Experiencing Interruptions?

Calling Her

Since graduating from her utopic queer college, Ashley has withdrawn from the world, clinging to daily calls with her long-distance best friend and reminiscing about the past— until she forms an unexpected connection with a kindred spirit. But is a date with a ghost really the right way to move on?

  • Vanessa Ellis
    Writer
    Unboxing, The Fool, Down in Flames
  • Vanessa Ellis
    Director
  • Vanessa Ellis
    Producer
  • Olivia Juniper West
    Director of Photography
    Bright Future
  • Emily Augello
    Key Cast
    "Ashley"
  • Emma Early
    Key Cast
    "Dot"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Romance, Romantic Comedy
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 55 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 2, 2026
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Syracuse University
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Vanessa Ellis

Vanessa Ellis is a filmmaker with a penchant for the offbeat. Through impressionistic storytelling and a vibrant indie style, she explores the intimacy of strangeness and the strangeness of intimacy. Queer, female, and disabled perspectives guide Vanessa’s practice, shaping the narratives she weaves, the composition of her beloved creative teams, and the ethos of her film sets. She takes pride in fostering supportive production spaces where solidarity and joy are fundamental to the process.

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Director Statement

Having grown up as an artist around Salem, Massachusetts, I’ve spent years dreaming of ghost stories. At the heart of every ghost story is a deep, aching longing. After graduating from a largely queer, historically women’s college and moving away from this utopic life, I began to experience a new type of heartbreak that very well could turn a girl into a ghost. In making this film, I celebrate the lifeline that is queer community and connection—even in forms most transient, distant, or surpassing the veil between worlds.