Our Best Short Film winner will receive our custom Global Shorts statuette which we ship anywhere in the world, free of charge. The award is manufactured by Society Awards, the same awards company that manufactures the Golden Globe and the Emmy. All winners will receive our Global Shorts Winner laurels in black, white, and gold.
Title: Grown-Ups
Runtime: 28 min
Country: USA
Director: Caitlin Dahl
Placement: Honorable Mention
Competition: September 30, 2017
Synopsis: “Grown-Ups” is the story of two young women who sadly return home to attend their aunt’s funeral and are shocked to find themselves in an even more troubling situation – that after many years of sobriety, their once-vibrant and spirited mother has severely relapsed into a dependence on drugs and alcohol. The two daughters must decide if and how they are going to help their mother with her now crippling addiction. It is a painful transition that many in life must face – the landmark moment when the nurtured become the nurturers, when the guarded become the guardians, and when the children become the “Grown-Ups”.
GS: What was the inspiration for your film?
CD: Addiction is an issue that is very personal to me. I have many family members still struggling with drug and alcohol use. It is a rampant issue in this country and a lot of people can identify with the characters on both sides. Also, PREGNANCY! I was pregnant when we were shooting this film, and so was Alexandra Breckenridge – with our babies that are three weeks apart, so it was a very hormonal set – even though Melinda who played “Lizzie”, the pregnant character was NOT pregnant!
GS: When did you conceive the idea for your film and how long did it take before it was realized?
CD: I originally wrote “Grown-Ups” as a one-act play in 2016. After a few readings I thought I should make it into a short film so it could reach a broader audience. The whole process was roughly one and a half years from script to screen.
GS: What was the most challenging aspect of working in a short film format?
CD: Naturally we want to expand and elaborate to “step out” a scene but in a short film, you are very limited on time. The sweet spot for a short film I believe is 12 minutes and telling a story with a beginning, a middle and an end in under 12 pages can be quite the challenge!
GS: What was the most challenging aspect of your production?
CD: I think the most challenging aspect of this production was shooting twenty nine pages of dialogue in two days. In hind sight, I would have allotted three days of shooting to get more coverage.
GS: Do you have any advice for first-time filmmakers?
CD: My advice for first-time filmmakers is to “GO FOR IT”! Start small, hone your craft, practice, practice, practice and eventually you will be able to make your big budget masterpiece. But you have to start small and make excellent work. Work with the best people you can find, treat everyone with respect and have fun!