Drama

In this vignette penned by master playwright Neil LaBute, a Chuck E. Cheese-like pizza palace sets the stage for a seemingly innocuous encounter between two single parents while their children play.  Things are not as wholesome as they appear however, leading to a shocking conclusion in the most wickedly twisted way imaginable. 

At a birthday party for a group of young children, the parents lack of supervision turns dangerous when the birthday boy, Christian, focuses on the unwelcome attendee Cody, whose unearthly ability to charm Christian’s older friends gets him in more trouble than he could have ever imagined.  Student Film – University of North Carolina School of the Arts

The ages-old adage that a mother will do anything to protect her children finds new meaning in the domestic stunner Elena.  When her well-to-do husband takes ill and threatens to excise her parasitic son from the will, Elena must take desperate measures to ensure the security of her progeny.

Joby (Paul Dano), a struggling musician, who hasn’t been around to be a father, takes an overnight long-distance drive in order to fight his estranged wife for custody of their young daughter, Ellen.  A story of painful internal transformation, For Ellen is also a very poignant account of the complexities of the father/daughter relationship. The strange chemistry between the two is very touching, illustrating how two so seemingly different people, carrying so much baggage, can still connect on a deep, inner level.