As a person who stutters, Stijnberg brings a unique authenticity and perspective to the storytelling in his film, while Director of Photography, Belal Abhar, enriches the narrative style, inviting audiences to explore their collaborative vision.
Timothy, a young passionate graphic designer, faces the daily challenge of stuttering. One unfortunate day at the graphic design firm he works at, HR calls Timothy in for a meeting where he is blindsided by sexual harassment accusations from a female client, specifically the client's assistant, Sofie.
In earlier moments we witness how Timothy excels in his job. However, his enthusiasm is dampened by a colleague named Jonah, who, though initially seen as friendly by Timothy, gradually reveals envy towards Timothy's success as time progresses.
As we continue the meeting with HR, we see Timothy struggling to defend himself and how challenging it can be to be taken seriously as a person who stutters in a world primarily geared towards fluency, speed and profit. At a pivotal moment, we even get a glimpse into Timothy's thoughts, allowing us to experience the inner reality of stuttering: how it feels when his thoughts race faster than his speech and how much energy it costs to speak. However, Timothy's pleas for clarification and attempts to seek it seem to fall on deaf ears.
Speaking is a fundamental human trait, so much so that freedom of speech is enshrined as one of the primary laws in most civilized nations. But what happens when you're fundamentally unable to speak or struggle due to a stutter?
While writing provides an alternative, it doesn't fully capture the essence and immediacy of spoken communication. This limitation profoundly impacts one's freedom of expression and sense of humanity. This challenge is often overlooked, yet addressing it is essential to upholding the freedom to let all our voices be heard. By fostering understanding and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to speak and be listened to, we can truly uphold the spirit of free speech.
The declaration, which you can read below, insists that it is time to end this assumption that people who stammer should stop stammering.
It calls upon everyone in a position to do so (the media, employers, organisations, etc) to make space for people who stammer. "We want to be seen and heard on TV; we want our stammer to be accepted when we go for interviews, order coffee or make a complaint, so that we stammer and be given the space to do so."
Declaration of the Right to Stutter
Signed by 89 international organizations.
As someone who stutters I have experienced similar situations to those portrayed in this film, which had a long-lasting negative impact on my mental well-being. I grew frustrated with others defining the experience for me. In communities of people who stutter there are countless stories about how their stuttering is misunderstood and misrepresented. Motivated by this, I decided to write, produce and direct a short film in which I aim to realistically depict the physical and social struggles and discomfort of stuttering.
Hopefully this film serves as a catalyst for broader conversations about stuttering and contributes to a more inclusive and compassionate portrayal of our experiences. I hope to inspire those who stutter and to challenge viewers to reconsider their perceptions of the human experience.
Explore behind-the-scenes photos, screenshots, and trailers.
Timothy
Passionate about acting and theater from a young age, Mike always loved the idea of being on stage and in front of the camera. During a minor in college, he discovered his true calling and also met Jelle, who plays Jonah. This led to their debut in 'Unspoken Truth'. Mike actually doesn't stutter in everyday life.
Jonah
Jelle's passion for acting began at 14, leading to a performance in Harold Pinter's 'A Slight Ache' during his minor. As a member of the theater company Hades, he continues to hone his craft. 'Unspoken Truth' marks Jelle's debut in film.
Lena (HR Manager)
Corinne has studied biology and has a broad interest in science and the arts. Working in a science museum, she loves engageing with audiences. Here she discovered her passion for performance and acting. Corinne is a newcomer to film and makes her debut in ‘Unspoken Truth’.
Jip (HR Manager)
At 52, Jeroen is considered a late bloomer. After a successful career as an entrepreneur, he pursued his passion for acting. 'De waarheid' is his debut film.
Sofie (Wxsley's PR Manager)
A 24-year-old model and singer based in The Netherlands, with training in camera acting at 'The Actorsstudio.' And with 16 years of piano experience and fluency in Dutch and American English, Sen brings versatility and musicality to her performances. Creativity is her driving force. 'Unspoken Truth' marks her debut in a supporting film role.
WxSLEY (Client, Artist)
Born on July 28th, 1994, in Aruba, Roberta Romelli is a performer, actress, model, and creative enthusiast. Known for her roles in Aruban local theater and film, she also worked on the 2015 Aruba Film Festival. Roberta has collaborated with various local artists, enriching her creative development.
Director, Writer & Executive Producer
A person who stutters with a passion for making narrative films. His career began in gaming and television and he's been featured in publications and major gaming platforms including ArenaNet and Riot Games. For him, filmmaking and story-telling is a lifelong journey of self-expression and exploration.
Director of Photography
Has studied Mathematics and worked as a Math Teacher. During this work he started persuing his ambitions in the audiovisual industry and started working as a videographer and editor. Belal has worked for several feature films and tv series as Production Assistant and Production Coordinator.
Producer
A freelance producer with a passion for media. Fascinated by the world of media since childhood, Moreno's curiosity has led him to explore its depths further. His interests lie in manipulating visuals, turning ideas into unique creations. Moreno specializes in bringing visions to life.
Composer
Also known as Divergent, this 21-year-old living in Syria is a music composer, producer, mixing & mastering engineer and a vocalist. Ambient is his main genre, yet he's equally at home as one half of the rap duo 'Sick Boyz' alongside his cousin, demonstrating his versatile musical talent.
Sound recordist, sound designer
Remo Kuhlmann is an active composer for film and TV since 2022. Remo's music has been described as insistent, deep emotional and powerful. For "De Waarheid" Remo was the on-set sound recordist and post-production sound designer.
director, writer, executive producer Irmo Stijnberg director of photography Belal Abhar producer Moreno Koning assistant director Bernard Kuiper, Mick Verkerk gaffer Wim de Jong assistant camera Sem Berger, Youran Kock set sound recordist Remo Kuhlmann, Medina Sharapova production assistant Ferrie Lehman makeup & wardrobe Sen Lenderink locations manager Jeroen Scholten editor Irmo Stijnberg assistant editor Mick Verkerk composer Fayez Saraya colorist Boudewijn van de Velde sound designer Remo Kuhlmann digital compositor Anthony Clifford
© 2023-2024 Censtudios, Irmo Stijnberg
The Netherlands