Higher Ground

When the gorgeous Ben invites Hannah on holiday after just four dates, she thinks she’s hit the jackpot... until she gets her period on the flight over.

Higher Ground

A film that focuses on the clash between reality and old-fashioned attitudes, where openly asking for a tampon can cause as much stress and panic as a decompressed airplane cabin.

SYNOPSIS

Hannah lucked out, her new boyfriend Ben is taking her away on a romantic holiday. They’ve only been dating a few weeks and here they are, flying off to an exotic destination together. When they’re halfway there, curled up in blankets and watching a movie together, things suddenly take a turn for the worse. Hannah gets her period, but there is no tampon insight, and worst of all she’s wearing white capri pants. Shit.

She embarks on a covert mid-flight operation to locate a tampon, but her mission is failing as she comes up against indifference, unease and awkwardness; the flight attendant is not in a rush to help, and her options are fast running out. It seems like the only ally Hannah’s got is the tannoy in the galley next to the loo. Hiding and whispering about her trouble isn’t going to help, she’s going to have to speak up.

A light-hearted take on the clash between reality and old-fashioned attitudes, where openly asking for a tampon can cause as much stress and panic as a decompressed aeroplane cabin.

SYNOPSIS

Hannah lucked out, her new boyfriend Ben is taking her away on a romantic holiday. They’ve only been dating a few weeks and here they are, flying off to an exotic destination together. When they’re halfway there, curled up in blankets and watching a movie together, things suddenly take a turn for the worse. Hannah gets her period, but there is no tampon insight, and worst of all she’s wearing white capri pants. Shit.

She embarks on a covert mid-flight operation to locate a tampon, but her mission is failing as she comes up against indifference, unease and awkwardness; the flight attendant is not in a rush to help, and her options are fast running out. It seems like the only ally Hannah’s got is the tannoy in the galley next to the loo. Hiding and whispering about her trouble isn’t going to help, she’s going to have to speak up.

A light-hearted take on the clash between reality and old-fashioned attitudes, where openly asking for a tampon can cause as much stress and panic as a decompressed aeroplane cabin.

SHAMING THE STIGMA

In a world where we encounter blood everywhere, from finger cuts to nosebleeds to violent films and video games, the shame surrounding menstrual blood is much too powerful. While this is a comedy that pokes fun at the shame surrounding menstruation, the implications of this stigma can be severe.


HuffPost found that almost half of girls have missed PE lessons due to a fear of leaking
.

The taboo has faced scrutiny in recent years and the menstrual movement has reached new milestones: for example, last year's Oscars saw the Best Documentary Short Award given to Period. End of Sentence. The win represented a crucial breakthrough, showing that periods don't need to be a subject of shame. But there is still work to be done in order to get fathers talking to daughters, free products in schools, and students back in the classroom. We are committed to getting our message out there with Higher Ground, tackling this taboo in a humorous and engaging way.

SHAMING THE STIGMA

In a world where we encounter blood everywhere, from finger cuts to nosebleeds to violent films and video games, the shame surrounding menstrual blood is much too powerful. While this is a comedy that pokes fun at the shame surrounding menstruation, the implications of this stigma can be severe.


HuffPost found that almost half of girls have missed PE lessons due to a fear of leaking
.

The taboo has faced scrutiny in recent years and the menstrual movement has reached new milestones: for example, last year's Oscars saw the Best Documentary Short Award given to Period. End of Sentence. The win represented a crucial breakthrough, showing that periods don't need to be a subject of shame. But there is still work to be done in order to get fathers talking to daughters, free products in schools, and students back in the classroom. We are committed to getting our message out there with Higher Ground, tackling this taboo in a humorous and engaging way.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Higher Ground is WING’s first narrative short. This passion project was entirely self-funded by our family-owned business, and driven by our love for the story and its message.

Taking on a project like this without external funding was not without its challenges; luckily we had friends who were keen to get on board (pardon the pun) with our message and chipped in a favour or two.

Higher Ground was filmed in a day on a genuine 747 in September 2019, with a further half-day on a toilet set a month later. It was produced and edited in-house at WING and the entire office came down to help on set.

Our VFX artist turned out to be a capable set builder, and our accountant was a not-too-shabby 3rd AD. Film crew or cabin crew, we’ve got you covered.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Higher Ground is WING’s first narrative short. This passion project was entirely self-funded by our family-owned business, and driven by our love for the story and its message.

Taking on a project like this without external funding was not without its challenges; luckily we had friends who were keen to get on board (pardon the pun) with our message and chipped in a favour or two.

Higher Ground was filmed in a day on a genuine 747 in September 2019, with a further half-day on a toilet set a month later. It was produced and edited in-house at WING and the entire office came down to help on set.

Our VFX artist turned out to be a capable set builder, and our accountant was a not-too-shabby 3rd AD. Film crew or cabin crew, we’ve got you covered.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Please share the film far and wide with your friends, family, and on your social media using the hashtags #itsonlyblood, #thatbloodyfilm and #aperioddrama. We want to get this film in front of as many faces as possible, on as many platforms as possible. We aren’t going to smash a stigma by keeping this to ourselves, are we?

Higher Ground in the Press

Higher Ground in High Profile Magazine: cover & pages 20 - 24

Higher Ground supported by Bloody Good Period: here

Higher Ground endorsed by Period Positive: here

Higher Ground endorsed by Chella Quint: here

Higher Ground shared by Real Stories: here

Higher Ground director Ania Smolenskaia interviewed by Harriet Minter on talkRadio's Badass Women's Hour XL: here

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Please share the film far and wide with your friends, family, and on your social media using the hashtags #itsonlyblood, #thatbloodyfilm and #aperioddrama. We want to get this film in front of as many faces as possible, on as many platforms as possible. We aren’t going to smash a stigma by keeping this to ourselves, are we?

Higher Ground in the Press

Higher Ground in High Profile Magazine: cover & pages 20 - 24

Higher Ground supported by Bloody Good Period: here

Higher Ground endorsed by Period Positive: here

Higher Ground endorsed by Chella Quint: here

Higher Ground shared by Real Stories: here

Higher Ground director Ania Smolenskaia interviewed by Harriet Minter on talkRadio's Badass Women's Hour XL: here