Experiencing Interruptions?

A Small Town Nutcracker Story

A young girl’s small town holiday tradition is cancelled due to the pandemic, yet a dream arises that promises to reinvent their shuttered hopes.

This is an all-ages, family-friendly film.

  • Robert Douthat
    Director
    Escape (Producer), Takeover (Director), The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (Actor/Stunt Performer), The Host (Actor)
  • Sky-Marie McDonald
    Writer
  • Sue Wright
    Producer
    Wild Rivers Coast Foundation for Dance
  • Sarai Ell
    Key Cast
    "Rosie"
  • Bryan Wolfinger
    Cinematographer
    Gleam (Director of Photography), Payphone Payoff (Director), Chantage (Camera Operator)
  • Project Type:
    Feature, Student, Other
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 30 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    December 18, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    78,000 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:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Wild Rivers Conservatory of Dance & Arts
  • Orlando Film Festival
    Orlando Film Festival
    United States
    November 2, 2022
    World Premiere
    Award - Best Ensemble Cast
Director Biography - Robert Douthat

Rob is a Director-DP in New York and Los Angeles. After getting his start in crew jobs for studio pictures in New Orleans, LA, he attended a 2-year acting Conservatory in New York. Since graduating, Rob has been in front of, and behind the camera in over 300 films, commercials, documentaries and music videos. He has worked on over a dozen award-winning micro-budget films and has had his astrophotography photos featured by the L.A. Astronomical Society at Griffith Observatory. His hobbies include astrophotography, camping, farming, nature, environmentalism, dogs, his best friends and Led Zeppelin. Rob splits time between New York, NY, Brookings, OR, and Venice, CA.

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Director Statement

Hi there!

It is with great excitement that we submit our first submissions for our narrative feature film about a small town dance school that copes with our beloved tradition being cancelled during the pandemic. This was a labor of love that we're thrilled to share, including what things were quite difficult to pull off with our COVID restrictions and budget realities. We're very grateful for any attention the project may receive, since the efforts students and community volunteers put into these past two years was an extraordinary labor of love to keep the passion for the arts alive in our small town. We're so so excited to make this connection point with the outside world with you!

We look forward to your comments, but more than anything, we are so excited to have you as a member of our audience! We are so grateful for the opportunity to share this with you. We hope you enjoy, and we will hear from you soon!

Best,
Sky-Marie McDonald, Writer, Choreographer
Robert Douthat, Director