Short Film: Light Pollution (Written and Directed by Elijah Alvarado)

Written and Directed by Elijah Alvarado

It’s our pleasure to share a spooky new short film from filmmaker and videographer Elijah Alvarado. The Chicago creative has directed videos for Chance The Rapper, Ohmme, GRiZ, ProbCause, Good Charlotte, Waterparks, Kids These Days and more. Light Pollution stars Joe Swanberg, Kayla Franklin and Julien Lockett.

Check out Alvarado’s artistic statement and behind the scenes photos (by Sam Paakkonen) below.

Enjoy the film - Happy Halloween!

Artistic Statement:

On the surface, Light Pollution is an exercise in simple suspense. A family spends a night in the woods, and something goes horribly wrong. The larger portrait I hope to paint is much more complex. Ultimately the film deals with how experiencing major trauma can feel supernatural, and oftentimes these experiences leave us with impossible questions.

I was eating breakfast with an old friend and we were discussing how we used to rip lightning bugs apart as children, and fascinated by their glow, we would smear their entrails on our faces. I was intrigued by how this was a brutal and innocent act at once, and wanted to explore that moment in time when a child tries to wrap their head around this mortal paradox.

Originally we had shot a scene containing lightning bugs, but I cut it because I felt it was taking us further from the gut reaction I wanted to elicit. It's funny how that works sometimes.

I have since developed this short into a feature length screenplay which deals with the child character, Ian, fifteen years in the future. It expands upon the themes of childhood trauma and of course retains the suspenseful horror tone.

Thanks,
Elijah

Credits:
Starring Joe Swanberg, Kayla Franklin, Julien Lockett
Written and Directed by Elijah Alvarado
Produced by Elijah Alvarado and Ross Heran Casting by Zach Bradley
Cinematography by Ross Heran
Camera Operator: Cory Solon
1st AC: Rudy Schieder
Production Designer: Kelsey Fox
Special Effects Make Up & Prosthetic: Corey Ruby
Special Effects Rigging: Jabu Dawdu
Gaffer: Jim Andre
Key Grip: Jabu Dawdu
PA: Kellen Shaffer
DIT: Sam Paakkonen
Location Sound: Daniel FitzPatrick
Post Audio Mixer: Ed Bornstein
ADR Tracking: Colton Jackson
Editing: Elijah Alvarado
Second Unit Photography: Jacob Linden
Thanks Fox Family, Austin Vesely, Moselle Singh and Nick Love

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