Last Light Unveiled: An Independent Film's Success Story

Looking back at a very personal short I made, Last Light, I'm struck by how the idea sparked to life with two friends and how it grew into something so meaningful. I had this opportunity thanks to the MFA program requirements at AFI, where I was applying. In that endeavor, I was tasked to create a short film. That year's prompt was "Secret," which got me diving deep into the concept, exploring every way to bring out a secret's nuanced layers in just five minutes.

The Birth of an Idea: Conceiving the Story

We kicked off the narrative brainstorming session with the thoughts of our main character facing a unique challenge – he had to write a goodbye letter, but we left it open as to where he was. This space could be anything: a figment of his mind, a lonely cell, or something as dreamy as The Little Prince's planet. We threw in a candle as a the ticking clock that grew into something more.

No light, nothing to see, no story, right?

I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with Lazar, my actor, whose subtle and profound performance was nothing short of amazing, and Dona, our Director of Photography, who brought each scene to life with a style that nodded to the great Caravaggio. It was clear we were all in this for our love of the art, and I believe the film’s success is as meaningful to them as it is to me.

Those first few moments on screen told you everything you needed to know. A man, a letter, a flickering candle, and a razor blade – and the rest of the story unfolded with just music and sharp edits. We had this push-pull dynamic going between Paul's thoughts, the pencil and paper, and that haunting image of the razor blade, ramping up the tension big time.

Paul keeps the candle from going out

I lent my voice to embody Paul's inner critics, taking inspiration from the intense lyrics of Tool and A Perfect Circle to really showcase the harshness he felt towards himself.

I've always thought that if you try too hard to convey a certain message in a film, it just doesn't work. The film should speak for itself, and by the time I finished Last Light, it had revealed more to me about its deeper meaning than I had initially realized. Let the story breathe, and the message will find itself. That's my advice for creating an independent film success story.

The Filmmaker's Brush: Painting 'Last Light'

Much of the inspiration for this film lies in several years of my life which I spent in an untenable situation a long way away from home. Without such an experience I doubt I would have been able to create this story and for that I am grateful. Last Light is film heavily influenced by the story of Pandora’s Box. Our hero, Paul, inhabits a dark and deeply abstract yet physical space. A surreal nature is suggested by the walls on all four sides and his circling back to the desk. As I see it, he’s not only in the same mythical universe, but also trapped in the very same mythical box with the voices of evil. For the entire duration of the candlelight, there persist an assurance that Paul will succeed in his endeavour to escape. It is not until the very last moment that we see hope in the form of doubt.

Storyboard Art

For me, hope never goes without doubt. Some, I expect, would find distant resemblance to Sartre's No Exit, and I would agree as far as the atmosphere is concerned. But in this story there is only one character. Here hell is not the Other, but one's own self, a theme becoming more common these days. The Promethean light seen from a different perspective is Pandora's Box in that it shows that in total darkness (ignorance), one can never see the evil and pain in the world.

Echoes of Last Light: The Independent Film Success Story

In the end, none of the schools I applied to accepted me, but I learned so much about filmmaking – the craft, the communication, the entire process, and did it all on a very tight budget. Last Light did more than I could have hoped for, earning accolades and festival spots, including at Burning Man's own  Black Rock City Film Festival. It's an accomplishment that feels as validating as any degree.

I've shared the film with the world, and it's out there, making its own way. I'd love to hear how it impacts those who watch it. Here's a link to the film – check it out and see what you think.