Private Project

Heavy: The Tale of Two Junkies

We go on a journey with two Heroin addicts, Brain and Dead, as
they try to scratch together enough money to get their much needed fix, by any means necessary.

  • Benjamin Rummans
    Writer
  • Benjamin Rummans
    Director
  • Seika Paradeis
    Producer
  • Benjamin Rummans
    Director of Photography
  • Connor Paradis
    Key Cast
    "Brain"
  • Eddy J. Harris
    Key Cast
    "Dead"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Dark Comedy, Drama
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 24, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    3,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - New York Film Academy
  • Small Axe Film Festival
    Tolpuddle
    United Kingdom
    March 11, 2022
    European Premiere
    Best Short Grand Jury Award
Director Biography - Benjamin Rummans

New York based Writer and Director, Ben Rummans is from Cape Coral, Florida where he graduated from North Fort Myers High School of the Arts where he studied T.V. Production, 3D Animation, Game Design and Creative Writing. After graduating, Ben wrote dozens of scripts, directed several commercials for local businesses and co-founded a video restoration business in Florida. In 2018, Ben moved to Brooklyn, New York to attend New York Film Academy's Two-Year Filmmaking Program and has since written & directed multiple short films, music videos, and commercials. Ben is a cinephile and his style is heavily influenced by Spike Lee, The Coen Brothers, David Fincher, Sean Baker and Wong Kar-wai. Ben isn’t afraid of controversial subject matters and creates highly stylized films with snappy dialogue and colorful worlds with the goal of enacting positive social and political change in the world at large.

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Director Statement

Heavy isn't just about two heroin addicts walking around Brooklyn, it's about the systemic issues that surround the everyday lives of people who are inflicted with this sickness. Having grown up in a part of the country where drug use is prominent, these subjects are extremely important to me. The American Drug War and the way Addicts are portrayed in media in particular are the main issues these marginalized people face.

I chose to portray the two main characters as white because all too often addicts are portrayed as people of color. Addiction is not a race or culture it is a sickness. However the way that Film, Television and media often shows it, you would think it mainly effects black and brown people. My intention with making the main characters young white men from middle class families was to make all of the middle class soccer moms clutch their pearls and scream "Not my little Johnny!" in fear of the possible future their kids may have. This film is meant to be a wake up call to the overly comfortable and often ignorant suburban families. It's time for change and we all need to work together to make it happen.