EMILY

Surviving under a facade of normalcy, a young woman gets an opportunity to break the cycle of violence when a dinner out with her boyfriend doesn’t go as planned.

  • Spencer Zimmerman
    Director
    Der Jude
  • Spencer Zimmerman
    Writer
  • Spencer Zimmerman
    Producer
  • Cole Muters
    Producer
  • Delphine Menu
    Key Cast
    "Emily"
  • Kevin Trumble
    Key Cast
    "Erik"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 55 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 20, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    100 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital Film
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Capilano University
Director Biography - Spencer Zimmerman

Spencer is an award winning writer/director from Saskatoon SK, currently based out of Vancouver BC. Best known for his work as the writer/director of ‘Der Jude’ (2018) and the cinematographer/editor of ‘The Tipping Point’ (2017), Spencer now studies film at Capilano University’s Motion Picture Arts program. Spencer is focused on creating content that, through unique and compelling storytelling, searches to find those moments that truly make us human. He is currently in development on several short films as well as his next feature length project ‘Pedestrian’

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Director Statement

I’m the last person who needs to tell you that domestic violence is a problem, and a reality for many people, but I hope that this film can give people, otherwise unknowing, an insight into the nature of an abusive relationship. Emily was conceived as part of a class project where we had the opportunity to shoot a 3 page short film. Given free rein to make any film of our choosing, many of my classmates veered towards exhibiting violence and action, themes that were previously not allowed. It was then I realized I wanted to make a film about violence without necessarily showing it, to make a film about the violence you don’t see.

My mom is a social worker, and as of late she’s worked in helping mediate domestic abuse cases. I’ve heard all kinds of stories and and all perspectives from the inside lives of these people, which has inspired my vision. In this piece, I aim to find a way behind not only the victim’s psychology and point of view, but also that of the abuser. Not to glorify or sympathize with him, but to understand his character, and the nature of his being, and therefore that of the relationship.

I want to take a look, even if only for a moment, inside the complex nature of a relationship such as this, as well as to question our everyday role, in the perpetration of this abuse, and force the viewer to consider that not everything is as it seems.