Experiencing Interruptions?

Mr. Mops

A guy nervously subs for the regular custodian in the old factory where rumor has it the ghost of a former janitor still lurks about.

  • Earl Martin
    Director
    Vapor, Occupied, Not Alone, Shhh!
  • Earl Martin
    Writer
    Vapor, Occupied, Not Alone, Shhh!
  • Earl Martin
    Producer
    Vapor, Occupied, Not Alone, Shhh!
  • Earl Martin
    Key Cast
    "None"
    Occupied, Not Alone, Shhh!
  • Ransom Collupy
    Key Cast
    "Mr. Mops"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Horror
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 24 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 3, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    0 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:
    No
  • Hollywood Blood Horror Film Festival
    L.A.
    United States
    April 10, 2020
    Best Supporting Actor - Earl Martin
Director Biography - Earl Martin

Earl grew up just south of Chicago. Watching the Son of Svengoolie and classic horror films strengthened his love for the genre. He began filmmaking in 2014. Earl has some feature-length ideas in the wings, including one for Mr. Mops!

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Sometimes a good film happens because you saw an opportunity and jumped on it. Mops is one of them. It is consistently a festival fan favorite and I'm humbled. I had an awesome location, a small window of time, 2 college students, and a goofy story. Mr. Mops was born!

Those who pursue filmmaking usually have to work another job. I'm an industrial building cosmetologist (a janitor). It's a brainless job really but it allows me to listen to filmmaking podcasts and create stories in my head all day. A huge industrial plant was moving out of the state and I had to clean it for a month until they completely shut down. This location was unbelievable. Every night I would think, "I've got to shoot something here before we lose it." One night while working I figured out the storyline. The next day I got permission from the plant manager to shoot. I got a freshman film student from the local university to be the DP shooting with the Panasonic GH4. I'd seen some of his work and was impressed. I grabbed another college student to play Mops. We went in on a Saturday night and shot 95% of it in 3 hours. I liked most of what I saw. The sound wasn't the best and some shots were too tight. I didn't have access to the student now because of his schedule, so I staged and shot the scenes I needed myself with my Canon XA10. I was happy with the footage and made it work.

My encouraging words to new filmmakers: If you have access to an awesome location, shoot something!!! Make it work. Have fun. You may never get a chance like that again.

"If I don't write my stories they can't be shot, and if they aren't shot then people can't see them, and if people can't see them, well, that would just be sad." –Earl Martin