Bernard Checks In
Bernard checks himself into a motel for yet another one of his business trips. When he accidentally stumbles into the wrong motel room, he meets a couple with a mischievous proposition. What at first seems enticing soon becomes fraught with tension as simmering conflicts between the lovers flare up, leaving Bernard to play unwitting mediator to their messy drama.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Michael Basta
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Originally I developed "Bernard Checks In" to work as a sneak peak into the world I wanted to create in a feature film I have written called "Raccoon," which follows the same character. What was originally intended as a treatment for pitch material soon became a much more self contained story as I grew more interested in exploring this character's desperation and hypocrisy. The feature film at it's core works as a critique of certain heterosexual men and I found this short film to be a great exercise in constructing a similar theme but in a small-scale setting. I like to think of this film as basically the prequel to my feature film.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I think for those watching this film they can find a lot of joy and humor from witnessing a man fumble further and further outside his comfort zone, all fault being his own. This is a comedy of errors where there's no easy victory for someone on a sleazy personal quest, so this film acts as a way to poke fun at it all. I don't intend to drive home any hard hitting messages, more so want people to sit back and watch as karma quickly takes effect in a comical way.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I see this film as a humorous but critical look at the latent depravity of otherwise frail and mild-mannered heterosexual men like Bernard, as well as a bemused look at the milieu of buffoonish masculinity. My intention is not to portray bad men doing bad things but rather complicated and often likable men with toxic tendencies. From Bernard's attempt at infidelity to his incredibly poor marriage advise; these are heightened examples of the obliviousness and selfishness of a lot of men, especially caucasian men as there's an added privilege.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script evolved quite a bit from its original creation. What was first intended just as a treatment for the feature film became its own story that can live as a stand alone piece without that context. From there more and more evolved as I started casting and letting the actors fine-tune their characters and lines. One example of this was when I casted for the motel clerk character, the actor brought a completely different and intense energy than I intended but once I saw it I knew that was the direction we needed to take him. It wasn't until I dived into post-production where I developed a lot of the tonality of the film. Much was altered when I added the music score, sound design, and moments with more experimental editing.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I've garnered a lot of positive feedback on the writing, performances, and cinematography of the film. I personally think all the actors did an outstanding job and was usually the first thing people told me when they watched it. People took to these characters and how their bizarre interactions played out, especially with the shifts in the power status between them. There were a lot of positive reactions to the climax scene of Bernard's marriage "advice" for its ironic mix of ignorance and endearment between the two men. Unfortunately a lot of this film's festival run in the past year has been virtual so I missed some great opportunities to really receive a wide range of feedback.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I haven't received too much challenging feedback yet but the film hasn't quite reached a broader audience. My point of view has remained the same since its creation but that said I don't think this film is free of any constructive criticism. I'm very open to hear any and all types of feedback whether it's positive or negative. It's all a learning experience.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Ultimately I'd love for this film to have more exposure. I'd like to hear how it resonates with more viewers so I can gain more perspective as I further develop my feature film
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
At this point any and all of those people on board would be a huge benefit to me. Not only would I love more exposure and press for this short film but my ultimate goal would be to connect with the right people to help me fund and produce my feature film. My hope is that this film sparks many more networking opportunities.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
More than anything I just want people to enjoy and laugh at these characters and scenarios. I want people to be enveloped in the outlandish and isolated world that's built in the film and come away thinking it was a fresh and unique perspective.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Despite his faults, is Bernard still a likable character?
Would you like to add anything else?
If anyone is interested in hearing more about my feature film "Raccoon," which this film is based on, they can visit raccoonmovie.com for more info.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Currently I'm in the pre-production stages for a feature film called "Euphus," along with other members of Omnes Films. This film will be directed by my close friend/collaborator Carson Lund, who was the cinematographer of "Bernard Checks In." The film follows the play-by-play of a New England recreational baseball league’s final game before their beloved field is bulldozed. It follows the humorous and veiled sentimentality of these grown men as the game stretches to extra innings and day fades into night, signaling the end of an era. The film is funded and slated to shoot this October 2022.
And as I mentioned (maybe too many times at this point) I'm still developing and seeking funding for my own written feature "Raccoon."
Interview: April 2022
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
Bernard Checks In
Length:
17:53
Writer/Director
MICHAEL BASTA is a Director, Editor, Writer, and Producer with a degree in Film/Video Production from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He's also a Co-Founder of an independent production company called Omnes Films along with close filmmaker friends/collaborators. Though his storytelling interests are wide and varied, he particularly takes to narrative comedies that range from the mundane to the absurd.
Producer
The producers of this film are all apart of the collective Omnes Films. Since forming the company back in 2012, they've produce features, short films, documentaries, web series, and music videos. Notably, Omnes Films produced the feature film "Ham on Rye" (Tyler Taormina 2019) which has garnered a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and was picked up by the distribution company Factory 25. Recently they've been included in Filmmaker Magazine's 25 New Faces of Independent Film.
Key cast:
Timothy Hornor (Bernard), Conner Marx (Bently), Ashley Platz (Sandy), Miles Anderson (Roman), Janet Hoskins (Ice Lady)
Looking for:
sales agents, journalists, distributors, producers, film festival directors, buyers
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/OmnesFilms/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/omnesfilms/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/omnesfilms
Hashtags used:
#bernardchecksin #darkcomedy #comedy #short #motel
More info:
Screened at
Garden State Film festival