Smile

Emily visits the dentist to have a cavity filled, but her appointment takes an unexpected turn when she spits up something strange. This verité style short finds the humor in oral hygiene.

  • Natalie Peracchio
    Director
  • Natalie Peracchio
    Writer
  • Lauren Slone
    Key Cast
    "Emily"
  • Erika Toraya
    Key Cast
    "Nurse"
  • Anwar Molani
    Key Cast
    "Dentist"
  • Ted von Bevern
    Director of Photography
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Drama, Stop-motion
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 30, 2019
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    3:4
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Natalie Peracchio

I'm a writer and director and MFA candidate at Emerson College in Boston. My creative work is inspired by real-life experiences that leave a lasting impression on me. My goal is to root out the truth between my reality and my emotional impressions to create work that is emotionally resonant and unexpected. My previous work has screened at the Denver Underground Film Festival, Capital City Film Festival, and Film Invasion LA.

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Director Statement

Smile combines a naturalistic approach with surreal events for comedic effect. The visual style was inspired by documentary filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker, with particular emphasis on the 1993 film, “The War Room.” The cinematography of this film contrasts bold composition with off the cuff movement to emphasize both the absurdity and gravity of the filmed events. This mood felt like an ideal setting for “Smile,” so we adopted a pseudo-documentary approach to filming this short. This included rehearsing and filming long uninterrupted takes with few or no edit points, and improvising story beats as the actors interacted with the setting, tools, and each other. These creative choices were designed to represent a realistic scenario that eventually takes a very unrealistic turn.