Actor, and now award-winning scriptwriter Josh Alexander is turning personal struggle into art with his upcoming short film, Man Up!, a semi-autobiographical exploration of men’s mental health and toxic masculinity.
Alexander, who has faced anxiety and depression for much of his life, began writing the film during the first COVID-19 lockdown when, he says, acting opportunities all but disappeared.
Frustrated by the ubiquitous phrase “Man Up”, he created a screenplay that explores the pressures men face to suppress emotions.
“I hate that phrase,” Alexander said. “It’s just such a nonsense phrase. What are you supposed to do to ‘man up’? How do I know I’ve achieved it? Do I get a badge like I did in the scouts?”
He has opted to play a character representing toxic masculinity rather than the lead role, allowing him to channel his personal experiences into the performance.
The script considers how societal expectations around masculinity can contribute to repression and emotional isolation.
Alexander draws inspiration from his own observations at football games and music gigs, where he says he’s noticed tension and aggression which he believes stems from unexpressed emotions.
“It’s a level of insecurity I think, or repression. I think they don’t want to admit that they’re sensitive, but everyone’s a human being at the end of the day. We all share these feelings,” he said.
Currently fundraising to bring his project to life, Alexander has already received praise for the script, winning several awards.
He hopes the film will resonate with audiences, particularly men struggling with similar challenges.
“I’ve been in those dark places,” he explained. “The stats for male suicide are insane, especially among under-thirties. Men often don’t talk about it. I want the film to highlight that we’re all going through the same stuff.”
Alexander is reluctant to give advice to other men, but says he’d love to see more of them open up to their friends. He thinks they’d probably realise those friends feel exactly the same way.
“Beneath all the veneer of bravado and big talk and insensitivity, there probably is someone in there going ‘yeah, actually, cheers mate. I did want to have a chat’,” he said.
Filming is pencilled in to begin in April, but before that can happen, Alexander has to raise enough money to create the film he imagines.
He says he is protective of the project and that raising a decent budget is important to him.
“It’s got to be how I want it to be. I could make it for less, but it just wouldn’t be what I want it to be. I would feel like I’d let myself down,” he said.
Man Up! is currently seeking funding to move into production. Supporters can help bring Alexander’s vision to the screen here.
Featured image credit: Josh Alexander
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