2023 We All Belong to the Tower

• Directed by: Dustin Weible
• Written by: Dustin Weible
• Stars:  Harley Renault, Logan Cobbs, Kevin Kedgley
• Run Time: 9 Minutes
• Watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVm7gzfcl4c

What Happens

Kaitlin’s father gets an emergency call from work, but he’s an architect, so how bad can it be? At school, all the teachers turn on the news, which is reporting a strange new tower that appeared in town– overnight. People start reacting strangely to the news, even right there in class. That evening, Kaitlin’s father is… different. 

Commentary

This is a really low budget short that tells a good story with very little explanation or special effects at all. There’s a building, and then there are the reactions to the building. At the end, we don’t get any real answers as to what it is, but we know it’s not good. 

Very nice!

2025 Social Media Presence

• Directed by: Paul Davis
• Written by: Paul Davis
• Stars:  Natalie Clark, Amanda Greig, A.J. Moorehead
• Run Time: 10:30
• Watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkX98mihXZs

What Happens

We watch Katie, and influence, go about her day photographing, commenting, tagging everything she does on her phone. One day, she gets a new follower, an account that only follows her. Then the gifts start arriving… at home. 

Commentary

This should be a public service video about turning your location services off. It’s really well done. I don’t remember any dialogue, just comments and such on the Instagram posts. We’re pretty clear all along about what’s going on, but poor Katie is the last to know. 

It looks great, well shot, well paced, and the acting is excellent. 

2023 The Gourd, the Brad, and the Ghostly

• Directed by: Jillian Terwedo-Malsbury
• Written by: Rob Knoll, Annie McGrath
• Stars:  David J. Castillo, Elester Latham
• Run Time: 8:34
• Watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SToflSAOxw

What Happens

Doug has put a lot of time into the jack-o-lantern this Halloween, and it looks great. Whoops– it fell off the window ledge, 29 flights up. He looks out the window, and it looks like he may have killed a man down there. It’s a very long ride down in the elevator to find out what happened. 

Commentary

This is really great. Doug goes from happy, to terrified, to relieved, to terrified again, and he’s very convincing. All the weirdos head to and from the Halloween party are especially good. The ending… is maybe not what he deserved, but it’s hilarious. 

2023 Robbie Ain’t Right No More

• Directed by: Kyle Perritt
• Writer: Kyle Perritt
• Stars: Madeleine McGraw, Jadon Cal, Jason Davis
• Run Time: 18 Minutes
• Watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S4zX-l6UD4

What Happens

The family has a get-together for Robbie, who’s just home from the war. Vern the father, warns young Sarah that Robbie saw some action over there, and he just isn’t like he used to be. They all sit down for dinner, and the conversation goes awkwardly. What exactly happened to Robbie over there? It’s not what everyone assumes. 

Commentary

This is good. It’s very dark toward the end, but we see enough to know what’s happening. The family dinner seems very realistic; we’ve all got one relative who doesn’t know when to shut up when things get tense. 

I liked this one a lot

2022 Every Time We Meet for Ice Cream Your Whole F*cking Face Explodes

• Directed by: Anthony Cousins
• Written by: Anthony Cousins, Carlton Mellick III
• Stars: Arden Michalec, Logan Schuneman, Alexander Michuda
• Run Time: 7 Minutes
• Watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orfDpGNh_kc

What Happens

A boy on the schoolbus gets bullied regularly, at least until a new, funny-looking girl arrives in town. He wants to be friends and asks her out for ice cream. Their first date goes… strangely. He’s not deterred, however.

Could this be a lasting relationship?

Commentary

The is really cool. It’s retro without getting crazy about it, the bullying seems to be at a realistic level, and the two main characters act believably, except for that one small issue. 

It looks really nice, the acting is perfect, and it’s got a fun resolution. Excellent!