THE HARDSHIPS OF SUMMONING A DEMON, 14min., Canada
Directed by Britt Dallyn
In order to woo his school crush, a determined but highly misguided Stan attempts to summon a demon with the help of his sister stuck at home on Halloween night, by kidnapping a heavily intoxicated young man under the ruse of his own sacrifice being an after party.

https://www.instagram.com/summoning_a_demon/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

While attending Vancouver Film School, the course allows six story ideas to be voted on by the class to get made for our "final" projects. With these "finals" we are given our highest budget and longest shooting schedule to film our original 9 page scripts. I had made many short films in the past, but all with minimal (mostly zero) other people, less knowledge and no money. I saw this as a great chance to create a film to showcase my creative voice with the type of resources I never had before.

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

to make this film?

I came up with the initial idea in October 2022 and wrote numerous drafts till December. Once my script was chosen to get made in 2023 I worked on more drafts from March to April. Filmed May 4-6. Then edited picture and sound up to late September.

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

Demonic Superbad

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

The shoot itself was incredibly challenging. As I said earlier, all the resources available for the shoot were so appealing, but it also made it very stressful as I didn't want to mess up this chance. And my stress was pushed to its absolute limits with the amount of unforeseen obstacles that appeared. Working in a tiny room like a garage was way more time consuming than anyone realized, our plan for rigging lighting did not work, the homeowner went on a drunken rampage at the end of night two, leading us to change locations for day three having to rework the script and completely wing a shot list. It was easily the most stressful three days of my life.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking

about your film in the feedback video?

I loved how all the wide various tones and feelings I wanted to incorporate into the film came across to the audience. As they mentioned the light but dark humor with an underlying sense of menace, as well as the coming of age comparison with movies like "American Pie". It was rewarding to see the film was successful in emitting all of the different moods I wanted it to. I was also very joyful to see one audience member in particular seem so excited by my movie. I feel I may be able to call that my first glowing review.

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

When I was 12 and was given an iPad equipped with iMovie, I started making little shorts out of boredom to pass the time but it quickly became my lifelong passion.

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

Probably Batman '89 or Billy Maddison. Batman '89 because it was one of those movies I relentlessly watched from birth through all of my childhood and still watch every few years now. Billy Maddison because I watched it, not as relentlessly, but very steadily since I was 8.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other

festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking

Career?

To always be searching for something unique and giving filmmakers the chance to promote themselves, as well as network with others.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your

experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It has been a great experience because everything about the site makes submitting projects as easy and convenient as it can be.

10. What is your favorite meal?

I'm really starting to love anything Mexican. I'm addicted to the spice.

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

Right now I want to keep building my writer and director resume with short films. I've been working on writing my next project since January and am hoping to film it in the fall or early next year.