Private Project

Coven of the Midnight Son

COVEN OF THE MIDNIGHT SON is set during the era of The Salem Witch Trials and follows the story of two lovers from opposing worlds. Etho (Romelo Urbi), an orphaned witch who lost his mother to the trials, and Lucas (Jan Luce), a rebellious human villager whose father becomes the chief of the Witch Hunts, find their love tested by their circumstances. As they confront their own familial struggles, Etho and Lucas must also face the dire consequences of their forbidden love.

  • Johan
    Director
    Manalo The Movie Musical
  • Johan
    Writer
  • Johan
    Producer
    Manalo The Movie Musical
  • Romelo Urbi
    Key Cast
    "Etho"
    Little Shop of Horrors, Into The Woods
  • Jan Luce
    Key Cast
    "Lucas"
    Paglinang
  • Brendan Isla
    Key Cast
    "Young Etho"
    Warriors Junior Jam Squad, Nickelodeon AAPI Heritage Month
  • Sarina Temple
    Key Cast
    "Amina"
    Doubt
  • Jonathan Mercado
    Key Cast
    Man@ng is Deity
  • Ken Francis Villa
    Director of Photography
    Bistro #1
  • Genres:
    Fantasy, Romance, Drama
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 18 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 6, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - San Francisco State University
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • San Diego Filipino Film Festival
    San Diego
    United States
    October 20, 2024
    Virtual World Premiere
    Virtual Cinema Selection
  • Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival
    San Jose
    United States
    October 18, 2024
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Johan

Johan Casal, is a multidisciplinary artist based in the Bay Area producing work in film, music, theater, and dance through his production company Kuya Johan Productions. Deemed as a “...leader in arts in culture…” by President Lynn Mahoney during the 2023 SF State commencement ceremony, where he received his degree in Cinema and Dance. Casal’s work aims to uplift underrepresented voices while educating and preserving his culture. He performed as lead male dancer in Netflix’s production of “The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Live Experience in San Francisco,” and directed and produced an original feature film, “Manalo: The Movie Musical,” highlighting the shared struggles of Filipinx-Americans and celebrating the Philippines’ diverse cultures; the film received a certificate of recognition by Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo and California State Treasure, The Honorable Fiona Ma. Casal is a company member of Kularts, the premiere presenter of tribal and contemporary Pilipino arts.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Coven of the Midnight Son is a vision brought to life as a means to satisfy my needs and heal the wounds of my inner child. Overall as an artist, my process is rooted in an exploration of curiosity, longing for connection, and a journey of transpersonal healing. Specifically, as a queer-identifying Filipino-American artist, I have always been drawn to stories that challenge traditional narratives and push the boundaries of representation.

This film is a personal exploration of the tribulations that come with being queer and wanting to experience love. The harsh reality is that queer people do not get the same opportunity to feel the universal human emotion and practice of love, as compared to heterosexual people. By re-envisioning the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet's love story, and setting it within the context of the Salem Witch Trials, I explore themes of persecution and marginalization that are all too familiar to the LGBTQ+ and Asian American community.

My life motto is to “Be the person you needed when you were younger” For me, this film is a manifestation of that mission. I wanted to be able to portray LGBTQ and Filipino characters in a light not normally seen on screen. To have actors with the same skin color as me and being openly queer all while also casting spells and performing magic, heals my inner child and begins to build bridges for people to connect through these shared experiences.

Ultimately I believe that as an artist, it's our responsibility to use our platforms to uplift and amplify voices that normally do not get the opportunity to. With Coven of the Midnight Son, I aim to create a space for queer and Asian American communities to see themselves reflected on screen, whilst encouraging broader conversations about representation and social justice.