Private Project

After Ashes

After a plague wipes out most of humanity, transforming them into mindless creatures, The Grim Reaper struggles with boredom as he kills time more than he does people. Kali Kaminski, the lone human survivor, struggles to maintain her sanity while keeping creatures and lethargy at bay. These two individuals inevitably meet and find kindred spirits in one another changing both of their outlooks on the world they find themselves trapped in.

  • Jesse McAnally
    Director
    Sunny Days, Technical Difficulties
  • Jesse McAnally
    Writer
    Sunny Days, Technical Difficulties
  • Jesse McAnally
    Producer
  • Frederick McAnally
    Producer
  • Miranda Moffat
    Key Cast
    "Kali Kaminski"
  • Perry Devon Quarker Jr.
    Key Cast
    "Death (Physically)"
  • Breayre Tender
    Key Cast
    "Death (Voice)"
  • John Thiede
    Key Cast
    "Zombie"
  • Firas Allouch
    Cinematographer
  • Dawn Turchin
    Editor
  • Jesse McAnally
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci Fi, Horror
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Production Budget:
    7,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35.1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Jesse McAnally -- Film Exhibition
    Canton, Michigan
    United States
    May 2, 2018
    World Premiere
  • Sunrise 45 Film Festival
    Alpena, MI
    United States
    August 17, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Adrian International Film Festival
    Adrian, Michigan
    United States
    May 19, 2018
    Best Student Film
  • Short Film Block Party
    Detroit, Michigan
    United States
    May 9, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Threadbare Mitten Film Festival
    Lansing, Michigan
    United States
    June 22, 2018
    Official Selection
  • SHORT to the Point
    Bucharest
    Romania
    June 24, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Independent StarFilmfest
    Freising, Bavaria
    Germany
    June 29, 2018
    German Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Trinity International Film Festival
    Detroit, Michigan
    United States
    August 10, 2018
    Best Short Film
  • I See You Awards
    Southfield, MI
    United States
    August 23, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Hollywood West Wing Film Competition
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    July 23, 2018
    1st Place -- Best Short Film
  • The Royal Wolf Film Awards
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    September 3, 2018
    Best Student Short & Best Student Director
  • Pinnacle Film Awards
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    September 7, 2018
    Best Student Film
  • WNY Film, Art and Music Event
    Batavia, New York
    United States
    August 11, 2018
    Best Horror or Sci-Fi/Special Effects & Best Student Director
  • Snowdance (USA) Film Awards
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    July 26, 2018
    Finalist
  • Aphrodite Film Awards
    New York City, New York
    United States
    July 28, 2018
    Best Director Student Short Film
  • Royal Starr Film Festival
    Royal Oak, MI
    October 11, 2018
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Jesse McAnally

Co-founder of Fosca Features, Jesse McAnally has a degree in media arts from Wayne State University. He currently serves as Creative Director of Fosca Features, LLC where he has successfully directed and produced three short films as well as many of professional promotional materials over the last three years.

His directorial debut in 2015, a short film titled, “Sunny Days,” has showcased in a variety of local festivals including the Moving Media Student Film Festival, the Royal Starr Film Festival, and the WDIV Film Challenge Detroit.

His films exemplify out of the box story-telling techniques that pushes the Short Film format into novel places that focuses on bending traditional driven narratives with fascinating concepts.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

When ‘After Ashes’ revealed itself as my next project, I immediately felt very excited and devoted to the project. My first thoughts were, “How has nobody thought of this idea before me?” It made me giddy with the possibilities it offered, and excited to gather a crew around my strange idea.

After Ashes turned out to be the most ambitious film I've ever set out to make. It was a difficult tightrope walk of tones, implementing Fantasy and Horror elements into a comedic drama-- similar in tone and style to Guillermo Del Toro, but confined to the limits of a short film. It was a fun challenge, and allowed me to refine my style.

The film has been the best example of what I set out to do: Tell stories that I've never seen before in novel and strange ways. I wish to twist genre conventions and narrative expectations as far as I possibly can while still giving an audience an escapist, dramatic experience. I believe is important to begin telling stories that give high impact roles to women, without power given to their relationship with men.

I hope this film can reach a large audience, and let them empathize with two strong, steadfast souls who find each other, and save one another.