42 Seconds

Months after a mass shooting at a small town diner, the only survivors revisit the scene with hopes of healing from their shared trauma.

A single moment can last forever.

  • Steve Anderson
    Director
    The Wall, Lucky U Ranch, The Secret Lives of Teachers
  • Judith Eisenberg
    Writer
    The Secret Lives of Teachers, Deflated, Kerry and Angie
  • Judith Eisenberg
    Producer
    Kerry and Angie, Deflated, The Secret Lives of Teachers
  • Pierre Hollis
    Producer
    Business director of Embracing Health, Producer of "The Story of America"
  • Judith Eisenberg
    Key Cast
    "Lenae"
    Alone with her Dolls, The Secret Lives of Teachers, Deflated
  • Stefanie Rons
    Key Cast
    "Natalie"
    The Wrong Crush, Verbatim, 50K
  • Roberto Cordero Jr.
    Key Cast
    "Jake"
    The Believer
  • Harris Kendall
    Key Cast
    "Jilly"
    The Wall, 600 Miles, Lucky U Ranch
  • Michael Stone
    Key Cast
    "Stu"
  • Kathy Jefferson
    Key Cast
    "Brenda"
  • Tom Delillo
    Key Cast
    "Frank"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 4 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 12, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Steve Anderson

Steve has been directing, acting, and coaching actors for 35 years. Primarily a live theatre director for many years, he was hired to direct his first feature in 2014, LUCKY U RANCH (Random Media distribution). Steve also directed THE SECRET LIVES OF TEACHERS, which played in 24 festivals and garnered nine honors and awards and is now on IndieFlix and Shorts TV. Most recently, Steve directed ROOM 107, a short film about the dangers of the trafficking industry. As an actor, Steve has performed off-Broadway and in regional theatre and can soon be seen as “Adam Comley” in the international feature, THE WALL, opposite Vicky Krieps (PHANTOM THREAD, CORSAGE), directed by Philippe Van Leeuw.

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Director Statement

I was a good student until my mother married a violent alcoholic who made our lives a living hell. The year he began living with us was the same year my grades took a nosedive. Teachers’ comments changed from “Great student” to “Something is terribly wrong.”

For years I thought my poor grades were the result of intellectual shortcomings. As it turned out, I was traumatized by the chaos at home and therefore unable to digest information. I was also easily triggered into violence myself, which got me into all kinds of trouble I couldn’t explain. I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to anyone who dealt with that version of me in the 1970’s. The real me is a pacifist, even though I still have the impulse to punch a wall from time to time - like “Jake” in 42 SECONDS.

This early experience led me to develop empathy for people who were struggling and ultimately to engage in socially-conscious work as an artist. Whether it’s an original live theatre piece created with Native Teens about the value of tolerance (Acceptance, 1997) or a short film about cyberbullying with a youth group in Tucson (The Tortolita Twelve, 2010) or a piece like 42 SECONDS, which helps us remember survivors of trauma, my greatest pleasure comes from telling stories that generate empathy and hope for a better day.

42 SECONDS is not a film about guns.  It’s a film about trauma and how important it is to remember that survivors of traumatic events like mass shootings suffer long after the event has passed. Please remember survivors and if you can, please hold a place for them in your heart.

Steve