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In Debt

Jonathon is a simple man wanting to do the right thing. Naomi is a woman pushed to the brink with rage. When these two characters collide after a blood-splattered massacre, dark truths are revealed. Inspired by the gritty cinema of the Far East, this thriller combines their influences with a western sensibility, filled with suspense and melodrama. In Debt is a short film about the lengths people go to get what they desire.

  • Johann James Chipol
    Director
  • Johann James Chipol
    Writer
    The Interrogation, Macho Dan
  • Daria Nitsche
    Producer
  • Gabriel Paul
    Key Cast
  • Janice Sampson
    Key Cast
  • David Worden
    Key Cast
  • David Chafer
    Key Cast
  • Conor O'Hare
    Key Cast
  • Julie Root
    Key Cast
  • Daz Kaye
    Key Cast
  • A. Jeremy P. Lawrence
    Cinematography
  • Brian Gray
    Sound
  • Darren Mitchell
    Sound
  • Brian Smith
    Sound
  • John Butler
    Visual Effects
  • Matt Dobing
    Visual Effects
  • Pamela Clare
    Make Up
  • Edward Harvey
    Music
  • Brian Smith
    Editing
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Thriller, Suspense
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 10 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 31, 2014
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, DSLR 5D Canon
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Indiana Vision Presents...
    Birmingham, UK
    February 25, 2015
  • Short Stack Film Screening
    Nottingham, UK
    January 25, 2015
  • ShortLines, London
    London, UK
    July 31, 2014
  • 5 Lamps Bi-Monthly
    Derby, UK
    January 6, 2015
Director Biography - Johann James Chipol

Born in Gibraltar, British filmmaker Johann Chipol became infatuated with cinema from a young age. He left home to explore this passion for film, studying Film Theory in Derby and Production in Sheffield. Throughout his studies, Johann has worked on various small film and radio productions, mainly in Sound Design and Scriptwriting. It wasn’t until collaborating with Enigmatic Productions that he decided to venture into film directing with his debut ‘In Debt’, with other projects already in the works.

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Director Statement

In Debt’ is my first project as a director and a personal one to me, having worked on the film for almost 2 years.

As my first film, I wanted to already stamp my own personal influences into this film. It is my tribute to the cinema from the Far East. I have always loved the works of Kurosawa, Kitano and Kar-Wai and it is clear in this film. ‘In Debt’ is Japanese folklore with the look of a Korean drama, highlighted with Chinese imagery throughout. It is a beautiful mess that, when constructed, finally made something that stood out.

This film is kind of my reflection on the financial problems our society has been facing with the recent global recession. Every one of us, even those of greater power it seems, struggle with debt in a world where money seems to be the only means of staying alive. ‘In Debt’ is a fantasy, but has clear notions with our reality. How desperate are we to stay out of the red? What arguments or excuses will we make to get what we desire?

Overall, the production was an amazing learning curve full of highs and lows. I can’t wait to put to the test again.