Two men are smiling and conversing inside a restaurant or cafe, with a woman and a chalkboard sign behind them displaying specials including 'OCD & Chips' priced at £4.50. The background includes a CCTV warning sign and a no smoking sign.

“You spelled cod wrong”

Polly, who has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), navigates through her mundane routine until a customer's arrival triggers a series of intrusive thoughts and compulsions. The film aims to shed light on the condition of OCD and how prominently it can affect people.

Two men are having a conversation inside a fish and chips shop, with a menu board listing various fish and chips options in the background.
A scene inside a fish and chips shop with two men working behind the counter, one with curly hair and a beard and the other with light facial hair, and a customer wearing glasses and a gray jacket. A film crew with camera equipment is filming the sce
A man with a shaved head, beard, and light skin wearing a yellow safety vest, black shirt, and camouflage shorts, walking through a food establishment door.
A person with a shaved head working behind a camera in a food shop kitchen. The background shows a menu with prices for chips, fish, and other foods, and a whiteboard with handwritten prices.
Inside a fish and chips shop with menu board and staff. The menu board lists different sizes of haddock and chips, with prices. There are other food items and prices listed, as well as a sign for telephone orders taken. Staff are visible behind the c
A person is styling a blonde mannequin head with a wig in a salon or cosmetology school setting. The person is wearing glasses and a black hat, focusing on the wig with a comb or styling tool. In the background, another person appears to be working a
Two women outside a fish and chips shop, with one woman sitting on a chair and the other woman applying makeup or lipstick to her face. The shop window has text that reads 'Traditional Fish & Chips'. The scene is viewed through a blurred foreground,
Close-up view of a film slate or clapperboard with the words 'DOD SHIP' and 'OS' visible, used in film production to mark scenes and takes.
People filming a man with a bald head and beard wearing a yellow shirt during an interview or recording in an indoor setting.
A man operating a camera on a tripod in a kitchen, filming a woman in a yellow top who is holding a phone.
A man with a bald head and red beard holding a clapperboard, standing indoors in front of a window, with a camera and filming equipment in the foreground.
A person with dark curly hair wearing a black shirt stands behind a counter, filming a man in a yellow reflective safety vest with a camera. The man with the vest appears to be talking, with shelves of disposable cups and paper bags behind him. Studi
Filmmakers or photographers working on a film or photo shoot, with camera and lighting equipment in an indoor studio.
A reflection of two men standing outside a building with a camera, lighting equipment, and a chalkboard sign visible through the glass window. One man is wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, the other is wearing a yellow safety vest and camouflage sho
A woman with blonde hair and a polka dot apron in a kitchen or restaurant kitchen, leaning on a counter with a large stack of papers or receipts. In the background, a shirtless man with a red beard is raising his arm, possibly in a gesture or wave.
People sitting in a restaurant or cafe, with a man in a blue shirt and another man with a shaved head, sitting near a large window. A clock on the wall shows 4:59.
A man with a bald head and beard is shirtless and looking at papers, while another person in a blue shirt is reading from a document. A woman with blonde hair in a polka dot shirt is partially visible, standing at a counter with stacks of papers and
A person with glasses and headphones standing next to a scooter while adjusting some equipment, with another woman in a polka dot vest standing nearby in an indoor setting.
A shirtless man with a bald head and a beard standing behind a counter in a store, while a woman with blonde hair and a polka dot blouse stands in front of him. The view is partly obstructed by a large white umbrella-shaped light diffuser and a black
A woman with blonde hair, wearing a white shirt and a blue polka dot apron, is holding a plate of food near a commercial kitchen stove.
Two men smiling and talking in a restaurant or cafe behind a counter; a chalkboard sign advertising specials for OCD & Chips for £4.50, with a drawing of a fish; several signs and equipment are visible on the walls and counter.
A woman and two men at a counter inside a casual restaurant or cafe, with one man handing her a paper, and a blackboard sign behind them displaying menu items. The woman wears a polka-dot apron, and the man with a beard has a bald head. Another young
A woman with blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a blue polka dot dress and white shirt standing in front of a menu board in a restaurant or café setting.
A woman with blonde hair and a polka dot dress stands behind a counter in a restaurant, with a whiteboard menu visible in the background. There is a large photography umbrella and camera equipment in the foreground.
Three people stand behind a counter in a restaurant kitchen, with a chalkboard menu in the background and a shelf of bottled drinks above. One person appears to be an employee, and the other two customers, with the image partially obscured by a metal
A man with a bald head and red beard looking to the left, and a woman with blonde hair wearing a white top with blue polka dots, reflected in a metallic surface.
Filming of a scene using professional camera equipment in a setting with people, including a woman in the background with blonde hair and a white and blue top, and three men in the foreground, two of whom are visible from the back and one from the si
People gathered outdoors for a meal, with tables full of food, pizza, and drinks, in an urban setting near parked cars and a brick building.
A young woman with blonde hair, wearing a blue polka dot apron over a white shirt, is talking to a person dressed in dark clothing and a cap, at an outdoor event. They are near a table with snack bags, with a car and a large advertising banner in the
Two men working together with a professional camera on a tripod, filming or photographing at an outdoor location, possibly near a building with a glass door.
A woman in a white uniform with a polka dot vest is leaning over a counter, looking down at papers or items on the table, with a box and some yellow packets in front of her.
Three people in a kitchen, one woman with glasses and headphones around her neck, two men, one with a shaved head and the other with curly hair, are preparing food or drinks behind a counter. A microphone is hanging from above.
Clothes hanging on a clothesline and trash bin in alleyway of a residential backyard.
Reflection of a woman with blonde hair and bangs taking a photo in a store window with a traffic cone and cars outside.
A man in a red hoodie operating a camera on a tripod, filming a scene with a bright window and two figures on a monitor screen.
On a camera screen, two people are indoors, a woman with blonde hair and a polka-dot dress and a man with dark hair and a mustache, holding a paper, in a room with electrical equipment, shelves, and boxes.
Group of people on a film or photography set, with a man in a black shirt holding a phone, a man in a red hoodie, and a man adjusting lighting equipment, in an indoor setting.
The image shows a camera viewfinder displaying three people inside a room, one woman reading a book, and two men, one in an orange hoodie and the other in a dark shirt, standing near a counter or appliance.
A man with curly hair and a beard operating a camera setup in a room with a large light diffuser overhead.
Group of people working on a film set with professional camera equipment.
A man with a shaved head adjusts his ear while operating a professional camera on a tripod, with other crew members in the background.
Behind-the-scenes view of a film or video shoot, with a monitor showing two women, one with blonde hair and a denim jacket, and a man adjusting her hair, in a room.
A man with curly hair and a beard smiling, wearing a black shirt, inside a room with a woman with blonde hair tied back, wearing earrings and a denim jacket. The background shows a door, a fire exit sign, and a window with blinds.
A woman with blonde hair and a white and blue polka dot shirt sitting on a bed in a room, looking up at a person holding a mannequin head. The photo is taken from a low angle through some objects in the foreground.
Close-up of a cameraman filming a woman in a polka dot dress holding a fork.
Multiple people are standing closely together, with some looking at a monitor and others using electronic devices, in an indoor setting with a window and an exit sign in the background.
A group of young adults in casual clothing gathering near an open door, some holding skateboards, in what appears to be an indoor setting with a white brick wall and an exit sign overhead.
A woman sits on the floor in a room, wearing a white shirt and a polka dot vest, being photographed or filmed by a person holding a camera and a phone, with some equipment and supplies around them.
Close-up of a film director or crew member holding a clapperboard with handwritten details. In the background, appears to be two people in conversation or scene, slightly blurred, inside a room or hallway.
Fried chicken pieces on a wire rack inside an oven, with a checkered dish towel underneath.

