Screenwriter, Callum Smith celebrates his directorial debut, with Restless Mind – a short film which speaks on male mental health. We follow protagonist, Calvin as he navigates life post-breakup. This short film speaks on such important topics as young heartbreak, male mental health, and the power of speaking up to those around you.
Restless Mind’s tagline is simple and effective – ‘it’s okay to not be okay.’ Through experiencing grief and isolation to talking about his feelings to his male friends, the character learns that ‘sometimes all it takes is one conversation.’
We speak with Callum on his directorial debut – Restless Mind, the importance of male mental health, and what this project means to him.
Hi Callum, how did you come up with the concept behind Restless Mind and what did you want to tell?
Hey Hannah, great question. Restless Mind came from a really dark period in my life. I’d never struggled with my mental health before. I was aware of it, but I’d never experienced it firsthand. At the start of 2024, I went through my first breakup. The dreaded first heartbreak most people go through, and it hit me hard. Really hard. I never saw it coming, so when it became reality, my life was completely flipped upside down. I felt lost emotionally, mentally, and physically. It felt like the world was moving on without me.
That entire year got darker as I tried to come to terms with it and move on. Restless Mind loosely follows that journey and shows how human connection, just talking, no matter how big or small, can save a life. I remember waking up every morning feeling exhausted before the day had even begun. Getting out of bed was a struggle. Mentally, I was right on the edge. I wouldn’t say I was suicidal, not at all, but I knew I was done… whatever that meant.
Luckily, being open about my emotions and reaching out was never difficult for me. But I know that isn’t the case for most men. Society doesn’t encourage it enough. Feeling like rubbish is part of life. ‘It’s okay to not be okay’, a slogan this film promotes constantly.
Reaching Out to a Close Friend
Back in early 2024, the day after my relationship ended, I reached out to a close friend. That human connection, just talking to a mate is something I look back on now and realise truly mattered. Even though the journey back to myself took a full year just to be in a health frame of mind, I look back at that moment of human connection as the moment that stopped me from ever reaching a point of no return. It saved my life.
Through those conversations with multiple mates over the coming years, I realised that what I was feeling, and what I was going through, was something every single one of them had experienced at some point. I felt seen. I knew I wasn’t alone. That’s why this story needed to be told. For the men who can’t talk, who don’t feel seen in their darkest moments, this film is for them.
Restless Mind follows the protagonist, Calvin on his journey to finding his purpose in life again. In terms of your personal connection to Calvin’s story – why is it so important that his story must be told?
Calvin’s story is important because, in many ways, he represents a version of me that I never thought I’d become. After my breakup, I lost my sense of purpose completely. I wasn’t chasing dreams; I wasn’t looking ahead I was just surviving each day. That feeling of being stuck, empty, and directionless is something so many people experience, but rarely talk about, especially men.
What mattered most to me was showing that loss of purpose doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s quiet. It’s waking up every day feeling disconnected from yourself, from others, and from the life you thought you were building. Calvin isn’t searching for success or answers, he’s searching for a reason to keep going. And that’s something I think a lot of people will recognise in him.
His journey isn’t about fixing everything overnight. It’s about small moments, human connection, and allowing himself to be seen. I wanted to tell Calvin’s story because it shows that purpose doesn’t suddenly appear. You slowly rebuild it through honesty, vulnerability, and letting people in. If someone watches this film and sees themselves in Calvin, and it helps them feel less alone or encourages them to reach out, then telling his story truly matters.
Callum, Restless Mind is about male mental health which is such an integral topic in society today. What do you hope the audience take away from your film?
More than anything, I want people to walk away feeling less alone. Male mental health is still something we don’t talk about enough. And when we do, it’s often oversimplified or brushed aside. Restless Mind isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about showing the reality of what it feels like to struggle quietly.
I hope the audience takes away the understanding that it’s okay to not be okay, and that struggling doesn’t make you weak. Asking for help, opening up, or even just sitting with someone in silence can be life-changing. The film shows that healing doesn’t come from grand gestures. But from small, human moments, conversations, connections, and being honest about how you’re really feeling.
If the film encourages even one person to reach out to a friend, check in on someone they haven’t spoken to in a while, or realise that what they’re feeling is valid, then it’s done its job.
Callum, Restless Mind marks your directorial debut! Congratulations, and how did you find directing the cast and crew? Also, what was it like being on set?
Thank you, I really appreciate that. Having written the script, lived with it, and reworked it for around a year and a half, stepping into the role of director felt natural. I knew every beat of the story inside out, and that allowed me to be fully present for both the actors and the crew. I love talking about my scripts and breaking scenes down, looking at how a single word can change depending on tone, pace, or a small mannerism. That level of detail mattered to me just as much on set as it did on the page.
