EXALTATION [2021]
I wrote, directed, cut & scored this short film back in 2013; a dark comedy set in a b-horror film. Although the film explores Corman-esq exploitation/grindhouse themes, I wanted to bring in more heart and give our leading ladies a little more depth. It was a really great shoot and all our actresses really brought great performances.
Unfortunately due to a couple of freak accidents, before I could nail picture lock, the hard drives and back ups were completely wiped, could not be recovered and the film was scarily written off as ‘never to be seen again’. Truly a trauma.
Then by an absolute miracle, 8 years later during the 2020 pandemic— an incredibly rare 1080P ROUGH rough cut of the short was bizarrely uncovered by an old crew member, deep in the bowels of their deleted dropbox account that had now been re-instated due to everyone working from home. A true WTF moment…..
Now with something tangible in my possession, although we didn’t have any alternative takes to use, I would recut this 1080P rough edit into the closest living/breathing version of my original vision that I possibly could.
Though the second act definitely has several bumps and warts (only having the wide to cut from as a place holder in the rough cut), I was heavily inspired by the editing techniques of Godard, Corman and Cassavetes using jump cuts and pushing in to make the scene work rhythmically and emotionally— even if it ain’t pretty like how we originally envisioned.
I was fortunate enough to be able to create something I never thought Exaltation could be and I’m extremely proud I have something to show for all of our beautiful efforts as a community making something fun, dark, beautiful, hilarious & fucked up.
On the genre festival circuit it got decent love: some nominations and even won a few awards at Hollywood Blood Horror Festival like Best Dark Comedy, Best Acting Duo and Best First Time Director.
Hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed creating it— and re-imagining it.
Below are some stills from the film (along with the film festival accolades):
