Desert Rocks Film and Music Event Desert Rocks 2017 Program | Page 17

NARRATIVE SHORTS
“MASLOW’S”
(14 Min., USA)
Maslow’s is a dark horror short film that tells the story of Ethan, a suicidal screenwriter who blames himself for his mother’s
death. After one of Ethan’s failed suicide attempts, he receives an anonymous text inviting him to Maslow’s, an underground
weapons warehouse. When he arrives, he tries to kill himself but is knocked out by an unseen figure. He wakes up in a dun-
geon and competes in Maslow’s deadly trials with three strangers. Each trial features a new way to die and a new victim. As
the trials continue, Ethan is confronted with the past and he learns that in order to live in the present, he must forgive himself
for the past. I hope as the audience experiences Ethan’s journey from dark to light that they too can find moments of lightness
in their struggles and see that they are not alone. (LDVSN)
FILMMAKERS: Erik Long IV (Director, Producer, Writer) Evan Marshall (Story, Lead Actor) Tamala De Jesus
(Lead Actor) Matt Fore (Cinematographer/DP) Alexander Babaev (Assistant Director)
“SOLDIER”
(26 min, USA)
Since the death of his father, the CO of a nearby base, fifteen-year-old Daniel has become obsessed with acting ‘manly’ and
joining the army. He’s being bullied by other kids, and today he decides to bring his dad’s pistol to school to ‘get respect.’ After
Mama leaves for work, a lost solder shows up and seeks Daniel’s help. The two are mysteriously drawn to each other, and their
conversation reveals that their lives are intertwined in surprising ways they did not know. The soldier teases, threatens, and
challenges Daniel to the point of violent confrontation, and leaves him changed -- for the better. (LDVSN)
FILMMAKERS: Bruce Becker (Director, Executive Producer, Writer, Lead Actor, Original Music/Composer) Jon Gar-
cia (Producer) Aric Floyd (Lead Actor) Deanna Reed-Foster (Supporting Actor) Brody Willis (Cinematographer/DP)