Experiencing Interruptions?

Hurricane Forecast

To prepare for a Shiva, two sisters go through their mother's belongings and get swept up in the emotional storm of loss, laughter and love.

  • Julianna Robinson
    Director
    The Party
  • Sara Mayer-Fried
    Writer
  • Sara Mayer-Fried
    Producer
  • Ben Mayer-Fried
    Producer
  • Sara Mayer-Fried
    Key Cast
    "Jen"
    Keith Broke His Leg, Ask A Slave, Unprotected Texts, Cyberchase
  • Julianna Robinson
    Key Cast
    "Hannah"
    The Funeral Guest, Aaah! Zombies!!, Nun, Lucky Penny
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Drama, Dramedy, Jewish, Women
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 17 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 22, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    2,800 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    C300
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Long Beach International Film Festival
    Long Beach
    United States
    December 17, 2020
    New York Premiere
    Jury Award Winner Best Drama Short
  • Studio City International Film & TV Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    November 6, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Louisville's International Festival of Film
    Louisville, KY
    United States
    November 5, 2020
    Midwest Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Joyce Forum Jewish Short Film Festival
    San Diego, CA
    United States
    October 23, 2020
    San Diego Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Burbank International Film Festival
    Burbank, CA
    United States
    September 11, 2020
    Official Selection & Semi-Finalist for Best Drama Short
  • Garden State Film Festival
    Asbury Park, NJ
    United States
    March 28, 2020
    East Coast Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Hollywood Screenings Film Festival
    Hollywood, CA
    United States
    November 14, 2020
    Semi-Finalist
  • California International Shorts Film Fest
    Los Angeles
    United States
    December 15, 2019
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Julianna Robinson

Though she started out a pre-med student in college, Julianna ended up (after a successful audition) in the prestigious BFA acting program at UCSB. During a performance of a play in Santa Barbara, Julianna was “discovered” by film director, Martin Denning. He asked her to come down to Hollywood and audition for the suits at Paramount Studios for their first ever CD Rom game of Star Trek. She booked the role and was able to get her SAG card, work side by side with the original Star Trek cast (and wear the original wardrobes from the show) and she made enough money to send herself to school abroad in London for a summer to study Shakespeare with the RSC. Since living in LA she has performed in countless plays, short films, TV shows and she’s also been the lead in a few award winning independent feature films like Aaah Zombies! (available on Amazon) Nun and The Funeral Guest (available on Amazon). For her role of Emily in The Funeral Guest she won a best actress award from LA Indie Film Fest and she was nominated for a Best Actress Award at Hoboken International Film Fest for her role of Sister Gracie Rose in Nun. Julianna has written and produced three short films. Hurricane Forecast is the second short film she's directed. She is currently doing a festival run with her horror short, The Party, which she wrote and directed. Julianna owns Physical Artistry (a busy pilates studio in Santa Monica) and she is a member with Santa Monica Repertory Theatre company.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Although you might not think a film about two sisters going through their deceased mother's belongings on the first night of Shiva could be a comedy, Hurricane Forecast is in fact a comedy. One of the things I really wanted to stress was the different energy each sister brings to the piece as that is where the natural comedy begins-two people so different, coming together for something emotional is an absolute fire starter. Jen (Sara Mayer-Fried) is the more grounded of the two. I used wide shots for her with the camera on sticks. Hannah (me) is the disruptive influence. For Hannah the camera is handheld and there are long tracking shots to demonstrate her quick and seemingly self indulgent movements. In the second half of the film I used a slider to show the back and forth (the give and take of emotions) between the sisters. I also really wanted to show the progression of time and sunlight throughout the day. I used cooler tones for the earlier shots in the film meant to be mid morning and the second half is warmer and sun-filled-we also shot in order to achieve that gorgeous sunlit room in the late afternoon. Sara and I rehearsed a lot for a couple weeks beforehand so that I could be present as much as possible in the acting moments. Acting and directing at the same time in a film is one of the more challenging things I've done. Hurricane Forecast is the second film I've directed. My first film, The Party, is currently doing a festival circuit.