Experiencing Interruptions?

Draw Up and Stare

A fireman returns to his quiet upstate cabin after unexpected time away, only to discover that he's not alone.

  • Jeremiah Kipp
    Director
    Slapface, Black Wake, Pickup, Edward Albee: A Transformative MomentThe Pod
  • Emily Donahoe
    Writer
    Actor: American Rust, Dead Ringers, Atlantic City Story, Handsome Harry (Tribeca Film Festival), Homeland, Zelimo, Weeki Wachi Girls, How Do You Type a Broken Heart
  • David McMahon
    Producer
    Bayou Blue, Skanks
  • Emily Donahoe
    Producer
    American Rust, Homeland, Dead Ringers
  • Amanda Rehbein
    Producer
    Siren, After the Storm
  • Melissa Leo
    Key Cast
    "Ann"
    The Fighter, Frozen River, Treme
  • Michael O'Keefe
    Key Cast
    "Jimmy"
    The Great Santini, Michael Clayton, Homeland, Sneaky Pete,Caddyshack
  • Linda Powell
    Key Cast
    "Woman in Suit"
    The Report, Chicago Fire
  • Danielle Skraastad
    Key Cast
    "Doris"
    Succession, Michael Clayton, 27 Dresses
  • Erik Lochtefeld
    Key Cast
    "Justin"
    Blacklist, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Madam Secretary
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 30, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    25,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:35
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • New York Shorts International Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    October 26, 2022
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection, Special Mention
  • Toronto Shorts International Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    Official Selection
  • Austin Revolution Film Festival
    Austin, TX
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Emberlight International Film Festival
    Ironwood, MI
    United States
    Official Selection
  • LA Shorts International Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Sidewalk Film Festival
    Birmingham, AL
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Tokyo International Short Film Festival
    Tokyo
    Japan
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Jeremiah Kipp

Jeremiah Kipp's directing credits include SLAPFACE (now available on AMC+ Shudder), the Chinese-American co-production BROKEN BADGES, BLACK WAKE starring Tom Sizemore, EDWARD ALBEE: A TRANSFORMATIVE MOMENT starring Mercedes Ruehl and THE SADIST starring Tom Savini. He is currently in post on his latest feature, THE BOO HAG, filmed earlier this year in Savannah, GA.

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Director Statement

When faced with grief and trauma, often we don't know how we feel. So we hold on to the tangible: folding bedsheets, having a cup of coffee at our favorite diner, birdwatching by the creek -- and yet the horrors crack through and come at us in ways we cannot predict.

Dream logic exists side-by-side with grounded realism in Emily Donahoe's script for DRAW UP AND STARE. Instead of facing tragedy head-on, the character Jimmy (played with understated grace by Michael O'Keefe) tries to internalize his suffering alone. Despite or because of that suppression, the ghosts come out of the shadows, a mysterious woman (the ethereal Linda Powell) keeps showing up on his lawn and all the birds come home to roost.