TheThingsWeDo

Twelve-year-old Jeremy seeks refuge in a local bakery while caring for his troubled mother. Convinced that one final cake can bring back the woman she used to be, he clings to hope as the darkness surrounding their home quietly grows beyond his control.

The Things We Do began with a single image.

After finishing WhatKilledTimmyBenson, I found myself in an unexpected creative void. Spending more than ten years on one project leaves a strange emptiness once it's finally complete. I started developing another ambitious film, Lorna, but deep down I knew I needed to make something smaller—something I could actually bring to life.

Then, while watching The Outwaters, a single shot caught my attention. A birthday cake appeared briefly on screen, surrounded by darkness. It wasn't an important moment in the film, but it stayed with me. I became fascinated by the idea that something as joyful and familiar as a cake could feel deeply unsettling simply because of what might be sitting on the other side of the table.

That image brought back a story from my own family. As a boy, my father often found comfort working at a local bakery during difficult times at home. That memory slowly evolved into Jeremy, a young boy who finds safety in baking while trying to save someone he loves.

The cake became much more than a cake. It became a final act of hope. One last attempt to bring someone back before accepting that love alone cannot save them.