"What It Takes": Crafting a Festival Standout
Returning to the fold was Angelia Green from "Good Works," alongside crew members Elizabeth DeFelice, Christopher Thomas, and Andrew Balcerzak. We welcomed new talents, including Vincent Sarowatz, who later won several Best Actor awards, and Samantha Sather. The script, penned by Jason Orr, captured the imagination once again. We even managed to recruit Jack Miller, the cinematographer behind the film that outshone ours in the previous competition. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we aimed for a minimal cast and crew, peaking at about 10 or 11 members combined. Embracing the constraints, we shot the entire film in one weekend in a single room of my friend Kathleen's house.
Jason's creative input was crucial in shaping the film's aesthetic. He envisioned the vampire character in silhouette until the climactic reveal. Jack Miller faced the challenge of lighting these scenes, and his execution was nothing short of brilliant, leaving both Jason and me thoroughly impressed. Creating a chamber film, where the action unfolds in one room, is deceptively challenging. It demands careful pacing and reveals to maintain audience engagement. Our film did just that, weaving in subtle elements like a mysteriously appearing blood goblet and the vampire's slight lean into moonlight, revealing a hint of fang. Fyodor Novotny's music composition beautifully underscored the escalating tension.
A key lesson from "What It Takes" was mastering remote directing. Effective communication is essential in filmmaking, and this experience taught me the importance of conveying my vision clearly to the cast and crew, a skill I continue to hone. Following the Fright Film Competition, "What It Takes" garnered multiple awards from various film festivals, including Best Acting for Vincent Sarowatz, Best Supporting for Angelia Green and Samantha Sather, and several Best Horror accolades. Personally, receiving the Best Director award was a moment of pride.
Since 2020, I've relocated to Florida, which has shifted my focus away from the FFC to potential participation in the Trick-Or-Treat Film Festival. While Bloodscribe is currently more focused on feature films, the allure of short film creation remains strong.
"What It Takes" stands as a testament to our team's resilience and creativity, especially in challenging times. It's a film that not only showcases our growth as filmmakers but also reinforces our passion for the art of storytelling through cinema.
