"LIFE COACH" Filmed in Sydney
- Presidential Productions
- Jan 12
- 2 min read
Short Film Wraps as Post-Production Begins
Filming has officially wrapped on Life Coach, with post-production now underway on James Cunningham’s latest short film. Shot entirely on location in a Sydney loft apartment, the production embraced strict formal limitations to amplify the film’s psychological tension and thematic clarity.
The shoot was characterised by precision and restraint. With the unseen 'coach' never recorded or visualised, the production relied on the choreography of lead-actor Mark Bale and his everyday actions, with the rhythm of text messages carrying the escalating drama.
Cunningham's filmmaking favours static, observational compositions that allow the audience to be with the character of Eli as the drama unfolds. Lighting evolves subtly across the film, beginning with cooler, flatter tones before shifting toward warmer, more exposed imagery as Eli’s body and inner life are gradually revealed. This progression mirrors the character’s journey from guarded compliance to radical self-ownership.
Post-production will place particular emphasis on editing rhythm and sound design. An upcoming score, minimalistic and atmospheric, designed to sit beneath the text rather than instruct emotion. Silence used strategically, reinforcing isolation and allowing the weight of language to linger.
Month's of careful editing will ensure the escalation of control feels organic rather than abrupt. Each text exchange in the short script calibrated to appear reasonable in isolation, only revealing its coercive nature cumulatively. A slow-burn structure is central to the film’s intent, reflecting how manipulation often operates invisibly, without clear rupture.
As post-production begins, Life Coach is being positioned as a provocative yet restrained psychological work that challenges audiences to reconsider their relationship with digital authority, trust and self-improvement culture.
Life Coach is currently in post-production.
