DancesWithFilms: Archives - Shorts T thru Z
















	TAHARA USA, 2005, 35mm, 18 min. (DWF 2005) Writer/Dir/Prod: Sara Rashad • Cast: Caroleen Khalil, Yonsria Moursy, Aia Nazmy, Dori Mizrali\ Amina must decide if she will submit to family pressure to circumcise her daughter or abandon this age old practice because of pressure she receives from her mother when her husband is away on a business trip. TALKING WITH ANGELS UK, 2003, 16mm, 18 min. (Los Angeles Premiere, DWF 2004) Writer/Dir: Yousaf Ali Khan • Prod: Michael Knowles • Cast: Tracey Kearney, Stephen Buckley Talking with Angels questions the idea of what constitues a normal family as 10 year old Alan leads his schizophrenic mother and his siblings to the clinic for Mum's regular injection. TEMERARIO UK, 2006, HD, 10 min. (US Premiere, DWF 2006) Dir: Carl Zitelmann • Writer: Paul F. Williams • Prod: Debbie Crossup After being shot and left for death, Rio finds himself in a dream of revenge where he is forced to confront with his own shadowside. TEPID WATER USA, 2004, 35mm, 11 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2005) Writer/Dir: Vivian Winther • Prods: Kim Winther, Suzie Erhardt, Lars Winther • Cast: Nina Rosenmeier, Robert Kirkland, Ingrid Kirkland, Andrea Emmerich, Jennifer Glazebrook Nina runs a bath only to find that the past is blurring her reality.Seeking warmth in a life gone cold she submerges herself beneath the water. A vision greets her as she enters a near death experience only to find that it's not her time . She emmerges eager to start a new. THAT'S THAT USA, 2001, 35mm, 9 min. (DWF 2002) Dir: Aaron Sharp, Writer: David B. Sharp, Prods: David B. Sharp, Marlene D. Moore Cast: Spencer Sharp, Lila F. Bains, Stan Durban, Denna Heerema In a world he doesn’t understand, a boy must come to terms with the loss of his only friend. 3AM ETERNAL USA, 1999, 16mm, 18 min. (DWF 2001) Dir: Dennis Lanson, Writer: Norman R. Lesperance, Prod: Norman R. Lesperance, André Overdal, Ryan Jackson, Stephen Anderson Cast: Tony Montana, Patrick Hume, David Jean Thomas, Miranda Viscoli Tyler Rollins is haunted by a traumatic event that occurred during his service in Vietnam. Torn by the death of his friend and the love of a woman, Tyler must face his past to redeem what might be left of his future. TILT-A-WHIRL USA, 2005, 35mm, 12 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2005) Dir: Cameron Thor • Writer: Christian Canterbury • Prods: Johnathon Schaech, Johnny Asuncion, Rob Naples • Cast: Vince Duvall, Jessica Schatz, Tyler Brooks, Candace Sibley, Christina Applegate A Hollywood producer has a nervous breakdown in front of a simple coffeeshop girl, leading him to question the meaning of his confused existence. TIMMY'S WISH USA, 2002, 16mm, 10 min. (DWF 2002) Dir: Patrick Cannon, Writer/Prods: Tom Ballatore, Patrick Cannon, Amit Itelman, Cast: Darian Weiss, Patrick Cannon, Tom Ballatore After he's sent to his room for refusing to eat his vegetables, angry little Timmy prays to heaven to deliver him from his cruel parents. Much to his surprise, his prayers are answered-- bigtime. Now it's up to Timmy to clean up the mess. TITLER USA, 1999, 35mm, 5 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 1999 - GRAND JURY AWARD) Dir: Jonathan Bekemeier, Writer: Greg Roman, Producer: Mark Hankey, Cast: Greg Roman TITLER has been described as, “Everything nobody wants to see all at once.” We are introduced to Titler through a series of off, off-beat a capella songs with lyrics shedding some light on Titler’s demented psyche. TOM LUVS MAEVE 4-EVER USA, 2000, 16mm, 25 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2000) Writer/Dir.: Wendy Jo Cohen, Producers: Wendy Jo Cohen, Alexandra Lisée Cast: Angelina Phillips, Mark Nassar, Sharon Angela, Phyllis Somerville Throughout their small town he scrawled it everywhere: “Tom Luvs Maeve 