Experiencing Interruptions?

Booth by the Window: Judged by Fate

EPISODE 4
An experienced judge, William, stops to grab a cup of coffee before he heads to work. Robin and the diner set out to confront William’s harmful outlook on life in the hopes that he won’t convict any more innocent souls. When they fail, they call upon Lewis, one of the souls William has wrongfully convicted. Unbeknownst to William, the roles have reversed. William’s fate now lies in Lewis’s hands.

"Booth by the Window" is a web series created by The CU Denver Film & Television Program. The series features six episodes that focus on six different characters who encounter a diner that helps them through a crossroads in their life. An exploration of magical-realism in storytelling and filmmaking techniques, "Booth by the Window" is a drama in the vein of "Twin Peaks" with the ominous whimsy of "Welcome to Nightvale".

  • Makayla Lange
    Director
  • Hunter Thompson
    Writer
  • Alexander Kimose
    Writer
  • Hannah Sheldon
    Producer
  • Paul Pirkle
    Key Cast
    "William"
  • Exzinia Scott
    Key Cast
    "Robin"
  • Shaquille Mathurin
    Key Cast
    "Lewis"
  • Emilee Blakely
    Director of Photography
  • Brittany Cook
    Production Designer
  • Dylan Pillsbury
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student, Television, Web / New Media
  • Genres:
    Drama, Anthology, Series, Web Series, Surealism, Magical Surrealism
  • Completion Date:
    May 10, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Colorado Denver
Director Biography - Makayla Lange

Makayla Lange is an international award-winning filmmaker currently studying the art of filmmaking at the University of Colorado Denver. When she’s not directing or producing narrative films, she works as a commercial freelancer. After graduation, she hopes to carve out a bigger space for herself and other female filmmakers in the commercial film scene. Whether through fictional films or politically driven commercials, she strives to act as a conduit for marginalized stories. This can be seen in her more recent work , "[Not Pictured]" and "Poison".

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Director Statement

As a young female filmmaker, I have continuously found my path to growth and success blocked. While these roadblocks manifested in a myriad of forms, they all boiled down to the same thing: a person whose view of the world is strict and static.

It is precisely this issue that plagues William. This state of mind is not exclusive to the large-scale political issues explored in the episode. Mental stagnation can encourage harmful narratives, promote dangerous mental habits, and create rifts between family members. It can influence our daily lives just as much as our politics.

In sharing William’s narrative, I encouraging the audience to question the reliability of the judicial system. But further than that, I am challenging the viewer to question the reliability of their own outlook on life. The world is constantly changing and therefore cannot be authentically viewed through a static lens. Ultimately, if we do not pursue an innovative mindset, we may find ourselves imprisoned within the walls of our own mental stagnation.