Private Project

Compel

"You better be careful. You don't want it to carry you away."

Jessica is recently separated and looking for some sexual intrigue. She brings home Dan, a stranger who may have gotten more than he bargained for when her soon-to-be-ex husband Jeff pays her a surprise visit. The couple airs their grievances as Dan remains on, a captive witness to a scene of pending domestic violence.

A one night stand goes horribly wrong - or does it?

  • Patrick Coleman Duncan
    Director
    Jes and Lora, Life's a Pitch, The Shabbos Bigfoot, Hollywood the Hard Way, A Mock Time: A Star Trek Wedding
  • Patrick Coleman Duncan
    Writer
    Jes and Lora, Life's a Pitch, The Shabbos Bigfoot, Hollywood the Hard Way, A Mock Time: A Star Trek Wedding, So, What's In Jericho?
  • Patrick Coleman Duncan
    Producer
    Jes and Lora, Life's a Pitch, The Shabbos Bigfoot, Hollywood the Hard Way, A Mock Time: A Star Trek Wedding, So, What's In Jericho?
  • Jessica Rothert
    Producer
    Cup of Kindness for the Holidays
  • Jessica Rothert
    Key Cast
    "Jessica"
    Bloodsucking Bastards, Mining for Ruby, Keep Your Distance
  • Travis Stanberry
    Key Cast
    "Jeff"
    Dawson's Creek, The Hollow Men, Two Wolves, Groupers
  • Patrick Coleman Duncan
    Key Cast
    "Dan"
    Parks and Recreation, Guiding Light, Days of Our Lives, Life's a Pitch, The Shabbos Bigfoot, Hollywood the Hard Way, A Mock Time: A Star Trek Wedding, So, What's In Jericho?
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Dark Comedy, Suspense, Psychological Drama
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 13 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 19, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    6,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri Alexa Mini, 3.4k Raw
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • WILDSound and Feedback Film Festival
    Toronto, Ontario
    Canada
    January 28, 2022
    Best Film
  • Golden State Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    February 28, 2022
  • LA Live Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    November 6, 2021
    Best Psychological Drama; Best Director of a Psychological Drama, Best Trailer
  • Marina del Rey Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    July 19, 2021
    World Premiere (Cinema)
    Best Thriller Short
  • "Hang on to Your Shorts!" Film Festival
    Asbury Park, New Jersey
    United States
    April 23, 2022
    Winner Best Actor Horror Thriller (Patrick Duncan), Best Supporting Actress Horror/Thriller (Jessica Rothert), Best Supporting Actor Horror Thriller (Travis Stanberry)
  • Bridge Fest
    Vancouver, British Columbia
    Canada
    October 1, 2021
    Overall Monthly Winner-September
  • Silicon Beach Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    October 7, 2021
  • Culver City Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    December 6, 2021
  • Horror Bowl Movie Awards
    Chandigarh
    India
    September 23, 2021
    India Premiere
    Honorable Mention
  • Hamburg Film Awards
    Hamburg
    Germany
    April 9, 2022
    Finalist
  • Rome Prisma Film Awards
    Rome
    Italy
    December 5, 2021
    Italian Premiere
  • International Shorts
    Southbank, Victoria 3006
    Australia
    December 6, 2021
    Australian Premiere
  • Reels International Film Festival
    Aurangabad, Maharashtra 430001
    India
    February 27, 2022
    Best Thriller
  • Hollywood Gold Awards
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    May 22, 2022
    Honorable Mention Best Thriller
  • New York Movie Awards
    New York, NY
    United States
    December 26, 2021
    Best Actor (Patrick Duncan), Honorable Mention Best Director (Patrick Duncan)
  • North Europe International Film Festival - London Edition
    London, England
    United Kingdom
    June 13, 2022
  • London Movie Awards
    London, England
    United Kingdom
    May 22, 2022
    Honorable Mention: Screenplay (Patrick Coleman Duncan)
  • London Classic Film Festival
    London, England
    United Kingdom
    May 7, 2022
    London and U.K. Live Premiere
    Best Cast (Patrick Duncan, Jessica Rothert, Travis Stanberry)
Director Biography - Patrick Coleman Duncan

As a filmmaker and actor Patrick has made three consecutive Award Winning short films, JES AND LORA, LIFE’S A PITCH, and COMPEL.

Patrick began his filmmaking career producing, writing, and starring in SO, WHAT’S IN JERICHO? in 1998. JERICHO was an early example of digital filmmaking and raising money by a primitive form of crowdfunding (he asked family and friends for money and promised perks without use of the internet).

Moving to LA in 2000, he wrote, produced and directed the short films HOLLYWOOD, THE HARD WAY, THE SHABBOS BIGFOOT, and A MOCK TIME: A ‘STAR TREK’ WEDDING, as well as several industrial films for UCLA Medical.

He joined We Make Movies, the Hollywood Film Collective, in 2012, wrote and acted in the WMM Challenge winning sketch MISERY DATE as well as acting and editing multiple films for members. For five years he coordinated We Make Movies’ monthly Test Screening Series, a forum to get projects ready for festivals and distribution.

As an editor, he worked on the award winning features, CARBON NATION and ASSISTING VENUS (starring Julian Sands).

As an actor he’s appeared on GUIDING LIGHT, DAYS OF OUR LIVES, and PARKS AND RECREATION. He is a member of SAG-AFTRA and the Television Academy.

He is currently taking his latest project, the Award Winning short Thriller COMPEL to festivals around the world.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

“Compel” is a film about the impulses we have for sex, love, hatred and revenge that we think we can control but, if we’re not careful, may end up controlling us.

Winner of Best Thriller Short at the 2021 Marina del Rey Film Festival and Best Psychological Drama and Best Director of a Psychological Drama at 2021 LA Live Film Festival.