Mother Tongue was one of those projects that reminded me how much I genuinely love being a First Assistant Director. Much of the film was shot overnight on a beach in Margate, which meant working around changing light, tides and the conditions of the location. At times, we were quite literally camping out and waiting for the right moment to shoot. It was a production that required patience, flexibility and, more than anything, really strong coordination.

As 1st AD, a big part of my job was keeping everyone on the same page while making sure the set continued to feel calm and positive, even through long nights and unpredictable conditions. Communication has always been one of my strongest qualities, and I really enjoy being the person who can keep things moving while also keeping people at ease and the energy up.

There is something I love about the balance of 1st ADing: being incredibly organised while constantly adapting to whatever a shoot throws at you. Mother Tongue demanded both, and it made me realise just how naturally I feel at home in that role.