4-Ever.” Yet despite this affidavit, Tom wants out after only 19 years of marriage. Completely unglued by this turn of events, the devasted - and, yes; “gone berserk” - Maeve sets out on a mission to cleanse the town of Tom’s “false” declarations of love... By any means necessary! This short is a madcap look at the destructive forces that are unleashed when one person betrays another. TOOL, TX pop. 1712 USA, 2002, Digital, 16 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2002) Writer/Dir./Prod: Chad Bendele A hysterical tongue-in-cheek documentary of a small town in East Texas done with a sense of humor but also with a heart. It starts off appearing to make fun of these simple people which the rest of the world only knows from TV shows like Jerry Springer. As the film develops, we understand more about these people and why they really are different - in a good way! TOUCHED BY AN ATHEIST USA, 2002, Digital, 6 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2004) Writer/Dir/Prod: David Jackson Willis • Cast: Jesse Phillips March, Katelyn Kowalick A young boy learns how to land the girl of his dreams when a wandering philosopher reveals the secret to life: chicks dig freethinkers. TRAILER: THE MOVIE USA, 2001, 35mm, 9 min. (DWF 2002) Writer/Dir: Douglas Horn, Prods: Paco Farias, Melissa Guzman, Doughlas Horn Cast: Christopher Heltai, Paco Farias, Dan Southworth, Emily English, Jon Briddell When two filmmakers discover their blockbuster is really a bust, they cut together every half-decent shot into a misleading trailer to dupe audiences and save their careers. (based on a true story) A biting satire of big budget movies and their marketing machines. THE TRENCH USA, 2006, 35mm, 7 min. (US Premiere, DWF 2006) Dir: Gabriel Bolongna • Writers: Gabriel Bolongna, Jason Richman • Prod: Kenn Nelson Jenkins Cast: Jason Loughridge, Adam Kendrick Who is your Enemy? What is his Name? Does he have a wife and children? Is he fighting for your freedom or his own. How deep is the soul? Director Gabriel Bologna brings to you an epic of seconds -a heart-pounding death match in the grey area between warfare and murder, and wjere humanity and war collide in… THE TRENCH TRICKLE USA, 1997, 35mm, 18 min. (DWF 1998) Dir: Frank Tota, Writer: Adam Ross, Producer: Rob Bikel • Cast: William Mapother, Andrew Heckler, Kristin Moreu In order to get the job he desperately needs, Josh Riddell, an inveterate pot-smoker, must pass a drug test he knows he will fail. Pushing his friends’ patience and the limits to which he will stoop, Josh engineers an increasingly demeaning and physically tortuous scheme to pass the test and get on with his new “life.” THE TRUTH BEHIND...BENNIFER USA, 2003, Digital, 1 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2004) Writer/Dir: David Morris • Prods: David Morris, Sam Mollo • Cast: Tatiana Turan, Eddie Buck J-Lo Spoof TRYING THE NOT USA, 2006, DIGITAL, 17 min. (DWF 2006) Dir: Matthew Pearce • Writers: Alex Cary, Matthew Pearce • Prod: Kimberly Browning Cast: Cameron Daddo, Jamie Iglehart, Alan Dale What is the problem with guys getting married? The guests are seated, the priest is ready but the groom is having doubts. Does he stay or does he go now. Dreams and doubts on the biggest day of your life. TRYSTING USA, 2000, 16mm, 10 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2001) Writer/Dir/Prod: Sebastian Leda, Cast: Erynn Dalton, Eduardo Dias, Mike Flowers, Petra Johnson, Michael Cotter, Gina Hiraizumi, Avery Tylor, Karen Forman, Lisa Gopman, Todd Krolczyk, Dorien Davis, Brad Yoder A comedy about the misfortunes of blind dating. We follow the experiences of twelve people going through the process of finding a mate. Conrad and Cameron were born for each other, Miles and Melissa discover their true identity, Wendy gets the old trick, Jennifer and Jesus are not in the same