A State Of
An agoraphobic apartment manager, who struggles with intense hypochondriasis, must fight for his life after he witnesses a grisly murder just outside his window.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Nick Benjamin
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! I made it at a time when COVID was affecting so many people emotionally and mentally, including myself. I got to a point where I bottled up so much, that I started having insane bouts of anxiety attacks. Those attacks led to multiple doctors telling me it was all in my head. Naturally, I didn't believe them and convinced myself it was something life-threatening. Thankfully, it wasn't, and when I was able to find a way to control the anxiety, I thought it would be interesting to tell this side of the story under the Thriller umbrella (one of my favorite genres!). And here we are!
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I think everyone can relate to this short in some way. We all have those moments where we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders, to a point where we're just alone. Nobody believes you and you kind of have to fend for yourself. I took that idea and spun it in a way where our character witnesses a murder and he has to try to convince everyone, including himself, that what he saw was real. The worst thing in life is when nobody does, you just have yourself to pick up the pieces.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
My film deals a lot with mental health, which is something that I take very seriously. It's a very nuanced topic, so during the writing process, I tried to keep it as personal as possible, while adding in elements that fill in the genre gaps. On top of that, the story deals with truth vs reality, loneliness, and the courage to let go of that built-up anxiety. Even if it doesn't work out at the end.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
There were a few moments in the script that had to change during production, due to budgetary constraints. Luckily, we were able to work around it, and still have a meaningful conclusion to the story. Also, casting was a HUGE factor in that I wanted them to bring in their personal feelings on mental illness, and you can really tell they take the action and dialogue to another level. I was very fortunate to find and work with these wonderfully talented actors.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
It's been pretty positive! I know it's always hit or miss going into a festival or screening with a topic like this, but people have been engaged and even have their own interpretation of the ending, which I love. It shows me that the topic is engaging to them and shows you in return how people can perceive this topic differently. That's exactly what I was going for.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Some viewers said they wanted to see more, which is great because before writing this as a short, I had the idea to write it as a feature first. If anything, it's given me more of a push to continue working on the feature.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I would love to push the narrative of mental health forward, while still showcasing my ability as a filmmaker/storyteller.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I would love producers, sales agents, film festival directors, and journalists to amplify the film's message, specifically because I know there is a story here as a feature. The subject matter is so vast and subjective, that it gives a storyteller like me the ability to touch on more tropes imbedded in the genre as well. Hopefully, after I get to that point and have a feature under my belt, a distributor will take a look at it!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like the impact/reception to be honest. There will be some who like where the story goes and some who don't, and that's okay. I succeeded as long as there was neutral dialogue regarding the subject matter, despite people's opinions on the film.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What's real and what's not? Is your mind playing tricks on you? When the time comes, who will be there to help you, and who won't?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you for taking the time to watch my short and I hope I get the chance to hear people's perspectives and different stories of their own that centers around the topic!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Since this short was a proof of concept, I'm currently working on an A State Of feature with my co-writer. We're in the middle stages of writing and cannot wait to have a script ready to go. Both of us are in love with the potential this story has. We want to see where else it can go! I also have a few other Thrillers in early development that I cannot wait to jump into.
Interview: November 2023
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
A State Of
An agoraphobic apartment manager, who struggles with intense hypochondriasis, must fight for his life after he witnesses a grisly murder just outside his window.
Length: 22:45
Director: Nick Benjamin
Producer: Nick Benjamin
Writer: Nick Benjamin
About the writer, director and producer:
NICK BENJAMIN is a Brazilian-American writer/director and producer, who has been experimenting with filmmaking since he was twelve years old. His goal is to focus on writing and directing compelling and captivating stories that encompass themes that look "outside the box" with a sense of wonder, while maintaining a thrilling edge.
Key cast: Andrew Simon (Henry), Rebecca Gomberg (Jeanette), Sean Carmichael (Dr. Andrew Michaels), Melanie Anne Padernal (Dr. Jenn Cruz), Jimmy Leihe (Nurse), Shane Weiss (Neighbor)
Looking for: film festival directors, distributors, sales agents, buyers, journalists, producers
Instagram: @nickbenji123
Hashtags used: #AStateOf #NickBenjamin
Other: IMDb
Funders: Self-Funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
LA International Horror Film Festival/Los Angeles - October 23rd, 2023