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[Short Film Review] ‘Dead Air’ is Brief, Smart and Mesmerizing!

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Stephen King once claimed that a good novel is like a satisfying affair, while a short story is more like a quick kiss in the dark. The same can apply to both feature-length and short films. With Lyndon Horsfall’s Dead Air, the kiss is quick enough to leave you mesmerized while also making up for the film’s few shortcomings.

The story follows underground DJ Eve St. Tilly, played by Jennifer Gough, on the day of her show’s last broadcast. When a strange fan (Torin Langen) she’d previously met on her way to work shows up insisting that she and her co-host Adam (Ryan Leandres) play their band’s record, things take a sinister, apocalyptic turn.

Despite an extremely modest budget and no-name actors, there’s an aura of professionalism permeating almost every scene. Sub-par equipment doesn’t seem to be an issue when every shot is well-framed and all the actors deliver their lines convincingly. Every character is well-presented and contributed to the story in one way or another, and no moment felt out of place. Even the high contrast colour-scheme, reminiscent of Dario Argento’s work, helps to sell the illusion.

As is to be expected in any story concerning radio shows, music plays a big part in the film. Both the songs Eve and Adam play on their show and the overall soundtrack seem to add another layer of story and punk atmosphere to an already interesting premise.

The bizarre conclusion, however, is the most captivating and divisive point of the film. You’ll either love or hate it depending on how comfortable you are with non-sequitur filmmaking, but at least the short doesn’t end on a boring note. In fact, despite the reduced runtime, the feels entirely complete; any other additions would have detracted from the experience.

Brevity is Dead Air’s greatest asset, leaving the viewer with no time to properly assimilate the situation but still emphasizing character interaction and atmosphere. The plot takes an unexpected turn towards the end that may not have worked in a longer picture, but here it helps make the film more memorable and impactful. Horsfall’s artistic intentions may have been unclear, but this is a fun and witty short film that’s definitely worth a watch.

Screened at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival

Born Brazilian, raised Canadian, Luiz is a writer and Film student that spends most of his time watching movies and subsequently complaining about them.

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“Bite Size Short: Her House of Horrors” Announce Short Grant Program!

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Her House of Horrors, the horror division of Independent Production House WOMXNOGRAPHY, has launched its Bite Size Short Grant Program, ahead of its film festival Dollhouse of Horror, which will take place in March 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.

The Bite Size Short Grant Program awards $2,000 film grants to female-identifying and queer horror filmmakers. Shorts must be able to be made for $2,000, with a minimum runtime of 8 minutes. Submissions are now open on Filmfreeway, and are being judged by a panel of horror lovers and content creators.

The 2024 Bite Size Short Grant Program judge lineup is as follows:

“James H. Carter II- A documentary director, film producer, podcaster, marketing specialist, and writer. James is the founder and co-owner of Creepy Kingdom. Creepy Kingdom was founded in 2011 and is a multimedia website, and production studio specializing in creepy content. Their primary focus lies at the intersection of childlike fantasy and the macabre, covering horror films, theme parks, haunts, and much more. Beyond their extensive media coverage, Creepy Kingdom hosts events, offers original merchandise, and engages in film production under the Creepy Kingdom Studios brand producing original films like “Foolish Mortals”, exploring Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” fan culture, and “Georgie”, featuring Tony Dakota from the original “It” miniseries.

“In addition to founding Creepy Kingdom, James has won awards for his documentary work, including the award-winning “Foolish Mortals,” which has earned him recognition. He has been featured on Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween special.

“Ashleeta Beauchamp is the editor-in-chief of Peek-A-Boo! Magazine, a cheeky horror magazine created to uplift marginalized writers, artists, models and other creators within the horror community. She also runs The Halloween Coalition, a community group to provide support and marketing for horror and Halloween events around the Southern California area.

“Titeanya Rodríguez is a multi-hyphenate creative, and the founder and owner of HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, home of DOLLHOUSE OF HORROR and the horror division of WOMXNOGRAPHY. As a fellow storyteller and a self-proclaimed artivist, Titeanya’s mission is to create opportunities for women of color and queer women, across film, tv, sports, music, and beyond. She is also the creator of the BITE SIZE SHORT grant program.”

Winners will have a one-night theatrical screening at Regal Cinemas. Submissions Close April 8 at Midnight. Winners will be announced on May 27, 2024. Shorts must be shot and through post-production by June 30, 2024. The screening will take place on July 8, 2024, in Los Angeles, CA.

WOMXNOGRAPHY, HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, and Rodriguez are represented by Azhar PR, Granderson Des Rochers, and Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir.

To submit your short to the Bite Size Short Grant Program, go to the FilmFreeway link here.

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