Hedonophobia

‘Life Pleasures and the Brain’
Hedonophobia – the fear of feeling pleasure.

Pleasure within the brain only corresponds to what we experience from our surrounding environment. Sure the sensations we feel arise within the chemical and physical structures of the brain but to what degree do we have control over these reactions?

This is the question that inspired me to search further into what it means to ‘feel’ happy. Hedonophobia came from the idea that maybe there is the possibility that pleasure isn’t everything and that we take our understanding of daily pleasures for granted. What if we were not able or willing to feel that which gives us inexpressible joy?

There is no doubt in my mind that our life pleasures are that which we need to enhance our experience, an essential part of living. Imagine not being able to feel these pleasures. Hedonophobia explores what this might mean for the individual, a monologue of introspection. The film shows our young protagonist slowly coming to grips with his medical condition as well as engaging with that which brings him torment; pleasure.

Directing and acting in your own film can always be tricky, luckily for me I have a few good mates usually willing to help. I first conceived of the film as visual poetry and listed a number of shots that would incite desire or pleasure in the viewer but coming from a film degree I felt the need to implement a story structure. This structure helps put the piece in context and clues the audience into the character’s situation; hopefully giving an insight into their own experience of daily pleasures and the brain.