Private Project

The Stacks

A psychological drama that follows a grief-stricken young woman as she struggles to cope with the suicide of her boyfriend. Alone in the library where she works, the woman’s mental state deteriorates as her mind conjures her boyfriend in the stacks. Desperate for closure, she confronts him in an attempt to get the answers she can never have.

  • Elizabeth Cerabona
    Director
  • Elizabeth Cerabona
    Writer
  • Joy Kim
    Producer
  • Kiah Amara
    Key Cast
  • Connor Scott
    Key Cast
  • Kelley Holcomb
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Mental Health, Supernatural
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 53 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 28, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Director Biography - Elizabeth Cerabona

Elizabeth Cerabona was born in raised in Carol Stream, IL. She started her education at Northwestern University (class of ’17) studying Voice and Opera Performance but quickly found her calling as a filmmaker. During her time as a film student at Northwestern University, Cerabona used her classical vocal training and music connections to build her skills as a casting director and producer. Additionally, Cerabona focused her academic experience primarily on screenwriting. Her writing is character driven and focuses on emotional relationships. Currently, she is based in Chicago.

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Director Statement

The Stacks focuses on topics that I feel very strongly about; mental health and suicide. Having struggled with my own mental illness, I feel very connected to these issues. Unfortunately, these topics are often avoided and when they are depicted in film and TV, they are often stereotypical caricatures of mental illness. More often than not, depictions of mental illness in film support stigma and the myths surrounding these illnesses. I wanted to make a film that is a more emotionally realistic depiction of suicide and what happens to those you leave behind when choosing to end your life. This film strives to depict the raw and emotionally real journey of a young woman struggling to cope with her own mental state after the loss of her mentally ill boyfriend. This film provides a distinctly personal view of suicide, guilt, grief, and relationships. All of these topics I feel are especially relevant among college students today. During my four and a half years at Northwestern, there have been more than five suicides and countless suicide attempts, some which affected the people closest to me. I feel that this topic needs to be discussed not only to help prevent suicides but to help those left behind to forgive themselves and move forward. Overall, the goal of the film is to encourage open dialog about mental illness and to urge viewers who may be struggling to seek support and help. Elena’s journey brings grief and mental illness to the forefront. Through Elena, the audience sees the guilt, sorrow, and confusion that plagues those left behind when someone commits suicide.