Why did you choose the LA Shorts Fest to submit to and what do you want to accomplish with this festival or festivals in general?
“We chose to submit to LA Shorts Fest because of its reputation. This will be the World Premiere for Mike Inc. The submission deadline was very close to our completion date, which worked perfectly for us as we are eager to show the film to the public. Los Angeles is a great location for us as new filmmakers. It is a wonderful opportunity to make new contacts, visit some of the local production houses and get inspired from watching some of the other great shorts in this year's festival line-up. Also, we wished to premiere in a short film festival as opposed to a feature driven festival. Here, all the attention is focused on shorts, making sure we get an honest response from the audience. We are very pleased that LA Shorts Fest will be our first festival.”
Type/genre of film: psychological thriller/dark comedy
Director/Writer: Jason Baldari
Premise: Alex Jurgensen does what any normal person does. He wakes up, he eats a meal, and he goes to work. His life is normal. Too normal. One morning, while Alex is doing his normal routine, he walks past the mirror and sees something other than his reflection. He is forced to confront a manifestation of the inner madness that such routine can bring to a person.
Length: 13 minutes
Budget: $4000
How did you accomplish your film given the budget constraints?
Jason Baldari- “For starters, we spent two months in pre-production, the most advantageous aspects of which being 3D storyboards and rehearsals with the principal actors. Next, I pooled together all resources at my disposal. The two shooting locations were my house and an office that a friend manages. I wrangled props and wardrobe on my own, either purchasing, renting, or making them. Food was graciously donated by my friends and producers Cayman Grant and Terry City. My DP, Cale Finot, brought his own gear and camera. He used a Sony XD Cam.”
“Having spent the past decade in post production, my wife and editor Stacy Pietrafitta did all the post using Final Cut Pro, with me doing VFX (After Effects), color correction (Apple Color), sound design, and the score (Logic Pro). Just accounting for the time she and I put into post adds $20,000 to $30,000 to the film's value.”
“As for talent, I have known the lead actor Ian Roberts for a long time. He is new to screen acting, but after working with him in rehearsals, I was supremely confident that he was right for the part. The other speaking part was played by a close friend, John Soares, who is a news anchor on the central coast as well as a professor of broadcast journalism at CalPoly. In fact, it was his wife Kristi who manages the office we shot in! Cayman, Terry, Kristi, and her dad Jim Johnson were my features extras. Production was a small affair where the concentration of talent was very high.”
Why did you choose the LA Shorts Fest to submit to and what do you want to accomplish with this festival or festivals in general?
“I was very happy to be accepted into LA Shorts. I submitted because I have been aware of the festival for a number of years even before we moved to LA. I have spoken with several people at the festival as far as what to expect, promotion, practical particulars and other things. The people involved at LA Shorts have all been very helpful and possess a clear enthusiasm for what they're doing. I am happy that my film is a part of that energy.”
