Hope You Fail

Filmmaker's note

In many ways, the story of Sprinklegate felt like it was mine to tell. Despite being an American who had never even been to Leeds before embarking on this project, the elements of the story touch on so many subjects that compel me: notions of social media persona vs gritty reality, the effects of devastating personal failure/loss, the fleeting glory of viral fame, and of course, the politics of American vs British rainbow sprinkles. As someone who has always loved colorful subjects and food in particular, I was thrilled to approach this sprinkly topic first at surface level, but then, to get to know the complicated human being who was willing to throw the world's biggest internet tantrum over his beloved sweets. I met Rich only in February in pursuit of the film, but we found a lot of common ground from our first zoom meeting as we discussed what I was aiming to create. I could easily relate to Rich's overpowering feelings of impostor syndrome, anxiety, self-doubt, and perfectionism, and aptly experienced them myself while in the process of making this film. In a way I hope the film serves to remind anyone watching it to be easier on themselves and take stock in all the things they have achieved, and could yet achieve, rather than dwelling in an unsustainable state of fearing failure.