Film: 'I Didn't Want That'

Commissioned by Dying Matters, 'I Didn't Want That' is a poignant and powerful short film highlighting the importance of making your end of life wishes clear.

Released as part of Dying Matters Awareness Week 2012, the short film was created to act as a stimulus for changing the way the nation thinks about death. 'I Didn't Want That' has been widely praised, and was chosen to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival. 

Watch 'I Didn't Want That'

Featuring five separate scenarios, the film examines what can happen if you fail to make your wishes known.

'I Didn't Want That', which was produced by Flix Films, has high production values, a brilliant cast and a delicate touch. Among the highlights are scenes of a gay funeral, during which it becomes clear that the deceased hadn't actually wanted a flamboyant funeral. 

'I Didn't Want That' was released at the same time as research commissioned by Dying Matters showed that less than a third of people have talked to someone about their end of life wishes and only a quarter have asked a family member about theirs.

Sam Turner of Dying Matters said: “ 'I Didn’t Want That' is a fantastic film which will hopefully win over hearts and minds about the importance of talking to people about your end of life wishes. Talking about dying is rarely easy, but unless all of us feel more comfortable doing so we run the risk of not getting our wishes met and leaving a mess for those close to us.”

More

Buy I Didn't Want That

Watch the making of 'I Didn't Want That' featuring behind the scenes footage and interviews with cast and crew.

'I Didn't Want That' selected for the 2013 Cannes Film Festival

'Dying to Know', nominated for 2012 Cannes Film Festival

Alexei Sayle confronts attitudes to death and humour in 'Last Laugh'

Flix Films - external link.

'I Didn't Want That' credits
Crew
Producer & Director: Leon Ancliffe
Executive Producer: National Council for Palliative Care & Dying Matters

Production Manager: Claire Pope
Assistant Director: Abi Rufai
Director of Photography: Amarjeet Singh
Sound: Luke Hollingworth
Make-up: Fran Hounsom
Runner: James Evered
2nd Runner: Diana Monteiro
Editor: John Holloway
Edit Assistants: Claire Pope & Leon Ancliffe
Composer: Adam Langston

Cast
Anne: Jeanette Rourke
Robin: Bryan Hands
Julie: Sydnee Howard
Bacon the dog: Provided by Jo-Ann Essex at Scruffy Dogs
Gareth: Eddy Brimson
David: Russell Barnett
Doctor: Sakuntala Ramanee
Nurse: Rachel Summers
Paramedic: Dan Avery
Rose: Jean Apps
Workman 1: Tim Parker
Workman 2: Marc Forde
Colin Elding and David Bowen, members of the resuscitation team at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

Extras
Aimee Augier * Holly Bacea * Benedette del Balt * Agnes Besser * Samuel Bradford * Stephen Butler * Amanda Jane O’Brien * Joanna Chapman * Elissa Churchill * Errol Clayton * Ben Claxton * Anna Cole * Anthony Cranfield * Melissa Creenall * Mark Delacour * Sofia Doyle * Jackie Djekhooh * Shermadene Edwards * Rosemary Ellis * Marc Forde * Richard Fairbrother * Fearghal Kauanagh * Zoe Manns * Diana Monteiro * Matthew Nikbakht * Rachel Nolan * Mandy Paine * Emily Pearson * Holly Riott * Tania Rowe * Hannah Sayer * D. Scanlian * Esther Sclupper * Eleanor Sherwen * Guy Smart * Peter Smith * Tes Smith * Zulu Smith * Tobias Tak * Sam Turner * Sally Wallwork * Joanne Wing

Drag Queens
Aaron Johns AKA - Vicki Vivacious
Reece Taylor AKA - Dis Grace

Special thanks to
The LGBT Consortium
The Communications Team at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

With special thanks to the following for their generosity: Jane Stokes, End of Life Care Facilitator, Colin Elding and David Bowen, members of the resuscitation team at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust * Cathy Maylin * Artur Kaczorowski * Mark Barling at Trinity Hospice, * Removals with a Smile, * The Film Office, * Fitness First in Bow Wharf, Green Endings, * St Barnabas Church - with special thanks to Simon James Collier and Omar Okai * Barry Bassett at VMI * Scruffy Dogs * David Whitmore at The London Ambulance Service * Katie Rourke * Carolyn Menteith * Aimee Auiger * Daphne Murrow * Jane Hillier.