Experiencing Interruptions?

Reverb

The night before a performance, three dancers must endure a grueling practice to complete the perfect routine.

  • John Westmoreland
    Director
    Studio Visit
  • Matthew Westmoreland
    Director
    Studio A
  • John Westmoreland
    Writer
  • Matthew Westmoreland
    Writer
  • Lucas Hydock
    Writer
  • Bri Figueroa
    Producer
  • Lucas Hydock
    Producer
  • Kelly Cappuccio
    Key Cast
  • Kyli Burton
    Key Cast
  • Jessica Karp
    Key Cast
  • Kelsey Mathieson
    Key Cast
  • John Westmoreland
    Editor
  • Matthew Westmoreland
    Editor
  • Gabbie Nellis
    Art Director
  • Lucas Delaney
    Assistant Camera
  • Aniyah Alvelo
    Choreographer
  • Alex Roushinko
    Crew
  • Peter Cote
    Crew
  • Sydney Stewart
    Crew
  • Victor Hugo Marques
    Crew
  • Josh Kabula
    Crew
  • The Rowland Theater
    Special Thanks
  • Centre Dance
    Special Thanks
  • Vibe Coffee
    Special Thanks
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 23 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 3, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    286 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital Sony S-Log3
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - The Pennsylvania State University
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Senior Film Festival
    State College
    United States
    May 4, 2025
    Local State College Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - John Westmoreland, Matthew Westmoreland

Hailing from Richmond, Virginia USA, brothers John and Matthew Westmoreland are emerging voices in indie filmmaking, celebrated for their dynamic storytelling and distinct visual style. With a shared passion for cinema nurtured since childhood, they channeled their experiences studying film at Penn State into narratives that explore adversity and perseverance. Their work spans narrative shorts, experimental projects, and artistic documentaries, each characterized by meticulous attention to detail and innovative sound design. United by their creative vision and complementary talents, the Westmoreland brothers have quickly gained recognition among their peers, crafting stories that not only entertain but capture the human condition.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Reverb is a story about endurance, pressure, and the unspoken bonds forged through shared struggle. Set over one night, it follows three dancers as they push their bodies and minds to their limit in preparation for a high-stakes performance. There is a pressure to maintain a work-life balance among the pressures of the modern world, and we all have a breaking point.

Over a year ago while working in Hollywood, I sat down with my brother Matthew and discussed the possibility of directing the project with me. We had worked on projects before, but never to the scale of Reverb. Assembling the crew came next, along with casting our incredible dancers.

What drew me to this project was the emotional parallel between physical repetition and inner resilience, how movement can express what words can’t. From the very beginning, we were obsessed with capturing the capabilities of human form.

The production demanded as much from the dancers as it did from the crew. We shot late into the night, capturing raw exhaustion and fleeting moments of beauty in real time. The project focused heavily on sound design, using the breath, sweat, and footsteps of the dancers as a heartbeat to mirror their growing tension and unity. Reverb is about friendship, its necessity in the lonely modern world, and what it takes to show up when everything in you have gives out.