entering the industry.
Lloyd Rodd
Lloyd is a passionate sound supervisor who has reliably lent his sound skills to over 25 productions across his time at university both internally and for outside client and industry work, leaving him with 4 broadcast credits.
In his spare time, Lloyd is a writer, and he has been happy to be involved in the production of his passion project, "State of Love and Trust". An idea that stemmed from his love of 90's grunge culture and some of his own experiences in life.
Lloyd has developed his skills greatly during this project, both as a sound supervisor and as a writer and is seeking to enter the industry when he graduates as a location sound recordist.
Mya Betts
Mya Betts is an enthusiastic DoP who has been committed to this role across many projects during her time at USW. Throughout the course, she has worked on films such as Dances With Branches, and of course, State of Love And Trust.
In her spare time, Mya also loves SFX makeup, which she also lent her skill to on this project as well as on friend's final films including Who Did It?
Mya has developed her skills as a DoP well during the making of this film and is hoping to enter the film industry in the same role.
Fred Aston
Alfred (Fred) Aston is a passionate editor who has served in this role in many projects during his time on the course. Throughout the course he has worked on projects including The Opposites and a promotional video for the Triangle Foundation in Cardiff. As well as this, outside of the course he has worked on a promotional video for the Cardiff Animation Festival and a self-made short film, Where Have All the Birds Gone?, a testament to his love of wildlife.
Fred has developed his skills as an editor significantly during the making of this project, and in the near-future, he is hoping to enter the film and TV industry as an editor.
Will Barlow
Will a second year TV and Film Set Design student, was incredibly enthusiastic being a part of the project, largely due to the rich diversity and contrast the film presented in its settings. Finding a unique opportunity to explore two distinct time periods—present day and 1991— allowed Will to develop separate visual languages for each era. The duality challenged him creatively, pushing him in research, design, and constructing environments that felt both authentic and emotionally resonant within their respective timeframes.
Designing with the storyline naturally encouraged the sets to evolve alongside the characters allowing Will and the Art team, the chance to develop spaces that were not static, but that grew and changed with the narrative. His collaboration with the cast and crew, aided the transformation of the environments and deepening the casts connection to the story.
Working on State of Love and Trust, Will found was both creatively rewarding and personally fulfilling. It gave him the chance to combine period accuracy with contemporary design, and to contribute to a film that embraced visual storytelling in such a dynamic, layered way.
Ellie Burton
Ellie is a Production Designer, first experiencing film set work on a State Of Love And Trust. A second year Tv and Film Set Design Student, with a preference for Sci-fi and Fantasy genres, she expanded on the 90’s set design, bringing the characters narrative to life. Her role on the film included helping to develop naturalistic period sets, aid with art direction, and monitor shot continuity.
Thomas Vaughn-Jones
Thomas, is a second year Tv and Film Set Design student at the University Of South Wales. He Worked on State of Love and Trust as part of the art department , focusing on set dressing, prop sourcing, and practical build work. One of his key contributions was designing and 3D printing the films customs time machine prop, which he hand-finished to match the grounded, emotional tone of the story. His approach combines technical skills with a strong focus on character-driven storytelling.
Noah Schumacher
Noah Schumacher
Noah Schumacher
Christopher’s background originating in musicals and theatre including / Shakespeare and Pinter, extended and shifted his creativity to becoming author to action-thriller novels (under his Pseudonym Benjamin Cross) before continuing to pursue his acting career. A yearn and passion for screen performance, he has taken up large amount of short/feature film roles, gaining modern industry insight. Gripped from the first page of the script, Chris brought himself to the role of Edward, giving life to his haunted persona, expanding on the tragic fate that confront him. Dynamic range and evidently talented with his craft, Chris grew connected with crew and cast, achieving authentic performance with synergistic chemistry. His passion and portrayal for the role of Ed in State of Love and Trust, is something he aims to take forward into his future endeavors.
University of South Wales Drama Graduate, Sam Locke from Merthyr, Wales, was intrigued by the role of Darren with his multifaceted persona. With his Theatrical background and work on feature/short film projects such as Micheal Sheen’s The Way and 28 Years Later, he displays his love of performance, through engaging with the journey of Darren’s character from aggressive and dismissive to emotive and vulnerable. His enthusiastic energy on set, established his energetic chemistry with fellow cast members, constructing a transformative performance on screen. Noting the love and nurture felt by Darren for Emma and Both Ed and Eddie, Sam enjoyed the process of finding how to depict their bond from page to screen.
A Cardiff University Journalism student, Amelie has always loved performance and the creativity within acting. With a background in theatre, fashion brand content creation, and Working as a London Academy of Music and Drama assistant, she made her on-screen debut in State of Love and Trust, embracing the collaborative energy of working with cast and crew on set. Acting since childhood, she has always had a passion for performance and playing characters with an array of complex personas. In State of Love and Trust, Amelie brings her own nuanced interpretation of Emma to the film, displaying the character’s emotional journey from guarded hostility to unexpected vulnerability.
Brad Burnell is a 22-year-old actor for Film and TV he is from Barry Island and is currently residing in Cardiff. He has received a GCSE and A level in acting and was involved in the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama’s “Young Actors Studio” scheme. He has acted in 2 “It’s My Shout” Productions that went on to air on BBC2. He has been in a variety of productions created by students at the University of South Wales. Most notably an experimental film called “Start Looking” or the Welsh version “Dechrau Edrych”, directed by Osian Coleman, this went on to screen at the 2024 Eisteddfod festival. His most recent role is the antagonist drug dealer, "Dave" in “State of Love and Trust”.
