Focus on AFI Conservatory - Haunt
Docked pay by her unethical boss, Nora must take a job at a local Halloween haunt in order to stay afloat.
Interview with Writer/Director Nikki Born
Watch Haunt here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
In my early twenties, I worked at a haunted house in the Bay Area for three years as a scare actress and a make-up artist. Working there in such a creative and exciting atmosphere changed my life forever in that it inspired me to go for my dream of being a filmmaker! I always knew I would make a movie/show about it one day, and so we did. But it's not all clown giggles and fake blood over here--this film was cathartic for me after having been through sexual assault. I wanted to make a female-revenge film and so these two ideas merged into one film and now we have Haunt :)
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Because you're craving a new Halloween movie to fall in love with and watch year after year. Because you love to see women win/get revenge. Because you love the idea of going behind the scenes of a haunted house attraction and because you love to be entertained!!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I think we all crave catharsis and justice. In a haunt, you can put on a mask and scream in the faces of the very same people who were just bitching to your manager at your day job.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Well this was made a couple years ago now, so I can hardly remember how each draft evolved but I will say that this has gone from a short film to something I'm developing with another writer as a television show!
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Honestly, people seem to love this film! A real crowd pleaser. It's one of the best thing's I've had the pleasure of working on--our entire team was amazing.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The only thing the feedback has challenged is my own sense of imposter-syndrome. Like, maybe there is a seat at the table for me in this industry? Maybe I CAN do this, ya know?
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
All I've ever wanted for Haunt is more eyes on it. I just want people to be able to enjoy it as much as I do.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Distributors, buyers, producers, agents, journalists. Anyone who can help take this film and future spinoffs to the next level can call me ANY TIME.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
The dream is just to have it be one of those films that people always want to watch around Halloween, like Hocus Pocus or Halloweentown or maybe a South Park Halloween special.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
"What do you think the shit was made out of?"
Would you like to add anything else?
We are so grateful for the opportunity to be on your site! Thank you so much!!
Interview: July 2021
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
Haunt
Length:
13:20
Writer
Nikki Born and Marc Sedaka
NIKKI is a writer/director from the Bay Area and a graduate of AFI for Directing. She currently is developing multiple projects from tv shows to features to kids books!
MARC received his BA from Cornell University and MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts where he wrote, directed and edited numerous short films including the Emmy award-winning THE WORLD AGAINST JASE. His professional writing credits for film and TV include OVERNIGHT DELIVERY starring Reese Witherspoon and Paul Rudd, and two seasons on CBS’s THE KING OF QUEENS. As an editor, Marc has cut three feature films in addition to nine short films at the American Film Institute Conservatory where he received a second MFA in Film Editing.
Director
Nikki Born
Producer
Asia Coleman
ASIA is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, with a BA in Critical Studies, and graduated from the American Film Institute Producing Program with a Masters in Producing. She is also a recipient of the Producer’s Guild Debra Hill Fellowship.
Currently, Asia is the Senior Coordinator for the American Film Institute’s Producing Program and the Head of Roger Dodger Studios, a California-based Development Company that looks to diversify content in front of and behind the screen.
Key cast:
Carly Stewart (Nora), Mathew Herman (Dan), Melanie Glickman (Marie), Alexander Crow (Guy/Slider Dude), Mark Coyan (Louie)
Looking for:
distributors, producers
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/hauntthemovie
Made in association with:
AFI Conservatory
Where can I watch it now?
Will be on Alter and Curia soon but they haven't told us when yet!