Apple Pie

A woman faces a new and harsh reality when she is pressured to eat a slice of apple pie that she does not want to eat.

  • Erin Borg
    Director
  • Erin Borg
    Writer
  • Erin Borg
    Producer
  • Lynne Michelle
    Key Cast
    "Brie Evans"
  • Mac von Oehsen
    Key Cast
    "Lenny"
  • Alec Bernard
    Key Cast
    "Lou"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 58 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 23, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Erin Borg
  • Erin Borg
Distribution Information
  • Erin Borg
    Country: United States
Director Biography - Erin Borg

Erin Borg has been on a lifelong quest to find the best way for her to tell stories. She churned out poems throughout her youth, covered the city council beat in college, and penned short anecdotes based on everyday happenings in her spare time. All had a special place in her evolution as a storyteller -- but none felt quite vast enough for what and how she wanted to share her voice. It should be noted that she has a very loud voice.

It wasn't until she signed up for a 12-week filmmaking program at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) that Erin found what she had been searching for. She delighted in learning about the intentionality behind filmmakers' choices, and how just a shot angle could evoke certain emotion in the audience. All of a sudden, bringing together written word with the power of audio/visual elements, opportunities to create impactful stories seemed endless. She was lucky enough to have participated in 8 student productions, learning and witnessing firsthand the collective power of the cast and crew. She will never forget seeing her script come to life for the first time. Nor the intensity of the goosebumps that sprang up on her arms -- it was the first time she had goosebumps that hurt.

Her film debut entitled "Apple Pie" is a student short that she wrote, produced, directed, and edited* while studying at NYFA. It's a horror film with satirical commentary on denying women choices regarding our bodies -- in this case, what food we eat and when we eat it. After receiving rave reviews from family, friends, and her filmmaking professor, she's thrilled to take "Apple Pie" to the film circuit and to hopefully share its important message with a broader audience.

Erin has since completed a screenwriting course through Gotham Writers Workshop, and she is diving into her next screenplay that examines cancel culture. She's excited to continue pursuing her newfound passion for filmmaking and putting her loud mouth to use by telling unique stories about the layers of the female experience. Erin is proud of and very grateful for everyone who helped bring "Apple Pie" to the screen, especially her cast, crew, and her biggest fan, her mom.

*Additional audio editing, sound design, and color correction were completed after the NYFA filmmaking program

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The genesis of "Apple Pie" was the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade in June 2022. The ruling devastated me -- feelings of shock, confusion, despair, and fear took their turns eating at me. I distained men who preached so strongly on anti-choice measures. I was perplexed and disturbed by women who applauded the decision, despondent when they didn't seem to care either way. Lots of emotions circling, with no path forward.

These circling emotions coincided with my 12-week filmmaking program at the New York Film Academy (NYFA). Every student was tasked with creating a final film, and the subject could be anything. When I began writing my screenplay, I asked myself -- "What is it that you want to say?" The answer, glaringly obvious: Denying women the freedom of choice over our bodies, health, and lives is asinine. I thought the best way to highlight this point was to create an analogy based on a relatable scenario that took a surreal turn. I brainstormed for hours, thinking through various ways to showcase denial of choice with parallels to reproductive rights. Finally, the phrase "food baby" came to mind, followed quickly by the uncomfortable feeling of being too full. I started and finished the first draft of "Apple Pie" within the next few hours. A short film about a woman who is pressured to eat a slice of apple pie that she does not want to eat.

The experience I want to create for viewers is the same that I felt when I heard news of the reversal -- that of frustration, discomfort, and angst. I wrote the dialogue to feel repetitive and without basis. I created a shot list that broke traditional rules of framing and incorporated low/high camera angles to enhance power dynamics. I leaned on the color red to tonally convey danger along with MAGA associations. The most important element was the choice to center the film around apple pie. To me, apple pie likens to the genre of "Americana," phrases like "sweet as pie," and images of tidiness and order. All well and fine, but not for everyone.

Filming took place over two days. My classmates and my sister crewed, and I hired awesome actors from Backstage. We used the camera and audio equipment provided by NYFA. A Brooklyn diner owner was nice enough to let us use a table at his establishment as long as we ordered and paid for food while we stayed. It was the best time.

"Apple Pie" is a film that I developed with a strong sense of purpose and my whole heart. I hope it simply enough explains the concept of choice and its importance to the human condition. I am grateful and proud to share it, and I hope you enjoy!