Experiencing Interruptions?

Death of a Motel

Death of a Motel is a story that combines beginnings and ends. Struck by being outed in front of everyone, May exits herself and her damaged ego from the costume party. Her then-crush, Cara, follows suite. They joke and love, and the gravity of the situation lightens. Three years pass and the king and the queen of hearts are switched for more sensible, broken-hearted women in pantsuits. Beside the room where they first became lovesick, the two now wait for their impending divorce. The same words are uttered but the situation cannot be resolved. Ultimately, Cara resides to a new room while May passionately returns to the comfort of where it all began.

  • McKenna Johnson
    Writer
  • McKenna Johnson
    Director
  • McKenna Johnson
    Producer
  • Kailee Mayenschein
    Producer
  • Maya McIntosh
    Key Cast
    "May"
  • Addi Pfefferman
    Key Cast
    "Cara"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Romance, Drama, LGBTQ+
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 59 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    600 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Morehead State University
  • Let's Make It! 2022 Contest

    July 21, 2022
    Rising Star Award Winner (Script)
  • Manhattan Film Institute's 2022 Screenwriting Competition
    New York
    United States
    April 11, 2022
    3rd Place Winner ($500 Check)
  • Appalachian Queer Film Festival
    Huntington, WV
    United States
    October 8, 2023
    Best Student Short & Official Selection
Director Biography - McKenna Johnson

Greetings, my name is McKenna Johnson! I am a twenty-year-old filmmaker from Kentucky, currently pursuing my B.A. in Convergent Media at Morehead State University, with an expected completion date in Spring 2024.
I am skilled in writing, directing, and video editing. In November 2023, I achieved Adobe Certification as a Professional in Premiere Pro. I have authored dozens of scripts and independently produced three projects, in addition to collaborating on two with my college's practicum and the production company Fourthwall Youth Studios.
I would be honored to contribute to any project with heart. My goal is to craft a narrative that elicits genuine emotion from viewers, whether through bursts of laughter or poignant cries. Whether engaged in video editing or screenwriting, my passion ensures a project's successful completion, surpassing clients' expectations.

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Director Statement

Death of a Motel is the culmination of over years worth of work out into a short five-minute film. The experience and this ending product bring me great joy, and I hope it will bring you that, too.