Q&A

Where did the original idea for the film come from and what was its core message?

The idea for OCD & Chips came from the director’s and wider team’s lived experiences of OCD. We wanted to present it honestly, moving beyond common stereotypes by showing the reality of intrusive thoughts and their impact on daily life through a comedic, relatable lens. Ultimately, we wanted to highlight how, no matter how someone appears externally, their internal struggles are often unseen.

Was it difficult to cast the main actors in the film ? 

We saw a lot of actors for the role of Bob - A LOT. It’s a tricky casting, balancing deadpan delivery, surreal humor, while still keeping it truthful. Andy really understood the assignment in his audition and was super receptive to our vision. He had a real understanding of Bob from the start. His switches between normality and embodying the intrusive thoughts were seamless, funny, and fully committed. He stood out as someone who really got Bob and our message.

What were the biggest creative or logistical challenges ?

The main challenge was shooting the whole film in a day in a very small fish and chip shop located in Grimsby. With a tight timeline, we relied on our amazing team. Our director’s clear vision and our first assistant's meticulous planning kept us on track.
Using a local crew minimised travel issues and ensured smooth operations, helping us capture all the necessary elements for our story.

How was the film received?

OCD & Chips was selected for numerous prestigious international festivals, including Oxford Shorts, Lytham International Film Festival, and Worldwide Women’s Festival. It also picked up several accolades along the way, including Best Short Film at the Oxford Shorts Awards.