As part of our new YOMYOMF Network series, The Short List, where we present short films we love every Friday at Noon EST, we’ve reached out to the filmmakers of each highlighted short film, which is part of this ongoing series. It’s a way for them to revisit their film and get an update on their next projects.

This week, we ask 5 questions to Timothy Kendall and Chris Marrs, the director and writer/star (respectively) of Just Before Dark, who answered our questions collectively. You can watch their film here:YouTube Preview Image

1. How did you come up with the concept for this short?

We tend to be attracted to ideas with simple premises that somehow become fantastical. This was originally simply a short story about a guy who has been spending a lot of time with a girl clearly out of his league, and we find him at that moment when he decides to spill his guts and go for it. SPOILER ALERT: When she inevitably deals him the ‘we’re just friends’ heartbreak, how does he react? And then, taking it a step further - DOUBLE SPOILER ALERT - what if he was a Jedi? Could the pain of that moment change him forever?

2. Any challenges or setbacks during the production?

This was a labor of love and a perfect example of run-and-gun indie filmmaking. Our budget consisted of whatever we had in our pockets and how many favors we could borrow. Every aspect of production could have been a challenge but was made easy by the generosity and collaborative nature of good friends. We shot at the home of a friend who left us the run of the place for two days. Our producer Tedd Asbille pulled together logistics in a matter of days. Director of Photography Florian Statler donated his time and eye. Everyone you saw on screen essentially was on the crew at one point or another.

3. Any funny stories from the making of this film?

Other than the strange, confused looks we got during the ‘wardrobe session’ at a local thrift shop? Well, let’s just say that tying a lightsaber to the end of a giant fishing pole and flinging it across the yard to land perfectly into someone’s hand is not as easy as one might expect.

4. Where has your film played? Festivals or other places around the world?

Along with living online and playing extensively on our laptops and living rooms, Just Before Darkwas screened at the Las Vegas International Film Festival.

5. What’s been going on with you, filmmaking wise since the completion of this short? What are you working on next?

 

It has been a whirlwind since we finished this project. We later collaborated with our good friend Danny Pudi on a short called Blowout Sale for YOMYOMF’s Interpretations initiative.  We were very proud of that project and it has lead to our current collaboration with the YOMYOMF Network, the comedy series Guys’ Book Club. In the meantime we completed a run of another web series, LA I.C.E. and have worked extensively, both individually and together, in the commercial space. Looking forward, Timothy Kendall is attached to a feature film project slated for production in 2013 and Chris Marrs has two television pilot projects in development. Meanwhile, our brilliant lead actresss Erin Cahill has continued to appear in huge projects all over film and television.