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by Adam Barnick
Can you keep a secret?
Because VisionFest, in its fourth year, feels like a well-kept secret. Or an open secret. The festival manages to be packed without being unmanageable, well-run by its staff and directors, and managed to have more quality motion pictures then most festivals I have attended lately. Obviously Bruno Derlin and Mark Doyle flat out love movies, and have not succumbed to Sundance-style theatrics or have lost the joy of discovering new and important voices in the short form or feature-length arena.
Lucky for this viewer, the first night I attend is "Fright Night," with several intense pieces screened.
Before the night's films begin, I meet Paul Solet, whose nightmarish
screenplay HEARTLAND will be up for awards Sunday night
at the closing ceremony, and I ask him for his take on it as well
as his recent win (along with co-director Jake Hamilton) for his pitch black
comedy/horror film MEANS TO AN END.
Paul won Fangoria's BLOOD DRIVE short film search which will distribute his grossout
tale of special effects artists who go too far worldwide, starting in October.
WE ALL FALL DOWN
Director: Jake Kennedy
Cast: Tara Killian, John Beach, Julia Ling, Lara Black, Rene Parker
14 minutes, United States
A sharp-looking chiller with several festival awards to its credit, WE ALL FALL DOWN will also be part of October's FANGORIA BLOOD DRIVE DVD.
The initial setup sounds familiar, as a quartet of college-age friends accidentally run over a young schoolgirl. Years later
through skillful flashbacks we learn of their blind panic and desperation leading them to dismember and bury the
body in an old building. Now, the building will be torn down, and the guilty parties
return to the old gravesite, only to find...
It's the execution that makes it really stand out-a tense mood, piercing sound design and glossy yet appropriate photography combine to make
a chilling short film with images that burn in your brain(a screaming woman
being wrapped in possessed plastic like a funeral shroud is a standout). It's no surprise that Jake was
able to get his first feature film going after seeing this, and he is slated to direct the feature-length screenplay of this short film next year.
HORROR BUSINESS
Director: Christopher P. Garetano
Cast: Sid Haig, David Stagnari, Ron Atkins, Mark Borchardt, Tony Timpone, Brian Singleton
88 minutes
 Read a full review of the visually energetic docudrama HORROR BUSINESS here.
We also took the opportunity to ask Mr. Garetano questions about
his documentary debut highlighting stuggling indie horror filmmakers, and his
self-published cult horror
magazine ARE YOU GOING?.
UNBROKEN
Director: Brad Furman
Cast: Rachael Bilson
9 minutes
 Unbroken is haunting for an altogether
different reason. This short film/PSA for the Rape Abuse Incest National Network
concerns a young woman trying to hold herself together and confront her trauma after
being sexually assaulted. Furman manages to strike an effective balance
between beautiful, powerful images depicting a touchy subject
without making it feel too 'slick' or music-videoesque. Information on how
someone can report an assault is included.
FIRECRACKER
Director: Steve Balderson
Cast: Karen Black, Mike Patton, Jak Kendall, Susan Traylor, Paul Sizemore, Selene Luna
112 minutes
The award-winning Firecracker was one of the most anticipated films of the festival, selling out its initial screening and having a second one added for Saturday, July 23.
Read a full review of Firecracker here.
Afterwards, Firecracker's producer Clark Balderson (Father of Steve) and Unbroken's director Brad Furman spoke to the audience on the difficulties of getting their films with unpleasant subject matter made.
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Our next segment will feature an interview with Firecracker director Steve Balderson, and reviews of some of VisionFest's
top-notch short films. Click here to jump to part two of E-Insiders' coverage of VisionFest 2005!
Adam Barnick
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