This program include seven (7) short films! Please click through the films on the right to see details about each one. * <a href="https://watch.eventive.org/bendfilm2020/play/5f855b67f08e3b007c49cbcf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 163, 224);">CLICK HERE</a> for our recorded Q&amp;A with Neil Butler (HERZOG &amp; MORRIS), Geoff Hecht (METRO6), Erin Brown Thomas (BUT FIRST...), and Eddie Shieh (IN SYNC)

HERZOG &amp; MORRIS In 1975 Wisconsin, Errol Morris is hiding out next to the childhood home of notorious serial killer Ed Gein as the latest in a long line of failed projects threatens to likewise unravel in his hands. His friend Werner Herzog rolls into town with a 16mm camera and four rolls of black &amp; white film stock insisting that the key to Errol getting his debut documentary off the ground is to dig up the corpse of Ed Gein’s mother at the local cemetery… and film themselves doing it! Resisting his mentor’s sinister appeals, Errol finds himself disappearing into a film noir of his own making until he catches a brief glimpse of his creative future and the destiny that awaits him - if he’s got the guts! Director's Bio:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/62d683fd108567b287dac1428d057053.jpg" width="150" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;">A 1995 graduate of the Film School at Florida State University, Neil has lived and worked in Los Angeles for the past two decades, mostly in the realm of film and television development. 2017 saw the release of his feature LEWIS &amp; KLARQ, an indie rock musical he wrote and directed with Jason Chimonides and which had its world premiere at the Cyprus International Film Festival where it won the Golden Aphrodite Award for Best Score. In 2019, his short LOST TRIBE (also co-directed with Chimonides) premiered at the Tallahassee Film Festival. Neil is currently restoring his first feature, a road film originally produced in the mid-nineties on glorious 16mm B&amp;W.

HERZOG & MORRIS

A comedic noir dramatizing a pivotal moment between Werner Herzog and Errol Morris during the summer of 1975.

THE CHEAP SEATS Donna thinks psychics are just out to get her money, but she begrudgingly agrees to take Julianne to Cassadaga, Florida, the self-proclaimed “psychic capital of the world” where her skepticism is put to the test in this docu-narrative short starring Laura Cayouette (QUEEN SUGAR, DJANGO UNCHAINED, KILL BILL VOL. 2) and a real life Cassadaga medium, Nellie Edwards. Director's Bio:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/cd42494860a401c85c3ad4034c326809.jpg" width="150" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;">Brittany Reeber is a Floridian turned Texan currently living on the internet. As an artist and director, her work encompasses music videos, projection, performance and short films in both documentary, narrative and something in between. Her films are dark, funny and occasionally incorporate a choreographed dance routine.

THE CHEAP SEATS

Donna reluctantly spends the day in Cassadaga, Florida, the "psychic capital of the world".

BUT FIRST... Coffee literally changes the way we see, think, and interact with other people. BUT FIRST is our way of exploring this through two of our favorite mediums, film and dance. Director's Bio:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/68d7f2e113a2081bc18ac73453cc3399.jpg" width="150" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;">Erin Brown Thomas has directed over a dozen award-winning films which have screened in 92 festivals worldwide, including 14 Oscar Qualifying events. Most recently, BUT FIRST... placed her as an Artist in Residence at Palm Springs International ShortFest. Erin’s screenplays have advanced at Sundance New Voices, the Academy’s Nichol Fellowship, Austin Film Fest, and Blue Cat Screenplay competition. Erin is currently in pre-production for her lauded original screenplay&nbsp;ITALY ’99.&nbsp;When not on set, Erin dangles from the air as an aerial acrobat.

BUT FIRST...

When just one thing, first, makes all the difference...

METRO6 Today is an important day for Zak, but everything is going wrong. During an epic, hilarious bus ride, Zak goes through a deeply personal metamorphosis and discovers the true value of the diverse community around him. Director's Bio:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/78c50d37ca0df96100814f2c71622d18.jpg" width="150" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;">Geoff Hecht is a multi-award winning Creative Director based in San Francisco, California. He has close to 20 years experience between training and working in Animation, and over a decade of experience building and leading teams of artists. Between 2011 and 2018, Geoff co-founded and helped build one of the more reputable boutique Animation and Vfx studios in San Francisco, Hectic Digital. METRO6 is his directorial debut.

METRO6

Zak discovers the true value of community during an epic, hilarious bus ride.

IN SYNC A young couple walk a fine line while thriving in an open marriage until they catch each other breaking their own rules. Director's Bio:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/38f29a26509baa900ae3a16050ab7d32.jpg" width="150" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;">Eddie Shieh is a Native New Yorker, Asian Tourist, Twindad by day, and Filmmaker at Night as writer, director and producer. His short works have won Best Direction, Actor, Actress, Ensemble Cast, Cinematography, Editing and Original Soundtrack. His screenplay LA GRIPPE was shortlisted at the first European Sundance Screenwriters Lab Italy in 2015. He is a member of the Writers Guild of America since 2010. In a previous life Eddie served as a global advertising agency creative director for worldwide brands. On occasion, he also predicts the weather with his surgically repaired joints.

IN SYNC

A young couple walk a fine line in an open marriage until they catch each other breaking their own rules.

LIP SERVICE The story of Charlotte: an erotica audiobook reader who spends hours tucked away in her unventilated closet reading steamy, romantic novels under a pseudonym. Outside of her makeshift recording studio, her own love life is falling apart. Director's Bio:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/d973834c93fe348736760cf5bcd51915.jpg" width="150" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;">Emily Tremaine is a first-time writer/director and the star of the short film LIP SERVICE. She studied theatre and writing at Sarah Lawrence College. As an actress, she’s appeared in many network and cable television shows, as well as independent and studio films. Most recently, Emily can be seen in the upcoming feature THE STARLING, directed by Ted Melfi.

LIP SERVICE

A woman records erotica fantasy audiobooks from her bedroom closet while her own life is far from perfect.

MASTER MAGGIE ﻿A celebrity acting coach (Lorraine Bracco) is interrupted by an unknown actor (Neil Jain) begging for her help for a TV audition. What follows is an unexpected journey for the both of them. Director's Bio:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/000d0a2709d93465dd19d574a48f0c0a.jpg" width="150" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;">Matthew Bonifacio is an award-winning director/writer/producer and Film Independent Spirit Award Nominee (John Cassavetes Award). His work includes numerous short films, commercials, music videos, and the feature films LBS (Sundance Film Festival), AMEXICANO (Tribeca Film Festival), and THE QUITTER (Gunpowder &amp; Sky). All three feature films were theatrically released and critically acclaimed by The New York Times and others.&nbsp;

MASTER MAGGIE

A celebrity acting coach is interrupted by an unknown actor begging for her help for a TV audition.

Q&A | Narrative Shorts #2

with Neil Butler (HERZOG & MORRIS), Geoff Hecht (METRO6), Erin Brown Thomas (BUT FIRST...), and Eddie Shieh (IN SYNC)

Narrative Shorts #2

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