Tainted

Nathan, an AA graduate, is rewarded with a house to test his resilience. However, a supernatural Shadow appears, and tempts Nathan’s willpower.

  • Jacob Staley
    Director
    Obedient|Survival
  • Jacob Staley
    Writer
    Obedient|Survival
  • James Carter
    Producer
    Bring It Home
  • Nialah Weller
    Director of Photography
    Obedient|Survival
  • Mikale Youravich
    Production Designer
    Open Mic
  • Christian Juru
    Key Cast
    "Nathan"
  • Katie Burke
    Key Cast
    "Lily"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Fantasy, drama, supernatural
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 23, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Western Kentucky University
Director Biography - Jacob Staley

An Emmy nominated, puzzle enthusiast, Jacob is from Louisville, Kentucky, home of horse racing and bourbon. Growing up, Jacob was always fascinated by the arts and knew from day one that he wanted to be an artist. After not finding his passion in architecture, Jacob found editing and producing, where he was still able to build worlds through his detailed-oriented cuts, and his adaptability with the unknown. Previous credits include “El Camino Hacia la Nada” (2021) (Editor), “Workshop” (2022) (Editor, Sound Design, and Colorist), and “Is This Seat Taken?” (2021) (Producer).

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

“Originally... I really wanted to make a movie with some VFX in it. But as time went by, I got really attached to the story, as I relate to the character to a degree. I have recently had problems not dealing with anxiety well, and this was a way to physically show how I feel whenever I get really stressed. After [this experience] of shooting two films as a director/writer, I better understand what needs to be done, on and off set. It was really cool seeing the final product of the VFX, because it took a lot of time and errors to get it right. This film is my best directorial work, and the type of film that I would like to edit in the future.”