We are just a few weeks removed from Fantastic Fest, possibly the greatest week of the year for this city's film fans, who are treated to amazing genre films from all over the world. Festival offerings are not just feature-length films—in fact, one of the more interesting aspects of the fest is the lineup of short films. One that really made an impression on fest-goers this year was a bizarre horror short entitled "No Way Out," a locally-produced effort that truly exemplifies Austin's unique film community.
The dark short's premise? A man, tortured by hellish creatures keeping him trapped in a shadowy netherworld, realizes the one possible escape is a tiny hole in the wall, from which a heavenly light is beaming. The hole is too small for him to crawl through, but—faced with a potential eternity of torment—the man decides if his entire body can’t escape, at least a part of him will.
The film was lovingly made right here in Austin, Texas, by a gaggle of insanely creative individuals (all of whom I am fortunate enough to call my friends). I was able to visit the set of this short film as it was being made; it was right at the start of the sweltering summer, and the building in which it was shot was ill-equipped for keeping things cool. But despite the sultry conditions, the place was alive and in a state of perpetual motion. What friends of the crew weren’t running around volunteering their time as grips, stand-ins and camera assistants were gathered around a monitor observing and lending constant encouragement. The entire Austin film community, a group that was gracious enough to adopt me when I moved here three years ago, was in this warehouse room to show their support.
I sat down and talked with many of the crew to get their input on the film’s inspiration, inception and production. Contained in their statements are the roots of what makes Austin such a powerful catalyst for independent film and the passion it requires.
Director Kristoffer Aaron Morgan is an artist you’ll want to know, as his future is brighter than the mysterious beam of light featured in his film:
“It was based on an idea I had about two years ago," he says, "to make a little horror poem about being trapped by the monsters in your own mind. I brought it up to my creative partner, Eric Vespe, one day as an idea for a short subject film. And as our usual work process goes, he took an okay idea and twisted it into something really cool that had me excited to bring to life. That, and I'll always jump at the chance to practice the craft that I love, as long as the ideas and stories are worth exploring, or appeal to me in a personal sense.
What I discovered working on this short is that all my crew had that exact same passion too, even at this budget. They all pushed themselves very hard for me and delivered for me in ways I couldn't have imagined at the start. It's a challenge working on something where you can't pay anyone a single cent. As a bum, you become hesitant to push people that are doing favors for you, but as a director I had to put that out of my mind and push them for their best efforts regardless of pay. To my entire crew's credit, they all let me work them to the bone, with no pay, and did it all with a smile on their face and pride in their work. That's rare, and something they should be proud of. I couldn't have done something like this without them.”
Writer and producer Eric Vespe, one of the internet’s most well-respected movie critics (writing for years as Quint on Ain’t It Cool News):
“'No Way Out' began as a breakdown of horror technique. Aaron and I wanted to do something that would combine the best elements of any scary story: mystery, monsters, shadows in the dark, sound design, atmosphere, isolation, gore. We're true blue horror fans and we just wanted to dip our toes in all the different styles of horror within one contained story.
As with any film, the challenges were many. We made this thing on favors and borrowed equipment. Everybody busted their asses for us for no money in a blisteringly hot warehouse with no air-conditioning at the beginning of our Texas summer. There were all the headaches of a regular production plus juggling favors and an extremely limited budget. I'm proud that the short looks like it was made for ten times the budget and that can only be attributed to the hard work of our rag-tag team of misfits who put their hearts, souls, sweat and blood into making it as amazing as they could.”
Phenomenal actor AJ Bowen (House of the Devil, The Signal, A Horrible Way to Die):
“I had the good fortune of having a movie at SXSW five years ago. I remember the night well; I rambled with a group of people until 5 am on all sorts of things cinematic that almost no one else would have any interest in—among them were Eric and Aaron. I'd lived in LA. for a few years and for the first time, that night, I felt I was around my own people again: movie nerds. We became fast friends. When Eric called me to see if I had any interest in making a short with them, it was a no brainer. We found ourselves on a ridiculously hot soundstage in Austin, and ended up with our short. Every moment making it reaffirmed both my love for film and also why you get into this business in the first place: to tell stories with your friends.”
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In addition to being written and shot and by local artists, "No Way Out" was produced by local company Arcanum Pictures (the brainchild of local film geeks Peter S. Hall and Paul Gandersman) and that the effects were also handled by local outlets. The fact that filmmakers can put together expert teams to help make dreams come to life, start to finish—teammates who also happen to be roommates, friends and neighbors—not only creates a closer community, but gives us all a sense of the encompassing, strong filmmaking industry in this town.
