Moon Eyes

Instead of joining her film crew friends at a wrap party for the movie they’ve just finished, Shelby (Sallie Keena) ditches them for a date at the Air and Space Museum with Nick (Lansing O'Leary), exploring their magnetic connection, and discovering in the face of unexpected conflict, that perhaps her need for the unknown is the one thing she can count on after all.

  • Sallie Keena
    Director
  • Sallie Keena
    Writer
  • Sallie Keena
    Producer
  • Sallie Keena
    Key Cast
    "Shelby"
  • Lansing O'Leary
    Key Cast
    "Nick"
  • John Bernard Vallon
    Director of Photography
  • Ivan Basauri
    Sound Recordist
    DC Noir
  • Lexi Martinez
    Assistant Director
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 1, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    4,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    19:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Sallie Keena

Sallie is happy to present Moon Eyes, short film she wrote, directed, produced, and played a lead role in. Aiming to create art that is both truthful and moving, that celebrates interesting characters and affirms meaning in the universe, Sallie's goal is to pursue directing and storytelling as a career path and calling.
Moon Eyes is a quiet drama filmed in low light, exploring ideas of the unknown - whether in the universe, or in others, and is a secret love letter to Astronomy and Dark Matter, as well as the Air and Space museum itself - one of the director’s favorite places.
Sallie prefers older films, from The Thin Man to The Women, and Bringing Up Baby, but also loves more recent titles like the Before Sunrise / After Sunset duo, as well as the work of Agnes Varda. She is a detail-oriented director and a trained actor who loves working with actors, and plans meticulously while allowing space for spontaneous magic to be captured.
Sallie is currently drafting a female-led hour mystery-comedy pilot, as well as a surrealist spiritual feature film set in Italy. In her free time she enjoys exploring museums and bookshops, traveling, and drinking jasmine tea.
Sallie is a Cum Laude graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Film and Photography program, and currently resides in Washington, DC.

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Director Statement

Creating this film and seeing it from first draft to last edit felt like getting my Master's in one year. Producing, directing, and playing a lead role in this story while coordinating with and delegating to a team have made me a better filmmaker overall, and I am grateful for the process. Like Shelby, I find comfort in the possibility of the unknown, and hope this film feels relatable (my 91 year old grandmother said she found it relatable!), while also inspiring. "Everything personal is universal".