Ice Cream Headache: between autism and dating

AUTISM, DATING AND ICE CREAM: MORE THAN A SHORT FILM
Interview with Benjamin K. Dyson, director of "Ice Cream Headache".

You won an important award for Best International Short Film and received numerous nominations. How did you feel when you first found out you won?

First, I want to thank the Moonlight Festival for bringing my film to their hearts with this very special award and Anna Head who played Jessica nominated in the best actress category, incredible talent to follow, the whole team are so grateful.
I was nervously watching the clock on that Saturday, waiting for the results to be announced. I was just happy to be part of the festival, but then when I saw our poster and then knowing the film had won was an incredible feeling, when a festival takes your film it’s an incredible sense of pride, gratitude and validation and then you win it’s a wonderful bonus.

There’s a noticeable synergy among your entire team. What’s the secret behind this success?

Yeah it was a great team. We only had a certain amount of shooting days and when time is against you we all had to get involved and get it done. It was a great atmosphere between all departments, we were all behind this project and wanted it to be the best it could be and we created something to be proud of.

Tell us about the choice of cast, which led to outstanding performances.

The casting process for me is so very special and this is where you can get excited, the film is becoming a real thing. As creatives we know sitting with the script in relative isolation is necessary, but when the script is up on its feet and actors are saying your words it’s like no feeling like it. Working with an experienced casting director helped this process, Nicci Topping casting, we were on the same page from the start and I knew early on in the casting sessions who I wanted, the cast brought skill, love and talent, I was so blessed to have the cast we had and they really have made the film what it is.

How did you develop the initial idea into its final version?

It has been a long creative journey to reach this point, but as a creative individual, you never give up when you believe in; these things take time, as every writer knows. I conceived the character of Jeremy a few years ago. I had written a feature film script and then a short TV series and what stuck with me most about Jeremy’s journey was his pursuit of love.
I had shared with Tariq who was the producer on Ice Cream Headache the feature and series and he was a taken with it and Jeremy, his perspective and as he called it “The hero’s journey” he had been with this for a few years and then and actress and filmmaker Florence Keith-Roach who was a mentor through screen skills and with that Ice Cream Headache the short was born.
I wanted it to be proof of concept for the feature but I always wanted it to be a standalone film which I think it is. The dating game is tricky at the best of times, but for Jeremy, it presents added challenges, and I wanted to explore that, which ultimately led me to Ice Cream Headache. I believe that exploring neurodiversity is important; it provides a better understanding of what is essentially an invisible condition.

Tell us about the genesis of this work. The visual style is one of the strengths of the short film. Direction and cinematography move in perfect synergy. How did you create this winning combination?

Gareth Munden my Director of Photography, we first met at the London Film School and had an immediate connection, football and film. I was so impressed by Gareth’s work, first as a stills photographer and then when he moved into moving images, his work ethic and approach is second to none. Our relationship developed over the years and a want to work together grew, so when we had the chance on Ice Cream Headache, it was a no brainer, from the first recce pics we were on the same page and he helped me as a director to get what I wanted from my actors and the lighting, look and feel followed.

What message or emotion did you hope to convey and what was the most satisfying part of creating the short film??

You also have a theme to work towards and I wanted to create something personal and a world that revolved around autism and love which in itself carries an emotion and I wanted us to see the world through Jeremy’s eyes and how he is affected by the world around him, but the overriding emotion I wanted to convey was hope, I also wanted it to be hopeful, Jeremy and Jessica are not victims, they are proud and full of hope. The Saul Williams quote at the start of the film “Whatever you are looking for is looking for you too” when I read that I was so taken with it and felt that I had to use it.

It’s very hard to pick just one part, it’s all satisfying, there is nothing like making a film. Since I studied film at college, university and the more hands on at film school I wanted to direct and getting a chance to direct is a real privilege and with getting a chance to make the short we did with the subject matter being so important to me was extra special and I have found that through this process it has helped my writing, bringing it along and begin to realise new and wonderful ideas, it gives you real confidence.

Did you find it easy to maintain control of your artistic vision?

When re writing the script there were elements we took out and focussed it only on keeping what moved the story along without compromising our vision. The more you write script you realise you can never be precious, you must have the capacity to press delete and take something out to benefit the story. My cast we just amazing, they never missed a step and they embraced their roles. I wasn’t able to do in person rehearsals because of budget constraints but we jumped on Zoom and it came together I really can’t praise my cast highly enough and through this we were able to keep as much of our artistic vision as possible.

What is your goal as an author/director in the coming years?

My main aim to is to make a new short in 2025, I do have new scripts ready to be read and developed further, I want to be able to keep expressing myself creatively, keep writing, being inspired, keep improving and learning. Getting an opportunity in advertising would be very appealing, I’m very visual, that would be an amazing experience. I like the collaborative process, meeting new people, new connections and would like to make my debut feature in the coming years.