HIGH LIGHT, 4min., USA
Directed by Anthony Orlando
A young man musters the courage to face an alien lifeform rooting through his garage.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Answer: As I saw my peers in the film industry sharing their new projects and getting laurels for their work, I knew I had to direct a new movie to promote myself so I could move forward in my career as a filmmaker. It had been a few years since I directed my last short, so I knew I had to create something new to showcase all the knowledge and experience in filmmaking I had gained since then. Also, since the short is based on a screenplay I have been working on, I hoped this film would act as a proof of concept that I could pitch to executives and hopefully get it made into a feature-length film.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

Answer: Since the film is based on a scene from another script, it only took me a couple of days to iron out the kinks and make it a standalone story. Production took about three days, and I spent a week or two editing the film.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Answer: Skin-crawling suspense

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Answer: I think my biggest obstacle was filming the scenes in my garage, as it was such a dark, cramped space. It was tough for my lead actor, Ryan, since we were shooting in the winter with such little resources. I tried to make the film as good as it could be, but for his sake, I tried not to push things too far. Still, I owed him a nice dinner after I what I put him through.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

Answer: I was overjoyed to hear the audience liked my film so much. I'm always open to constructive criticism, but hearing how much everyone enjoyed it and left it with almost nothing but praise made me feel great about how far I've come as a filmmaker.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Answer: Ever since I was a kid, I've loved writing stories. But I realized I wanted to tell stories through film when I was in high school. After I watched "The Shining" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" for the first time, I knew I wanted to make those kinds of visual stories that have impacted so many audiences on such a deep level.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Answer: Probably "Finding Nemo". It's always been a favorite within my family, and we never get sick of watching it.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

Answer: Personally, I love how when festivals allow the audience to share their thoughts with the filmmakers, as it provides them with the constructive feedback and positive reinforcement they need to keep pursuing their passion. I also really like being able to connect with other filmmakers I meet at these festivals so we can pick each other's brains or help each other find new work opportunities. If there's one thing I learned about this industry, it's all about who you know.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Answer: My experience with FilmFreeway has been very good. I used it to submit my last horror short "The Shadows" to a bunch of festivals, and with the laurels I received, it was a great introduction to the festival circuit.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Answer: Pasta bolognese. No one makes it quite like my mom.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Answer: I have a lot of projects on my plate right now. I'm currently focusing on writing an epic science-fantasy pilot. However, I also plan on sharing "High Light" online, where it will hopefully go viral, so stay tuned!