Vernon Parrish, a retired mayor of a large suburb just outside of Chicago, had moved to the small town of Livingston, Montana, for peace and solitude and to get out of the public eye. After six years, Verne’s past returns to haunt him, driving him into a self-imposed exile at his cabin in the woods, hoping to ride out the media storm. While he is away, a storm of a different form rolls in, drastically changing the world as he knew it, culminating in a tale of a man who is both a victim and a beneficiary of circumstance.
Hailing from Chicago, this accomplished filmmaker has earned a reputation for her exceptional work. Her debut short film, “Jules,” received numerous accolades, including the Inclusion In The Industry Award, the Jury Award at the New York Short Film Festival, Best Ensemble at the Premiere Film Festival. Her other award winning short film “It’s Not About The Lemons” won the Mirkopoulos Cinematic Arts grant, and the Best Performance award from the Feedback Female Film Festival. Her latest short, “Controllo,” secured the prestigious MFA Production Grant from DePaul University and is currently out to festivals for 2024 premiere. As a writer, she delves deep into the emotional intricacies of the human experience and the journey towards healing from past trauma. Her screenplay, “Tracing Fog,” has claimed top honors at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and the Vail Film Festival, and the Chicago Screenplay Awards marking a significant milestone as she prepares to make her feature directorial debut.
Director Statement
This film is a cross between Yellowstone and The Twilight Zone. I loved playing with the idea of a western with a sci-fi twist and creating it as a drama regarding story structure. The idea that civilization has been catastrophically impacted because of devices we hold dear is a scary thought because, in a way, it could happen. We are so connected to our devices and hand over so much information on our phones that we allow the people on the other end to hold all the power and can easily turn our world upside down if they so wish.
Director:
Caitlin Presberg
Writer:
Dan Burns
Producer:
Dan Burns
Talent:
Blake De Pastino, "Verne" -
Marilyn Bass, "Marion" -
Amber Rose Mason, "Marge" -
Douglas "Hurricane" Hall, "Pete"
Anh Vo, Cinematographer
