Apparition

Heather (Youko Martinez) is a displaced young woman sheltering in an abandoned house, along with the ghost of its’ previous occupant, Eden (Chelsea Marie Logan). The two develop an unconventional love, but their otherworldly bond is threatened when the house is set to be demolished. Unsure of Eden’s fate if the house were to come down, Heather is determined to find a way to summon her ghostly girlfriend.

  • Carter Cavanaugh
    Director
  • Carter Cavanaugh
    Writer
  • Youko Martinez
    Key Cast
    "Heather"
  • Chelsea Marie Logan
    Key Cast
    "Eden"
  • Jennifer Jackson
    Key Cast
    "Cypress"
  • Harrison Kraft
    Director of Photography
  • Nicole Smith
    Art Director
  • Jessica Schlimmer
    Sound
  • AJ Nichols
    Sound
  • Ian Baker
    Sound
  • Carter Cavanaugh
    Editor
  • Allison Davidoff
    Assistant Director
  • Elena Plumser
    Script Supervisor
  • AJ Nichols
    Boom
  • Joe Allen
    Art Department
  • Helena Hatami
    Art Department
  • Megan Rickmers
    Art Department
  • Gale Wenger
    Art Department
  • Blair Ahrendt
    Makeup Artist
  • Charles Stork
    Gaffer
  • Danny Murray
    Key Grip
  • Jason Biron
    Grip
  • AJ Nichols
    Grip
  • Elena Plumser
    BTS Photography
  • Nick Kelly
    Production Assistant
  • Chuck Cavanaugh
    Sound Design
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Romance, LGBT, LGBT+, Drama, Supernatural
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 11, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:1.85
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Montclair State University
  • Best Shorts Competition
    La Jolla, CA
    United States
    Award of Merit
  • The East Village Queer Film Festival
    New York, New York
    United States
    August 27, 2021
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Queer Global Arts Fest

    August 27, 2021
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Carter Cavanaugh

I’m Carter Cavanaugh, a queer filmmaker and artist born and raised in North Jersey.
I write, direct, and edit short films focusing on LGBT+ identity and character exploration. I’ve made 5 narrative film shorts and 2 documentary shorts reflecting this passion. I also enjoy writing romance, mystery, horror, and suspense. I graduated from Montclair State University in Spring 2020 with a BFA in Filmmaking, and at our senior showcase May 2020 I was joint-awarded Best Director and Best Screenwriter for my thesis short film, "Antique Failure."

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Director Statement

Apparition is a story born from anti-lesbian stereotypes and tropes that are rampant in mainstream film and television. A lesbian can't be in a happy relationship for 30 seconds before she's killed off. However, in Apparition, not even death can sever the bonds between Heather and Eden.