Manifest

Manifest began with a question: what if someone could be hypnotized so deeply that what they believed became real? Even a nightmare. I knew it needed more than just a concept though, so I tied it to grief and guilt, the kind you bury but never really deal with.

When I was younger, a close friend died in an accident. I wasn’t there, but I remember not believing it until the wake. One of our friends had been with him when it happened, and I still remember the look on his face and his mannerism. That experience of grief stuck with me. Sarah’s character carries that same feeling, she buried it, tried to be strong, and never healed. That’s what allows the connection to the nightmare.

This has been the most ambitious project I’ve done so far. I wanted to just focus on learning as a director, working with new incredible actors and crew. Everyone brought something to the project, and I’m proud of what we created together.

We filmed at the historic Castle Beloit in Wisconsin. The building has a history of ghost stories, especially the parlor room where we shot the grandfather clock scene. The atmosphere of the location added so much to the film.

I then started editing right after we wrapped, staying in haunted hotels across Wisconsin to keep in the film’s mood. I hope that energy made its way into the final cut.

I want to keep pushing myself and finding new ways to scare people. With Manifest, I took a big step forward, and I’m excited for what’s next.

– Andrew