New fiction film taking shape

There’s a lot going on right now.

It’s kind of tough to go into details on everything: the growth of the TriFilm Society, sharing Brewconomy, rebranding and cutting my reel for freelance work, and raising funds for a new documentary. (Among other things.)

But I’d love to share the development of a new film.

It’s something I’m working on sporadically but I’m very committed to making, finishing, and sharing with the world. Inspiration hits every now and then, so this is a great shift from the other things I typically work on. It’s a great new challenge.

Production basics? The new finished film will be less than five minutes long. It’s half horror / suspense, and half action sequence. It’s a screenplay I wrote earlier this year, and is an exciting new challenge for me as a director.

The gist of the film?

A woman defeats her attacker in a parking garage.

A lot of people ask why I make certain films or how I find stories to cover.

It’s tough to explain. There are so many reasons. Essentially, I select dynamic stories that I can stay in love with the rest of my life.

For example, this particular short film is an amalgamation of so many things.

1. It’s kind of a personal story. A close relative was held up at gunpoint in a parking log many years ago. Thankfully no one was physically hurt. I wasn’t there but it still left a big impression on me. As a result, I was very afraid of guns for a long time.

2. I want to explore what it means to be a victim and a strong woman. The character’s attacker may be played by a man but I want to be perfectly clear: this is not about him. It’s about her strength and resolve. It’s about what happened to her, how it affected her, and how she’s coping with it.

3. I have watched many action scenes featuring women and most of them irritate me. I’ll save the rant for another day but here’s the bottom line: I’d like to create something that is a healthier portrayal of strong women.

4. I want to face a new directing challenge. Last year I went through some workshops that taught me a lot, and I’d like to put that new information to work. I want to shake things up and bring this new vision to life to keep building skills, learning, and trying new things.

5. I want to make something cool while hanging with crazy-talented people I adore. This is really the most important part of the whole thing. I want to go out with my filmmaking friends and do something fun, that is phenomenal, and we’re all proud to be a part of it.

6. The short film is a way to explore an idea that could grow into a feature-length or episodic exploration of the subject matter. If it resonates with people, we could continue exploring it. Having the short version completed would make it easier to raise funds for that.

7. The idea has nagged me for a long time. That usually means it’s a worthwhile effort.

There are more reasons, I’m sure.

Right now I’m looking for ways to get the movie made.

There are no funds for it right now, but I’m working on creative ways to find resources. If you or anyone you know wants to support the film – with cash, in-kind contributions, or other support – please let me know immediately.

It’s going to be a great film. I can’t wait to share more details with you. I’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes info via email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and this blog so please stay tuned.