The Dark Essence
After being shunned by the community, Todd Reid and Jim James are determined to gain more followers for their satanic group, The Dark Essence, and to spread the word of secularism to the United States.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Actor Mari Assad
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made this film because I wanted to write a rom-com about religion.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch this film if you want a feel-good comedy that makes a lasting impression. The Dark Essence is slapstick funny with a heart of gold.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I began writing this short film because I kept asking myself what was the difference between having faith vs. following a religion. As a child, I was taught to follow rules. There's an us and then there's a them. But there is a gray area that we don't always see. The Dark Essence illuminates the gray area. We don't have to have all the answers. And that's okay.
In the bigger picture, I think the US is going through an identity crisis regarding religion. We see it on the news. The Dark Essence is relatable. People from all over the US will root for Todd and Jim while simultaneously rooting for Rose. And, even Mike... maybe.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script got more and more personal and specific with each draft. I first started working on this script in 2018. My co-writer, Brenda, and I would have such deep conversations about Todd and Jim, that we began collaborating together right away. We reached a final product, and began campaigning to raise the funds. Once we began rehearsing, the actors began to bring in their personal stories, and we just kept making adjustments. Allowing the script to be more personal and more specific.
There are so many little moments, little nods to everyone's stories who worked on this. When I watch the final cut, it makes me very happy.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The best feedback I have received is, "When will we get more?" I see The Dark Essence being turned into a series. And we watch Todd and Jim take The Dark Essence from a small group to having followers and making a difference in their communities and others.
Other feedback has consisted of people telling me how funny it is while telling a very thoughtful story. And, again, that makes me happy.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Not so much the final product, but when The Dark Essence was in the early stages of a script, so many people were not sure how a story about Satanists could be a comedy. Everyone told me it needed to be a drama. And I refused. Brenda and I were committed to The Dark Essence being a comedy. I have a belief that comedy makes hard topics relatable.
So, I wasn't surprised, but I felt accomplished when those same people saw the short film, and told me, "You were right, this is a comedy."
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I would like The Dark Essence to achieve being picked up by a distributor and being picked up by a network or streaming platform and turned into a series.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
The Dark Essence would love to have distributors, film festival directors, journalists, buyers, and managers! We want them all! Join us!!! JOIN THE DARK ESSENCE.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
From a creative point of view, I want The Dark Essence to have a "cult favorite" impact for viewers. I love Parks N Rec, The Office, Firefly, Freaks and Geeks, and Veronica Mars. I LOVE those shows! And I wanted to create one.
From a filmmaker's point of view, I would like The Dark Essence to demonstrate that (minority) women can handle comedy. This was a full female team, (female writers, female director, female DP, female producers, female editor). We have the courage, the wit, and we're fearless.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Are Todd and Jim selfish?
This was something I kept asking myself while writing. I don't think they're selfish, but I do think they act in a selfish way. Which is why their relationship with Rose is beautiful, her love and understanding guide them to be better people.
Are Todd and Jim religious? DUN DUN DUN. I am still pondering this.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am currently working on a few projects! I have my feature-length screenplay, The Lucky Undies, a story about a girl who finds a lucky pair of underwear that make men fall in love with her, which I am pitching and entering into festivals. AND I have my pilot, Dripping Orchid, a comedy about a female-run porn production, which I am beginning to enter into festivals and want to pitch.
And The Dark Essence is currently being turned into a pilot.
Interview: April 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
The Dark Essence
After being shunned by the community, Todd Reid and Jim James are determined to gain more followers for their satanic group, The Dark Essence, and to spread the word of secularism to the United States.
Length: 11:20
Director: Mari Assad
Producer: Mari Assad, Brenda Nascimento, Jordan Van Clief
Writer: Mari Assad & Brenda Nascimento
About the writer, director and producer:
The Dark Essence is MARI ASSAD’s directorial debut. She is very excited for everyone to see The Dark Essence and to meet Todd and Jim. The Dark Essence is inspired by a real satanic group, The Satanic Temple. She immediately became enamored by the group and began reading about the good deeds they were contributing to the community, and loved their stand on the separation of church and state in the United States. After many rewrites, with her co-writer Brenda Nascimento, and a campaign, The Dark Essence was brought to the screen.
MARI ASSAD and BRENDA NASCIMENTO collaborated on this story because they believe any hard topic can be made relatable through comedy.
MARI ASSAD, BRENDA NASCIMENTO and JORDAN VAN CLIEF worked together for the first time through this project.
Key cast: Quentin Kirby as Todd Reed, Max Cutler as Jim James, Camile Pipkin as Rose, Christian Gnecco Quintero as Mike,Mari Assad as Mari, Brenda Nascimento as Brenda, Jordan Van Clief as a Karen,
Looking for: distributors and buyers
Instagram: @thedarkessence2021, @mariwithabody, @brendapaulan
Hashtags used: #thedarkessence #TDE
Other: IMDb
Funders: Seed and Spark, and Self-fundend
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
The Dark Essence Can be seen in NFMLA on April 22nd.