ABOUT THE FILM
Did you know that kids get arthritis too?
The Kid from Outer Space is a short film that tells the story of one child living through diagnosis with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.
We are making this film to be used by doctors, charities, patient groups, families, and schools to raise awareness of JIA and help more children get an early diagnosis. Additionally we aim to reach a global audience through film festivals and online, having the greatest possible impact on awareness.
THE STORY
A spaceship crash lands in the suburbs of London. Clambering from the wreckage is a 7 year old astronaut, Alex. Rushed to a top secret military base, Alex protests that he is not an alien, refusing to take off his space suit. As they begin to perform experiments on him, he talks about the difficulties astronauts have in reacclimatising to earth. The next day, as Alex wakes in a hospital bed, it is revealed that he is in fact a sufferer of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, an autoimmune condition that treats his own body as alien. Alex's mission on earth is now to accept the challenge of his illness, continue his reacclimatisation, and teach others about struggle and adversity.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
1 in 1000 children suffer from Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in the UK yet it remains a mostly invisible and mysterious disease. The Kid from Outer Space is about one such child.
Living with chronic illness and pain often makes us feel alienated, and requires an enormous amount of courage. Notoriously difficult to diagnose, and widely misunderstood, children with Juvenile Arthritis must go through the harrowing process of diagnosis first before coming to terms with their illness.
This is an important film for me, because I myself was diagnosed at age 7 with Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Those memories are still very strong. When I learned that children today still suffer through misunderstanding, isolation and a slow diagnosis, I decided that this is what the film should be about.
A harrowing story with a touch of magic, by taking us into the optimistic world of Alex, I aim to make a film that is a celebration of the courage and wisdom of children who live with chronic pain. The film is also about the creative ways in which we cope. Alex dreams of being in outer space, a coping strategy that is not a delusion, but a fabulously creative survival technique.
This film celebrates difference and the courage it takes to stand on your own in the face of adversity. Kids with JIA are mature beyond their years, strong, resilient and powerful. That is why this story must be told, because it is about hope, understanding, and growth, that we can all learn from these kids.
OUR HOPES FOR THE KID FROM OUTER SPACE
A heartwarming journey, Alex's outer-space narrative and the magical style of the director will deliver a refreshing take on a difficult, but very important, subject.
We are auditioning both boys and girls with JIA for the lead role, via collaboration with JIA at NRAS (JIA at The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society), and the co-operation of medical professionals.
Early diagnosis is still a challenge with JIA. There is already an enormous amount of enthusiasm about how this story and this film can help educate and shed light on the disease. We aim for the film to screen on the Academy and BAFTA recognized fim festival circuit, and reach a wide audience internationally through community outreach programs and direct distribution online.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Tom Beckwith Phillips is an award winning director with 20 years experience in the film industry. He has won Best Director in 2018 at the Chicago Comedy Film Festival, and First Prize for Best Short at the prestigious Academy Award qualifying Rhode Island International Film Festival, and his film have screened at countless others. Tom has also worked in visual effects on films such as Harry Potter, Sweeney Todd and Sunshine. He has a VES Award (Visual Effects Society, Los Angeles) for his work.
Thank you for your time and your contribution to this valuable short film.
