Changes
After Laura Neulip outs her bully she is cornered into lying about what really happened in order to save the reputation of the schools star athlete. In an effort to clear things up, the Neulip’s invite the family over for dinner, but find themselves in a messy situation. CHANGES is a spectacular, ambitious, and extremely satisfying short script written by Matthew Bryan and brought to life by Rhiannon Thomas, Stephanie Carpentieri, Gabriel Grier, Robinson Walsh, Julian Vlcan, and introducing Rayne Potter as the narrator.
Credits
Written by: Matthew Bryan
Directed by: Gary Jones
Produced by: Awfully Good Media
Cast
Narrator: Rayne Potter
Laura: Rhiannon Thomas
Alice: Stephani Carpentieri
David:Gabriel Grier
Tyler: Robinson Walsh
Ben: Julian Vlcan
Sound Supervisor and Editor: Ryan Gottshall
Recorded at Spacewalk Sound
spacewalksound.com
Music
Animal Assassins – Colorado 1864
Firework Festival – Game Changer ft. Robin Hawkin
Half Light – From Below
Joel Porter – St. Anthony
Options
Avery Ross, the CEO of a small chemical company, must confront a situation her father created when he was running the firm.
In the wake of several documentaries that highlight corporate or social corruption such as 'Fyre' and 'The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley', we are reminded that we live in a dishonest and fraudulent world. Michael Wooldridge's 'Options' highlights what can be hidden in so many giant corporations, when Avery Ross, the young CEO of a family-run chemical company, is extorted on the eve of the company’s IPO, she is faced with an impossible choice. The blackmailer's accusations threaten to shatter Dawson Chemicals' reputation for corporate responsibility that Avery's father Dean worked so hard to cultivate during his tenure running the company. Dean, and two representatives of the offering bank, come up with a scheme to swiftly 'eliminate' the issue. As Avery stands in her father’s old office, still littered with his memorabilia, she must overcome her shock at learning the true nature of the family business and decide whether to give in to her father’s bullying, go along with his plan and do the unthinkable, or defy him and forge her own path forward in opposition to his interests.
Options was my first short film, written over a year or so in 2014 & 2015. In late 2016 I came upon an opportunity to fund it, and began pre-production. It was my first time writing & directing anything, and it was a really stellar experience. Everyone involved gave 110% and came together to create it, and I think that reflects in the final product. We were extraordinarily lucky to get Caissie Levy (currently Elsa in Frozen on Broadway) as our lead. She was incredibly generous with her time and attention. The rest came together beautifully and I think the results speak for themselves.
The direct approach in 'Options' creates an excellent tension and captures a great focus on how easily big moral dilemmas can shift one side or another. Through his story, Michael is able to pinpoint the instance in which terrible and influential decisions are made. The film really makes us stop and think at how many times this has happened and still continues to in real life - the shear thoughts are terrifying.
Cat's Outta the Bag
An innocent millennial finds herself in an unthinkable situation and the only thing that can fix it, of course, is her cell phone.
Director's Notes
We have been here before - one generation not understand the next. Technology has almost become its own generation forcing its way into ALL our lives – young, old, seasoned or naïve. But where we have not yet been, is within this generation observing that perhaps it doesn’t quite understand itself. A view into full convenience and 24hour access to communication overkill. The pros and cons of being too accessible.
Good news is that this millennial generation has a fantastic lightness and sense of humor. This Gen-X woman director fell in love with fresh young minds that tackle life with everything to offer and still find the time to step back and say – wait, WTF is going on with society?!
Social Media might perhaps be the new rock ‘n roll voice for this generation that has the power to unite globally. Although – I would REALLY love more rock ‘n roll on the airwaves – at least media content is showing it also has some balls.
“Cat’s Outta The Bag” allowed me to be a fly on the wall of a dating collective that – to be honest – still lusts for the same thing generations before them have – genuine connection. As we have all learned that through our passionate pursuits for love there must also be pain and loss; therefore, we know we are alive and, sadistically, in balance.
This dark comedy explores a community that pushes the boundaries of comfort and entitlement to its limits and simultaneously screams at the audience “ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?!”.
I hope you enjoy the beats – find the laughter and lightness and then – pause and think – wait, is this real? Perhaps.
Lifeline
A story about Beth, a mother who is forced to the limit for her son Ash, putting her morality to the test.
Lifeline asks how far we'd push ourselves for the people we love. The film shows that even in a brutally impossible situation, there will always be something deeply human in everybody, a connection between every one of us.
Sticky Situation
In a city filled with corruption, a new evil is rising, and it keeps getting bigger. A new killer is on the loose and it's up to two experienced detectives to pull together and fight this colossal foe.
ALT Horror Presents: Chickens
Two racist cops try to deescalate the situation after killing an unarmed black teen.
Directors Statement
Here's a piece that's incredibly close to me. As an African American male in my teens I had a sharp fear of the police rooted from my surroundings. It's always been a question for me, why do those who govern think they're god? These questions of superiority and racism led to thoughts that created farce and satire.... Then came the creation of "Chickens", a short film about the horrors of police brutality.
The Visit
THE VISIT is a dark comedy that takes an upside down look at present day racial prejudices.
A generic bearded brown man, finds himself caught in a tricky situation where he is faced with the "looks like a terrorist" stereotype. And instead of fighting it, he decides to go along with it...leading to a comical yet dark turn of events.
The Blood in Our Veins
When Daniel Royas decides to take his ill mother, Alejandra, to be seen at a local clinic on his birthday, little do they know the terrible news that lies ahead. After being told that Alejandra has been diagnosed with cancer, Daniel must confront the realities of the situation; how to cope with his mother's imminent death and protect his younger sister Sofia. At it's core La Sangre en Nuestras Venas takes an introspective look at the life of undocumented immigrants in New York City through the lens of this small family. Their struggles as well as their triumphs through love and unity.
Until Midnight
A businessman with a hidden agenda, a janitor, and a mystery woman get entangled in an unusual situation that must resolve itself before midnight in this introspective dark comedy.
Watch now on Amazon
Sayuri's Desire (o desejo de Saiuri)
Homero is a lonely, middle-aged man who decides to meet Saiuri, an escort girl. He just wanted a night of pleasure and desire, but the situation went out of his control after an unexpected event.
facebook.com/ODesejoDeSaiuri
fernandosanches.net