Director's Statement
BUCKETS is my opportunity to do something I've never done: realize my own personal vision of a
story and direct it! I've been lucky enough to work in entertainment for all of my career, being an advocate on behalf of the many incredible stories created by others. But I've always been there to elevate the visions of others, never my own.
BUCKETS is a comedy-fantasy film. It happens from time to time. Just as I've committed to spending time with my kids focused on something they are excited about, my phone notifies me - with its dreaded "Bloop" - that an urgent text requires my immediate attention. Bloop. Bloop. Bloop. It's incessant. One text becomes two, then three, then four, and before you know it, instead of spending time with my kids and connecting with them, I'm distracted by an epic, digital back-and-forth. And while I've been focused on that text debate, my kids have been waiting. Waiting for my attention. Waiting to connect and bond with me. Waiting for me to be present.
BUCKETS is a story of hopeful wish fulfillment: that the universe will step in and lure a workaholic
dad away from his phone long enough to authentically connect with his basketball-obsessed daughter. It highlights the cinematic magic of an impossible basketball court: where, no matter where
you shoot, the ball always goes in. And the only thing that can break that magic is an annoying Bloop and an infinite work text conversation. What's at stake? The relationship between a Dad and his Daughter.
BUCKETS is personal to me. Magic has never lured me away from my kids to spend less time on
my phone and more time with them. But like all of us, I'm trying. I've sat on that bench in BUCKETS (quite literally) and regretted not leaving it to connect with my kids. I went to film school and entered the entertainment business specifically to write and direct, but life happens, and I ignored my own dreams out of fear of not being able to create something meaningful. After the encouragement of others, I decided to do it and attempt to make my vision a reality. This is my short film, BUCKETS. I hope you enjoy it! And thank you for your consideration!
Dan Lubetkin - Writer/Director
Dan Lubetkin has been a non-writing executive producer, TV development executive and TV production executive for over 15 years. At Avalon Entertainment, he was a co-executive producer on Comedy Central’s WORKAHOLICS and helped launch HBO’s LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER. At Blue Ant Media, he executive produced Netflix’s THE HEALING POWERS OF DUDE and Youtube Premium’s THE SIDEMEN SHOW. He is also a married dad with three kids that love to play basketball.
Director's Statement
BUCKETS is my opportunity to do something I've never done: realize my own personal vision of a
story and direct it! I've been lucky enough to work in entertainment for all of my career, being an advocate on behalf of the many incredible stories created by others. But I've always been there to elevate the visions of others, never my own.
BUCKETS is a comedy-fantasy film. It happens from time to time. Just as I've committed to spending time with my kids focused on something they are excited about, my phone notifies me - with its dreaded "Bloop" - that an urgent text requires my immediate attention. Bloop. Bloop. Bloop. It's incessant. One text becomes two, then three, then four, and before you know it, instead of spending time with my kids and connecting with them, I'm distracted by an epic, digital back-and-forth. And while I've been focused on that text debate, my kids have been waiting. Waiting for my attention. Waiting to connect and bond with me. Waiting for me to be present.
BUCKETS is a story of hopeful wish fulfillment: that the universe will step in and lure a workaholic
dad away from his phone long enough to authentically connect with his basketball-obsessed daughter. It highlights the cinematic magic of an impossible basketball court: where, no matter where
you shoot, the ball always goes in. And the only thing that can break that magic is an annoying Bloop and an infinite work text conversation. What's at stake? The relationship between a Dad and his Daughter.
BUCKETS is personal to me. Magic has never lured me away from my kids to spend less time on
my phone and more time with them. But like all of us, I'm trying. I've sat on that bench in BUCKETS (quite literally) and regretted not leaving it to connect with my kids. I went to film school and entered the entertainment business specifically to write and direct, but life happens, and I ignored my own dreams out of fear of not being able to create something meaningful. After the encouragement of others, I decided to do it and attempt to make my vision a reality. This is my short film, BUCKETS. I hope you enjoy it! And thank you for your consideration!
Dan Lubetkin - Writer/Director
Dan Lubetkin has been a non-writing executive producer, TV development executive and TV production executive for over 15 years. At Avalon Entertainment, he was a co-executive producer on Comedy Central’s WORKAHOLICS and helped launch HBO’s LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER. At Blue Ant Media, he executive produced Netflix’s THE HEALING POWERS OF DUDE and Youtube Premium’s THE SIDEMEN SHOW. He is also a married dad with three kids that love to play basketball.
