You are currently viewing ALONE TOGETHER
ALONE TOGETHER – Comic Documentary. Follow Dylan Hesp, a self-proclaimed big deal television actor with plenty of friends, on a comedic quest to understand loneliness. In this insightful and hilariously awkward documentary, Dylan goes on friend dates with strangers, gets offended by expert opinions, and even tries cuddle therapy to understand the true impact of social isolation.

ALONE TOGETHER

ALONE TOGETHER – Comic Documentary 15:34 min’s

Director/Producer: DYLAN HESP and Producer: Michael O’Neill

Synopsis

Follow Dylan Hesp, a self-proclaimed big deal television actor with plenty of friends, on a comedic quest to understand loneliness. In this insightful and hilariously awkward documentary, Dylan goes on friend dates with strangers, gets offended by expert opinions, and even tries cuddle therapy to understand the true impact of social isolation.

Cautions

Be aware that some people in the discussion group might be experiencing loneliness.

Themes

  • Loneliness
  • Social/ emotional intelligence
  • Societal change/ social health
  • Comedic techniques used to lighten a serious topic

Discussion questions

  • How do you prevent loneliness in your life?
  • What are effective ways to prevent loneliness (e.g. volunteering, pets, friends, community activities etc.)
  • How can communities promote inclusion in their communities?
  • What strategies are effective to prevent or minimize loneliness?

Ideas to explore

  • The prevalence of loneliness in our communities and what might be causing it.
  • How media and social influencers present or reflect on this topic with relation to health, safety and well-being.

Discussion Questions

  • What is loneliness? What does it feel like?
  • What causes loneliness?
  • What are good ways to prevent feeling lonely, as a young person, as you age etc.
  • Are people lonelier now than in the past? Why do you think so?
  • If someone says, ‘I am lonely’, what are our reactions? Do we lessen that person’s loneliness, or does it drive us away? What stops us from reaching out to others? Is there a place for vulnerability amongst our peers?
  • What actions can we take to be less lonely, and to make others in our community less lonely while still retaining our boundaries?
  • WHAT activities can we initiate or participate in to reduce loneliness?
  • HOW can we help others feel less lonely?
  • WHEN do we feel most lonely?
  • WHERE can we go to feel less lonely?
  • WHY is it important to address loneliness in our community?
  • WHAT does connection sound like? (What sort of things do good ‘connectors’ say?)

Pre or post-viewing activities

Conduct a getting to know someone else exercise (such as meet the person to your left and tell the group about them).

Note that there is a deliberately ‘ageist’ joke in the film. Can you identify it, (hint: in the bathtub!) and do you think there is a difference in how people regard loneliness in different age groups?

Alice Webb

Alice Webb is a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and social justice, bringing over 18 years of leadership experience to her role as CEO of A Fairer World. With a background in education, disability advocacy, and organisational leadership, Alice is dedicated to empowering individuals and organisations to create meaningful change. She holds a Master’s in Education and a Master’s in Business Administration, equipping her with both the strategic insight and educational expertise to drive impactful change. Alice is a skilled facilitator in unconscious bias training, diversity and inclusion programs, and workplace cultural change initiatives. Under her leadership, A Fairer World delivers innovative programs like the Hobart Human Library, where real-life storytellers share lived experiences of bias and discrimination to foster empathy and challenge assumptions. Committed to creating inclusive spaces, Alice believes that awareness leads to action and that education is the key to breaking down barriers. Her engaging training style, combined with real-world case studies and interactive discussions, makes her an inspiring leader in the fight for a fairer, more equitable society.