planet, Ann and Alan don’t have anything in common, and they all share the worst time of their lives on the same night. With the exception of Sam and Susan, who bring the theme of this funny tale to a deeper level than you might expect! UGLY ON THE INSIDE USA, 2005, 35mm, 17 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2005) Writers/Dirs/Prods: Steven Boe, Whitney Boe Cast: Heidi Godt, Whitney Leigh, Roberto Raad Della has always dreamed of the perfect life: a springtime wedding in Vegas, a litter of kids running around the trailer, and a husband...any husband. Her best friend, Rayanne, only wants the best for Della but she has a habit of “accidentally” murdering Della’s fiancés. While trying to bury Charlie, the latest groom, the two women discover it's hard to keep a bad man down. THE UNBREAKABLE LIKENESS OF LINCOLN USA, 2000, 35mm, 8 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2001) Dirs: Dan Harris, Toby Wilkins, Writer: Paul Sopocy, Prods: Toby Wilkins, Dan Harris, Cast: Lori Yeghiayan, Eva Epstein A modern fairytale in the spirit of the Brothers Grimm in which an over-eager nurse keeps vigil over her 95 year-old employer. As Nurse Lindy administers her own special brand of care, she dreams of the better life that awaits her when the old woman dies - a life complete with diamonds and furs, and a thumb that won’t set off the metal detectors at airports. THE UNSINKABLE FREDDIE KRAKAUER USA, 2004, 16mm, 10 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2004) Writer/Dir/Prod: Seth Larsen • Cast: Jeff Cole, Lori Rom, Joby Harris, Kristian Hansen Freddie, a car salesman in his 30s, is watching life go by and doesn't even know it. He's still in the same town, still living in the fictional glory of his high school years. Molly, the girl Freddie has always regretted letting go, moves back into town. She's newly single and with a child. Can Freddie convince her he's changed? UNSPOKEN USA, 2004, 16mm, 8 min. (Los Angeles Premiere, DWF 2005) Dir/Prod: Temah Nelson • Writers: Mya Nelson, Temah Nelson Cast: Joseph Zamparelli Jr., Lis Adams, Jerry Robbins, Shana Dirik One itchy night, a couple preparing for bed discusses the day's events. As sleep comes, their dreams turn into nightmares, and each needs the other to get through the night. By integrating each other’s real-life annoying habits into their dreams, they are able to overcome disaster. In the backdrop, the tumultuous relationship of a neighboring couple progresses into the evening. The film uses animated metamorphosis to integrate fantasy and reality in an exploration of passion and love. Over the course of one night, through a series of five dreams, we explore the couple's connection that goes beyond words. VENGEANCE USA, 2001, 35mm, 3.5 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2001) Writer/Dir: Brian Belefant, Prod: Janet Ferrari, Cast: Big Jim Calloway, Kiko-Kiko A man has an ulterior motive for enduring the pain and discomfort of acupuncture - to get revenge on a voodoo doll. THE VESSEL PITCHES USA, 2006, 35mm, 23 min. (DWF 2006) Writer/Dir: Jonathan Wysocki • Prod: Samantha Davidson Green Cast: Eric Jorgenson, Kara Revel, Trevor Strang Setting sail, a troubled woman takes on two last-minute passengers, an old friend and his son, who bear a past she would rather forget. VESSEL WRESTLING USA, 2001, 16mm, 13 min. (DWF 2002) Writer/Dir/Prod: Lisa Yu, Cast: Yoo Hoo Voice: Yuki Terazawa A woman serves dinner. She waits. Stuff happens. THE WAKE USA, 2002, 35mm, 16 min. (West Coast Premiere, DWF 2003) Writer/Dir: Josh Denslow, Prods: Karin Gleason, Matt McCormick, Josh Denslow Cast: Evan Jones, Joe Nieves, Amanda MacDonald, Ryan Malo Randall is having an odd day. at the wake for his best friend Vann, he is forced to confront his feelings about the finality of death when Vann suddenly springs from his coffin. The two best