Title: “Off The Wall”

Running Time: 16:00

Category: Dramatic Narrative Short

Winner: "Best of the Fest" - 2003 Great Lakes Film Festival

Synopsis: A guy gets a second chance at love after hitting rock bottom in a seedy nightclub bathroom.

Director: Evan Jacobs

Producers: Evan Jacobs and Emmy Smith

Writers: David Breeden and William W. Woods

Cast: Michael Petted, Emmy Smith, James Chiello

Cinematographer: Douglas Miller

Original Music: Naked Star


Behind the Scenes:

“Off the Wall” is a short film, which explores the relationship of two gritty characters who find they may need each other more than they realized. The filmmakers endeavored to put the emphasis on capturing terrific actor performances while also attempting to create a sense of very ‘real’ surroundings. The goal was for the filmmaking to support the actor’s performances without becoming distracting or flashy.

The film was shot over a two-day period. The only location, a seedy nightclub bathroom, was built on stage to facilitate camera access, lighting issues, etc. Even with the flexibility that shooting on stage provided, it was still very cramped quarters during production, given the whole set was only 10’ x 12’!

Another critical component of the production is the original music, supplied by the local Los Angeles band Naked Star. The band came to the director’s attention through Michael Petted, their drummer, who also plays the lead in the film. The band’s music, coupled with the extensive sound design, is a constant presence in the background and contributes a subtle realism to the film.

Ultimately for Evan Jacobs, the film’s director, the film was intended as an exercise, to work with actors on performance and to explore some artistic territory that his work in visual effects and commercials rarely allows.