Team S2 the S Pro Presents
“The Balloon”
USA | 7 mins | Color
Directed by Stephanie Swift
Written by Michael A. Arnzen
Produced by DeJonna Williams
Music by Ayça Akin
Cinematography by Jeffrey Smee
Editing by Scott Danzig and Jeffrey Smee
Cast
Rick Dutrow as Gunther
Jess Uhler as Casey Connor
Jacqui Wrae as “Betty”
Andrew Nesky as Daddy
Melissa Rayworth as Mother
Roscoe List as Young Gunther
Stephanie Swift as Police Officer
DeJonna Williams as Police Officer
“The Balloon” is a short liminal horror film (7 mins) that tells the harrowing story of a downtrodden mechanic who lives in a deteriorating paradigm… but there is more than meets the eye when the past and present converge.
This film was produced in a rapid marathon session of just 2 days, responding to a challenging deadline and series of prompts from the Pittsburgh 48 Hour Double-Retro Film Project. The randomly drawn prompts were required to be included in the film and were: the liminal horror genre; the legend of the Ghost Bomber of the Monongahela; a history teacher; the phrase “I’m watching you”; and finally, the required prop: a balloon.
TICKETS for the 48hr Film Project Premiere Screenings in October 2024 are available: https://pittsburgh48.ticketbud.com/?eg=DRH
Plans are in the works for developing a director’s cut, taking the short film to festivals, and designing an exciting new poster, following the film’s premiere at the Pittsburgh 48.
“The Balloon” is Arnzen’s first original screenplay. His fiction has been adapted to screen in the past by Jim Minton (Exquisite Corpse, 2007), and in a few online animations and trailers you can find on his YouTube channel.
More details about “The Balloon” are available on the Internet Movie Database, imdb.com
UPDATE: “The Balloon” has received the following award nominations from the Pittsburgh 48-Hour “Double Retro” Horror Film Project jury:
Best Actor (Rick Dutrow)
Best Cinematography (Jeff Smee)
Best Editing (Jeff Smee and Scott Danzig)
Best Original Score (Ayca Akin)
Best Use of Line (Jess Uhler & Andrew Nesky)
Best Use of Prop (Jackui Wrae Huebner)
Best Use of Historical Subgenre (Michael Arnzen).