friends spend one last day together as Randall decides if he is ready to say good-bye. WALLS USA, 2003, 35mm, 12 min. (Southwest Premiere, DWF 2003) Writer/Dir: Chris Van de Polder, Prods: Chris Van de Polder, Hassan Khan, Cast: Gil Ellis, Patrick Nagle, Nora Stone In an alternate world, two men work and live in a slave factory. They only know themselves as Presser and Cutter, and their whole life consists of a dingy factory room. They are two of many tools used by a machine, a machine that they are completely dependent on. When the opportunity to escape presents itself, the duo must battle their fears of the outside world. Before they can escape, they must be willing to step into the unknown. WARNING SIGN USA, 2003, Digital, 6 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2003) Writer/Dir: Jesse Biltz, Prods: David C. Cohen, Mike Galatte, Kenneth Hogue, Cast: Jesse Biltz, Wendy Rhodes In his directorial debut, Jesse Biltz has made WARNING SIGN a visual playground. The story takes you through the mind of an estranged love and how he deals, day-to-day, with solitary life. WARNING SIGN begins with the start of a new day. Still, as life often teases you, everything reminds him of her throughout his thoughts. In an angelic fashion, you are shown clips of their past and ultimate happiness together. Everything seems right. They are the perfect couple so many thrive to be. Throughout his day, he is torn with accepting the loss, or going to see her for closure. WARNING SIGN is a very real take on love, lost perfection and hardships of life in a relationship. WAR OR PEACE? INDIA, 2003, 35mm, 1 min. (US Premiere, DWF 2003) Writer/Dir: Ritesh Sinha, Prod: Samir Sheth, Cast: Rhea Pillai Dutt, Ashish Kapoor In a world of today’s when violence is all around in the name of any cause or issue. People the world over are forced to face the reality of losing their loved ones. WAR OR PEACE? is a very intense and beautiful way to ask the same world..."Do we need war or peace?". WAYWARD USA, 2004, Super16, 12 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2004) Writer/Dir: Tom Pankratz • Prod: Shirley Bennett • Cast: Kristin Carey, Kim Estes A high strung woman’s life comes crashing down on a late night business trip. When she encounters a homeless man with creative negotiating skills, Sara discovers their worlds are not as different as they first appear. Deftly blending tension, humor, and drama, Wayward examines how people can lose their humanity, but also find a way to rediscover it. WHAT REALLY HAPPENED DURING THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS USA, 2002, 35mm, 17 min. (DWF 2003) Writer/Dir: Charles McNamara, Prod: Olga Arana Cast: Marlene Forte, Ruben Rabasa, Mary Ellen Taylor, John Bader, Rebecca Rasmussen, Renee Victor, Michael McConnahie, Spencer Ridley With the Superpowers in a nuclear struggle over Cuba, in Miami a mother fights her own battle with her 2-year-old son over potty training. While she does this, her apartment fills with frightened neighbors who want to watch the crisis on her TV. Trying to distract themselves from the fear of global disaster they offer their own unsolicited toilet training remedies, and soon she has to cope with a bathroom full of people, all who would much prefer potty training her son than face the unspeakable alone. WHILE TOM WAITS USA, 2004, Super16, 14 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2004) Writer/Dir: Scott Mathews • Prods: Andre Champagne, Rudy Van Zyl, Stephanie Kwong Cast: Jay Huguley, Allison Krizner, Sascha Shapiro, Ethan Wilde, Peter Blood A drama, about a man and a woman, Tom and Mira, who arrive simultaneously at the same fated intersection. What happens next, as the two of them lock eyes, in those microseconds which separate life and death are two people confronting all the longings, fears and fantasies that exist in