Experiencing Interruptions?

GUILT

Year 1925. Haunted by his failure to succeed in show business and his recurring nightmares of falling from a building, Leo an aspiring playwright turns to excessive drinking as a coping mechanism. Despite Holly’s attempts to comfort and support him, Leo’s drinking results in major marital strife. Bills go unpaid, the apartment falls into a state of disarray, and Leo even becomes violent towards his wife. Finally, it is revealed that Leo verbally provoked an influential figure in his business, resulting in him being blacklisted. The audience learns that as a consequence of this, Leo has slipped into insanity and murders Holly, whose corpse is rotting in the kitchen. Overcome with guilt, Leo jumps from the apartment window, sealing his fate in the same manner that his recurring nightmares foreshadowed.

  • Alex Meridy
    Director
    Anything for my Mother, INCONDICIONAL, Cope, The Meet Up
  • Alex Meridy
    Writer
  • Spencer Velez
    Producer
    Warsol, INCONDICIONAL, I Lab U with an Accent, Heartburn
  • Kayleb Lee
    Producer
    Warsol, Papaya, Theory in Sepia,
  • Louis Perez
    Producer
  • Mark Fenlason
    Production Designer
    Mara, Dante's Peak, Vampie
  • Nate Thurman
    Key Cast
    "Leo"
  • Kelly Servelle
    Key Cast
    "Holly"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Thriller, Drama, Psychological
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 22, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - The Los Angeles Film School
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Alex Meridy

Alex Meridy is a Navy Veteran, Actor, and award-winning Filmmaker born in Angeles City Pampanga, Philippines. His father was an American from Atlanta, Georgia who served in the U.S. Air Force during Vietnam War and his mother was a Filipino Citizen from Biri Northern Samar Islands, Philippines. In 2016, after his honorable discharge from the United States Navy, he moved to Los Angeles and attended an acting conservatory program at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts where he received his Associate’s Degree in Acting. In Early 2020, he became part of the inaugural class of the AT&T/VME Media Fellowship Program under the wing of Warner Media. He completed his Bachelor's Degree in Film Production at the Los Angeles Film School.

Alex's first short film class assignment "COPE" was scouted online and won its first award as an honorable mention by OneReeler Film Festival. The Vegas Movie Awards later awarded Alex his first Best First-time Screenwriter award. His second short film "The Meet Up" also received numerous awards including Best Short Film at the LA Short Awards and the Canadian Short Film Festival. The audience reviewed the film to have a similar style to Hitchcock. In 2019, he adapted an original 10-minute stage play "Anything for My Mother" into a short film and received numerous nominations and awards including Best Director at the Anaheim International Film Festival, Best Student Film at AFMX New Mexico, and many more. His latest short film "INCONDICIONAL", a Latino gay drama based on a real-life story set in the 1980s was selected at The East LA Film Festival and later placed semifinalist at the Oscar qualifying Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival. Alex recently worked as the Production and Costume designer for the award-winning short film "A Rush of Peace" Directed by Chicago Fire star Jake Lockett. The film premiered at the Oscar-qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival in Los Angeles, California.

Alex is also a proud member of Veterans in Media in Entertainment in Los Angeles and American Legion Post 43 in Hollywood, California. He is also a Group Effort Initiative participant, an initiative launched by Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. His passion for storytelling came from a young age when Film and TV were and still are his gateway to the world of limitless possibilities.

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Director Statement

"This film not only takes us back to the Roaring 20s but also raises awareness about mental health issues such as depression, addiction, anxiety, and trauma. It highlights the potential harm caused to oneself and others when these issues go untreated and unrecognized."