Experiencing Interruptions?

Wink

A lonely and slightly repressed housewife discovers an unusual way to spice up her afternoon.

  • Monika Petrillo
    Director
    Flyabout
  • Monika Petrillo
    Writer
    Flyabout
  • James Baumgartner
    Producer
  • Caitlin Brandes
    Key Cast
  • Michael Chandler
    Key Cast
  • Stephan Dalyai
    Director of Photography
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Romance
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 6, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    11,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Dances With Films Film Festival
    Hollywood, CA
    United States
    June 6, 2017
    World Premiere
    AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER
  • Marina Del Rey Film Festival
    Marina del Rey
    United States
    October 7, 2017
    BEST ROMANCE
  • Austin Film Festival
    Austin, TX
    United States
    October 28, 2017
    Texas Premiere
  • Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival
    Pittsburgh, PA
    United States
    October 28, 2017
  • Hollywood Film Festival
    Hollywood, CA
    United States
    November 16, 2017
    MOST INNOVATIVE SHORT
  • Global Shorts
    Hollywood
    United States
    AWARD OF MERIT
  • Bogoshorts
    Bogota
    Colombia
    December 7, 2017
    South American Premiere
  • Beloit Film Festival
    Beloit, WI
    United States
    March 3, 2018
    Wisconsin Premiere
  • Omaha International Film Festival
    Omaha, NE
    United States
    March 10, 2018
    Omaha Premiere
  • Deep in the Heart Film Festival
    Waco, TX
    United States
    February 23, 2018
    Waco Premiere
  • Cleveland Film Festival
    Cleveland, OH
    United States
    Ohio Premiere
  • North Hollywood Cinefest
    North Hollywood, CA
    United States
    March 26, 2018
  • Richmond International Film Festival
    Richmond, VA
    United States
    Virginia Premiere
  • Bogoshorts - Under the Moon
    Bogota
    Colombia
    March 8, 2018
  • Chicago Independent Film Festival
    Chicago, IL
    United States
    April 28, 2018
    Chicago Premiere
  • Soroptimist Club Stuttgart
    Stuttgart
    Germany
    July 19, 2018
  • International Short Film Festival Detmold
    Detmold
    Germany
    June 23, 2018
    German Premiere
  • Cindependent Film Festival
    Cincinnati, OH
    United States
    August 23, 2018
    Cincinnati Premiere
    BEST COMEDY SHORT , Nomination BEST DIRECTOR SHORT FILM
  • Covellite International Film Festival
    Butte, Montana
    United States
    September 15, 2018
    Montana Premiere
  • Dam Short Film Festival
    Boulder City, NV
    United States
    February 10, 2019
    Nevada Premiere
  • Desert Film Society
    Palm Springs, CA
    United States
    November 3, 2018
  • Buenos Aires Film Festival
    Buenos Aires
    Argentina
    July 15, 2019
Director Biography - Monika Petrillo

A native of Germany, Monika Petrillo wrote, directed and edited the short film "Wink" which has earned multiple awards during its successful festival run. Her documentary feature "Flyabout" premiered at SXSW, inspired people worldwide and was picked up by Halogen TV network. Both films can be found on Amazon Prime.

Working shoulder to shoulder with many prestigious directors, including Robert Rodriguez, Richard Linklater and Mike Judge, as an accomplished script supervisor, Monika has been on an internship to direct for her entire professional life. She shadowed Jamie Babbit on "Silicon Valley" (HBO) and James Ponsoldt on "Sorry For Your Loss" (Facebook Watch), as well as Robert Rodriguez in the editing room during "We Can Be Heroes" (Netflix).

A life-long adventurer, Monika earned her pilot’s license at age 24 and soon thereafter set out to fulfill a dream of flying around the continent of Australia. She lives in South Pasadena, CA, with her husband and two children.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Why is it that a certain song we’ve heard a hundred times on the radio is suddenly digging at our hearts, even making us cry, when we happen to catch a stripped-down, unplugged version of it with nothing but the singer-songwriter at the piano? I believe it’s because the perfect, smooth and overproduced studio version can sometimes distract from the raw emotions hiding underneath. That’s why I worked to keep my film simple and subtle. Today we are so used to seeing movies densely packed with fast action and effects. I wanted to invite the viewer to slow down and zero in on what is going on behind the eyes of one lonely woman; because to her, that longing makes up her whole universe.

The inspiration for Wink came from my godmother. On a road trip through Death Valley she casually mentioned the idea of a surrealistic story about a blonde in an unsatisfying marriage and a gold fish, set in Paris of the 70s. As soon as I heard that, I could see the whole film in my mind. Only, I wanted to set my film in the real world of 2017. Back in LA, I took a break from the other script I was working on and surprised myself by putting the entire thing on paper within three hours.

A story centered around a relationship where appearances betray the loneliness inside offered great opportunities to focus on visual details. I chose a palette of muted colors to reflect the emotions of a woman who lives isolated in her perfect nest. Since there is very little dialogue, I also placed emphasis on the sounds that become so apparent when silence dominates a relationship, as well as the music.

After 28 years of working alongside experienced directors, taking time to raise two children, having made a documentary feature and finally coming across the perfect story, I knew this was the right time to direct my own short. Wink was entirely financed by my savings, but I was amazed to see how much support I received--from friends who offered their house, let me borrow their cars, clothes and furniture, to local artists who volunteered their art. Not to mention the professional cast and crew who donated their time and their talent, enabling me to tell the unplugged version of my story just how I had envisioned it while crossing the barren landscapes of Death Valley.

I feel unbelievebly lucky and grateful. And I can't wait to do it again.
-- Monika Petrillo
writer/director/editor