A Moment on the Big Screen
Celebrating One of Our Own
Every now and then, something happens at Blast & Aftermath that reminds us exactly why we love what we do. This time, that moment came courtesy of our Creative Director, Matt West, and his powerful short film, A Moment Ago.
The film has been making its way through the festival circuit, and seeing it projected on a full-size cinema screen, surrounded by an audience fully immersed in the story, was one of those proper, goosebumps-inducing milestones.
See the full video here...
For Matt, it wasn’t just a career moment. It was something much deeper.
A Moment Ago is a film that dives straight into the emotional turbulence that follows a major life event. At its heart, it’s about a man grappling with his mental health – something many people experience but don’t always feel they can talk about openly, especially men. Matt has always been vocal about the importance of these conversations and the idea that creativity can open the door to discussing personal struggles.
In fact, the entire motivation behind A Moment Ago came from that desire to show how powerful storytelling can be when it’s honest, vulnerable, and rooted in real human experience.
One of the standout highlights in the film’s journey was its screening at the Romford Film Festival. Festivals always have a certain buzz, that mix of nerves, excitement, and the surreal feeling of seeing your work in a setting usually reserved for the films you grew up admiring. For Matt, the moment the lights dimmed and his film appeared on the big screen was something he’ll never forget. It’s one thing to watch your own work on a laptop during the late-night editing sessions… it’s another to watch it with a room full of strangers who react, feel, and breathe with your story.
Matt was asked on stage to participate in a Q&A session. He joined a panel with three other talented writers and directors, each discussing their films, their creative process, and the themes they explored. For Matt, it was an honour – not only because he was up there with incredible filmmakers, but because it gave him the chance to openly talk about the subject matter that means so much to him. Discussing mental health, masculinity, vulnerability, and the role of creativity in dealing with emotional turmoil, something that is the heartbeat of the whole project.
One of the things Matt often talks about is how creating A Moment Ago became a personal outlet – a way to process, reflect, and turn difficult experiences into something constructive. That’s the message he hopes comes through for anyone watching it: creativity isn’t just artistry; it’s communication, it’s therapy, it’s a bridge between what we feel and what we’re able to express.
And it’s a reminder that men, in particular, need those outlets. They need room to open up, to express, to admit they’re not always okay. Films like A Moment Ago aim to give people permission to have those conversations, whether it’s with a friend, a partner, or even with themselves. And seeing the audience at festivals engage with the film proved just how important these stories really are.
Watching Matt’s film play on a festival screen wasn’t just his moment; it was a proud moment for everyone here at Blast & Aftermath. We see firsthand how much passion and intention he brings to every creative project, but A Moment Ago is something uniquely personal, something that comes from a deeper part of who he is as a storyteller.
Seeing it celebrated, discussed, and embraced by audiences… that’s the kind of thing that stays with you. An honour, a milestone, and a reminder of why telling stories matters so much.
We couldn’t be prouder. Here's to many more big screens, big conversations, and big creative moments ahead.
Every now and then, something happens at Blast & Aftermath that reminds us exactly why we love what we do. This time, that moment came courtesy of our Creative Director, Matt West, and his powerful short film, A Moment Ago.
The film has been making its way through the festival circuit, and seeing it projected on a full-size cinema screen, surrounded by an audience fully immersed in the story, was one of those proper, goosebumps-inducing milestones.
See the full video here...
For Matt, it wasn’t just a career moment. It was something much deeper.
A Moment Ago is a film that dives straight into the emotional turbulence that follows a major life event. At its heart, it’s about a man grappling with his mental health – something many people experience but don’t always feel they can talk about openly, especially men. Matt has always been vocal about the importance of these conversations and the idea that creativity can open the door to discussing personal struggles.
In fact, the entire motivation behind A Moment Ago came from that desire to show how powerful storytelling can be when it’s honest, vulnerable, and rooted in real human experience.
One of the standout highlights in the film’s journey was its screening at the Romford Film Festival. Festivals always have a certain buzz, that mix of nerves, excitement, and the surreal feeling of seeing your work in a setting usually reserved for the films you grew up admiring. For Matt, the moment the lights dimmed and his film appeared on the big screen was something he’ll never forget. It’s one thing to watch your own work on a laptop during the late-night editing sessions… it’s another to watch it with a room full of strangers who react, feel, and breathe with your story.
Matt was asked on stage to participate in a Q&A session. He joined a panel with three other talented writers and directors, each discussing their films, their creative process, and the themes they explored. For Matt, it was an honour – not only because he was up there with incredible filmmakers, but because it gave him the chance to openly talk about the subject matter that means so much to him. Discussing mental health, masculinity, vulnerability, and the role of creativity in dealing with emotional turmoil, something that is the heartbeat of the whole project.
One of the things Matt often talks about is how creating A Moment Ago became a personal outlet – a way to process, reflect, and turn difficult experiences into something constructive. That’s the message he hopes comes through for anyone watching it: creativity isn’t just artistry; it’s communication, it’s therapy, it’s a bridge between what we feel and what we’re able to express.
And it’s a reminder that men, in particular, need those outlets. They need room to open up, to express, to admit they’re not always okay. Films like A Moment Ago aim to give people permission to have those conversations, whether it’s with a friend, a partner, or even with themselves. And seeing the audience at festivals engage with the film proved just how important these stories really are.
Watching Matt’s film play on a festival screen wasn’t just his moment; it was a proud moment for everyone here at Blast & Aftermath. We see firsthand how much passion and intention he brings to every creative project, but A Moment Ago is something uniquely personal, something that comes from a deeper part of who he is as a storyteller.
Seeing it celebrated, discussed, and embraced by audiences… that’s the kind of thing that stays with you. An honour, a milestone, and a reminder of why telling stories matters so much.
We couldn’t be prouder. Here's to many more big screens, big conversations, and big creative moments ahead.