Errol - A film by Zara Joan Miller
We’re thrilled to present “Errol”, a new short film by artist and filmmaker Zara Joan Miller.
The film
Created during Zara Joan Miller’s residency at Submit to Love, Errol stars Headway East London member and artist Errol Drysdale and follows his fascination with the circus.
Together, they drew inspiration from Fellini and Chaplin, and crafted masks based on Errol’s own drawings.
The process was joyful, spontaneous, and deeply collaborative, led by Errol’s infectious energy.
“ Errol has a great screen presence, like his work, full of joy and humour, and he loves performing for the camera... I get the impression he wants to captivate people with a sense of wonder and play.”
We’re incredibly grateful to Zara for this beautiful film, part of her 10-year journey with Submit to Love as a volunteer and artist in residence following her own experience of brain injury.
Watch the film and read the interview below to find out more about the filmmaker and the creative process behind the film.
The film will be available for one week only to mark Action for Brain Injury (ABI) Week.
The interview
We caught up with Zara to find out more about the process of making the film and her experience at Submit to Love.
How did you decide to make the film? What themes did you want to explore and why?
The film is the result of an artist residency at Submit to Love studio. Michelle (Studio Manager) asked me to make a film about Errol since I’d made Portrait of Tony (2022) - a documentary about member/artist Tony Brooks. Like Tony, Errol is a longstanding member and has an extensive portfolio. He also has a great screen presence, like his work, full of joy and humour and he loves performing for the camera.
The film was made in collaboration with Errol. I noticed a recurring circus theme across his work so brought in some circus-related films at the start of the residency. We watched clips from Fellini’s The Clown, La Strada and Charlie Chaplin’s The Circus and he turned to me and said he wanted to make masks. So, we spent most of the residency making clown masks - wearable versions of his drawings. These are central to the film.
What was the process of working with Errol?
Very much collaborative. Very enjoyable. The film was shot over one afternoon at Headway. The only plan was to set the space up with Errol’s drawings and masks and see what he felt like doing when the cameras were rolling. As soon as he got in front of the cameras he started singing, and didn’t stop singing until we were done. So the masks and the songs were all Errol’s idea. He’s often singing at Headway, so it was the perfect soundtrack.
What inspired you about Errol's art? How did he influence your creative process?
His work is very colourful and has a sense of play which I really enjoyed working with. I think he is a very generous soul and that comes through in his work - I get the impression he wants to captivate people with a sense of wonder and play. It’s special. This energy guided the direction of the film.
What is your experience of collaborating with the artists of the Submit to Love studio?
I volunteered at Headway East London since 2016 and spent a lot of time in the arch, mostly drawing with members. over the years I began documenting and filming and then being asked to make short films. My involvement with Submit to Love has shaped me and my work in ways that are clear and unclear to me. As a brain injury survivor, I learnt how to use my experience in a positive way that has been generative both in the sense of creating my own artwork and connecting with the community. Some of the most inspiring people I’ve ever met are making work at Headway.
I couldn’t have made this film without Hannah McLoughlin (Production Assistant) and Billy Steiger (Sound Technician). And a thank you to Michelle (Studio Manager) as ever for prompting this project and for her dedication to what she does. And of course, thank you to Errol for his beautiful work and endless creativity. It’s been such a pleasure working with him.