this teardrop of time, perhaps real or perhaps imagined as they are propelled towards an unpredictable and unknowable destiny a destiny that is at once romantic, enigmatic and haunting. WHITE PICKET FENCE USA, 2006, 16mm, 10 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2006) Writer/Dir: Caitlin Dahl • Prod: Caitlin Dahl, Joshua Meyerson Cast: Hanna Hall, Lee Purcell, Stewart Skelton, Kyle Brett Farris, Russell Carter, Zach Selwyn Unspoken anger proves too powerful to suppress as a mother is confronted by her 16 year old daughter Sarah on their tension filled family road trip. WHO SLEW SIMON THADDEUS MULBERRY PEW USA, 2001, 35mm, 22 min. (West Coast Premiere, DWF 2002) Dir: Brett Nemeroff, Writer: Joe Jordan, Prods: Lisette Bross Cast: Armin Shimerman, John Kassir, Lisette Bross, Billy Ray Gallion, Shannon Cochran, Aristotle Buttercup Forced to play with their bratty neighbor Simon Thaddeous Mulberry Pew, twins Sammy & Tammy Fitzgivens think of a way to steal his toys. when an ‘accident’ occurs, the ‘Wizzit’ appears to help clean up the mess and dispose of the body. A twisted tale mixed with traces of DR. SUESS and WILLY WONKA. WHO'S YOUR DADDY? USA, 2004, HD, 3 min. (West Coast Premiere, DWF 2004) Writer/Dir: Matthew Ehlers • Prods: Joe Alessi, Justin Kulik, Michael Kulik Cast: Michael Koldan, Amy Smith, Kevin Dedes, Elizabeth Cameron A mysterious lothario invades a small town, leaving a group of angry husbands in his wake. WINNER TAKES ALL UK, 2003, HD, 6 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2004) Dir: Helen Grace • Writers: Machico Bros, Helen Grace • Prods: JC Mac, Helen Grace, Chico Slimani Cast: JC Mac, Chico Slimani, Lauretta Lewis, Barber Al A cool crowd gathers around a charismatic story-teller to hear the tale of a cocky stranger who tries to win a pot of money, with shocking but hilarious consequences. WINOS & PIGEONS USA, 1999, 16mm, 20 min. (DWF 2000) Dirs: A. W. “Wally” Lane, James Canfield, Writer: A. W. “Wally” Lane, Producers: A. W. “Wally” Lane, Belva D. Lane Cast: Jack Dutt, JR Clarke, Ralph Fontaine A classic story told in a contemporary setting; a look at life, its wars and its struggles, from over the shoulder of a poet. We observe two aged homeless men, the casualties of some forgotten war, as they struggle to survive life on the streets. We also watch two boys march off to war, only to return, too soon aged men, now left trying to deal with childhood lost and broken dreams. WITHIN THE WALL USA, 2003, Digital, 16 min. (Los Angeles Premiere, DWF 2004) Writer/Dir: Paula Neiman • Prods: Paula Neiman, Philip Burgers, Aaron Belliston, Gene Johnson, Jr. Cast: Amir Webb, Omari Hardwick, Kia Skrine, Brandyn Baker, Ryan Wills, Adam Schmalholz, Reggie Gaskins A gap in the far wall of the neighborhood front store hosts anonymous drug transactions. Through his poetry, a young boy depicts the lives of those who reside on both sides of the wall. Conflicting choices collide to spiral him rapidly into “The Hole” in this allegorical narrative… A WRITER'S STATE OF MIND USA, 2004, Digital, 5 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2004) Writer/Dir: Mark Oguschewitz • Prods: Norith Soth, Ricardo Chacon, Mark Oguschewitz Cast: James Michael White, Elan Sullivan While sitting in his office, Jack goes through every emotion from frustration, to aggravation, to elation while trying to complete his latest masterpiece. YOU ALWAYS STALK THE ONES YOU LOVE USA, 2003, Super16, 29 min. (WORLD Premiere, DWF 2004) Dir: Mark Atienza • Writers: Ali Pomerantz, Jennifer Benjamin • Prods: Mark Atienza, Ali Pomerantz, Kent Harper Cast: Ali Pomerantz, Mark Atienza, James Franco, Scott Caan A young woman dealing with a breakup decides to stay attached by stalking her ex. With the help of friends and a wise pool man, she realizes she's transformed herself into a person no one can love.