High
Short Film
Logline: When a woman takes a mysterious pill known as “Lucifer,” she gets more than she bargained for in a bid to escape her reality.
Description: High initially began as a pilot episode for a potential web series, The Fear Spectrum, but ultimately became a standalone short film. It was filmed in Bristol, Pennsylvania, and was an official selection for the 2014 Nightmare Before Christmas Film Festival in Spring City, PA.
My Role: Director, Co-producer, Screenwriter, Casting
Collaboration: I could not have been happier with the incredible cast and crew assembled for this shoot. I’ve learned that having that right mix of people is crucial to any project’s success. It’s not just about one person’s performance; it’s about everyone working together in one collective performance. The ability of each actor to feed off of one another’s dynamic is key to creating that perfect chemistry.
Cast & Crew: I worked with some talented people for this production, including Justine Freeman (makeup) and Nathan Vitale (director of photography). A.J. Deliantis, who played the main demon character, was so committed to the role that he shaved his head to ensure the horns stayed in place! Kimberly Ann Jones, Matthan Griggs, Sonia Zambrana, and Nick Tang rounded out the cast and were a lot of fun to work with.
Art Direction: Many of the shots in the dream sequence utilize vibrant colored lighting, drawing inspiration from Italian director Dario Argento, who used it effectively in such horror pictures as Suspiria. I wanted to avoid CGI and use actual makeup to achieve a more believable monster. Justine exceeded my expectations with advanced airbrushing techniques that she had always wanted to experiment with.