Because I was able to write and direct the film, I put a lot of preparation in beforehand. We had multiple table reads and open discussions, so by the time we were shooting, the actors already understood the scenes and their characters. That meant on the day it was about fine-tuning rather than figuring things out from scratch. Seeing the care and commitment the cast brought to the film was incredibly rewarding.
The same goes for the crew. All of them were there because they believed in the message and loved filmmaking, and that passion showed in everything they did. I was genuinely blown away by the team I managed to bring together. And I just love talking about them as I’m so proud of them.
Encouraging Creativity & Openness
Being on set is fast-paced and intense, and I know it’s not for everyone. But for me, it feels like home. Alongside writing and directing, I was also producing, and it was important to me to create a professional environment that still encouraged creativity and openness. The subject matter of the film naturally sparked conversations from day one, and those conversations carried on throughout the shoot. People who were strangers at the start began opening up about their own lives and personal situations they’ve been through.
To have created an environment where this was possible is something I don’t take lightly and is probably what I’m most proud of. If simply making the film could create that kind of openness and connection, it really makes me think about the impact it could have once it’s released.
Can you talk us through the post-production stage of Restless Mind? How did you find it working on the editing stage and the promotional work?
We’ve only just entered post-production, and like every stage before it, it’s been completely new to me. With the help of my crew, I’ve been able to build a post-production team I really trust. I’m currently in the early stages of editing with my editor, shaping the film and finding its rhythm, with the aim of releasing it as soon as possible following a festival run.
What’s exciting about this stage is that the film is finally starting to take its final form. If it’s well received, that’s incredible. But beyond that, the most important thing is that the film’s message reaches as many people as possible. Promoting conversation around men’s mental health has always been the core goal of Restless Mind. And post-production feels like the point where that message really starts to take flight.
Alongside the edit, I’ve been slowly pushing the promotional side forward. From interviews like this that help raise awareness, to recently creating the film’s official poster, everything is still in its early stages. But there’s a lot more to come. One surreal moment for me was getting the film officially listed on IMDb. Seeing it there feels unreal, and it makes the whole project feel very real in a new way.
What did you find was the most challenging part of the filmmaking process and why?
For me I’d say producing. Especially not having done it before. My thing is the creative side, so producing wasn’t for me. However, this whole project was about believing in myself as my trade and main love is writing films. And I’ve written things before after my Master’s, and I’ve been let down by people who seem to lack the same passion as I do.
So, this project has been me taking everything into my own hands to attempt to get my work finally out there. It hasn’t been easy or cheap. But I hope this project represents that even if you aren’t experienced and have no idea what you’re doing, as long as you face the challenge head on, and put in the time and effort, you can do anything you put your mind to.
What did you find was the most rewarding part of the filmmaking process and why?
I’ll keep this one short and sweet, the crew. The most passionate hardworking people, with the kindest souls. Anyone would be lucky to work with them. But I get first dibs.
When and where can film-goers watch Restless Mind?
As mentioned earlier, we’ve only just entered post-production, so it’s difficult to give a concrete timeframe right now. That said, I’m working as quickly and carefully as possible to complete post-production, after which the plan is to take the film through a festival run. Once that’s complete, it’s important to me to bring Restless Mind back home. I plan to screen the film locally in Cornwall as a way of giving back to the community that supported the project from the very beginning. Ideally, I’d love to show it in a few local cinemas as well. The people of Cornwall have already shown incredible support during pre-production and production, and I truly believe that support will continue helping not only the film, but also local cinemas and businesses.
Can you provide any snippets into your upcoming film projects? What’s next on the horizon?
At the moment, all my energy is on getting Restless Mind through post-production and out into the world the right way. I’m always writing though, and there are a few scripts I’m developing that really excite me. And touch on fresh ideas that I believe all movie lovers in general are currently craving in this world of sequels and remakes.
If Restless Mind connects with people, I’d hope that opens the door to funding and a faster turnaround for whatever comes next.
And finally, where can filmmakers and film-goers find and follow your journey on social media?
For anyone wanting to stay up to date with the journey of Restless Mind, the best way is to add the film to your watchlist on IMDb or follow me on Instagram for updates @scriptedbycallum.
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read all about this film that means so much to me.
Thanks Callum! We at Filmotomy can’t wait to see Restless Mind and what your next project holds. Why not check out our other interviews too? You can read our interview with Kpop Demon Hunters author, Jessica Yoon here.
Photography by Steve Brownhill.
