Many people hold the opinion that all works produced by creative skill and imagination are shaped by our personal experiences. In the case of award-winning director Loraine ffrench, that certainly seems true. ‘New Chapter’ is the London IFF Jury Award-winning tale about one woman's voyage of self-discovery, but many people won't realise that the story of Emily (Emilia Alma) was inspired by a real life experience Loraine had some years ago. In 2011, Loraine's world was shattered when she was dropped after being signed as a Director for year.
“It's personal to me, because I lived through most of these events. When I was dropped, I listened to Jessie J’s ‘Who You Are’ album and her lyrics spoke to me; they gave me strength during a time when I felt as if I might have a breakdown in the middle of the street. In particular tracks 'Who You Are' and 'Big White Room' inspired me to put my feelings down on paper and naturally became part of 'New Chapter' creating a musical,'' Loraine said of the incidents that led up to the filming of the New Chapter musical. Loraine created her film as a way to cope with the struggles of her past and record a monumental occurrence. The story—written by first-time scribe Troy 'TJ' Hall—provides a summary of the private life and creative mind of a struggling filmmaker.