Experiencing Interruptions?

Squall

A newly recovering addict's daylong journey to reconnect with his younger brother leads them both into an unexpected storm.

  • Emmi Shockley
    Director
    J-1, Ping Pong Summer, Throuple
  • Emmi Shockley
    Writer
    J-1, Ping Pong Summer, Throuple
  • James Kelley
    Producer
    Creedmoria, King Cobra
  • Emmi Shockley
    Producer
    J-1, Ping Pong Summer, Throuple
  • Greyson Horst
    Producer
    Throuple, The Bugs and the Slugs
  • James Kelley
    Key Cast
    "Louie"
    Creedmoria, King Cobra
  • Jack Messina
    Key Cast
    "Jack"
    Manifest, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Over/Under
  • Julian Thomas Alvarez
    Director of Photography
    J-1, Throuple, Technoscrap, Elliotland
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 4, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Austin Film Festival
    Austin, Texas
    United States
    November 2, 2023
    Texas Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Emmi Shockley

Emmi Shockley is a filmmaker and actor originally from Ocean City, Maryland. She entered the independent film world during her teenage years when she was cast in Michael Tully's 2014 Sundance feature, Ping Pong Summer. She graduated from New York University Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Film and Television Production in 2019. She has written, directed, and produced two award-winning short films, J-1 and Don't Be a Baby. By the age of twenty-four, Emmi was a producer on her first feature film project: a queer romantic comedy called Throuple (post-production). She is based in New York City.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

When James first brought me this idea for this project, I was immediately drawn to his central idea of these two brothers. As a female filmmaker taking on a story with only male characters, I got deeply invested in an exploration of masculinity and stoicism, and the way that people navigate difficult relationship conflicts when they've been conditioned to withhold their emotions. There is an innate toughness to both Jack and Louie, despite an age difference that spans over a decade. I knew it was important to portray that.

Throughout my process of writing and directing this project, I repeated one phrase to myself, and to the actors: "People say some of the most interesting things when they can't say what they mean." That felt like a core truth within this story to me.

I was also drawn to the story's theme of forgiveness. I knew that this films exploration and portrayal of forgiveness needed to be treated with care. I wanted to give a glimpse into the complexity of forgiveness, and in the case of this story, when forgiveness has stopped feeling warranted.