Experiencing Interruptions?

That's Our Time

Danny's stuck in a dead-end job. It keeps him focused on the clock and unable to connect with those around him. At their final session, his sympathetic therapist tries to help him realize that it's more important to focus on the time you have left than the time you've already spent.

  • Alex Backes
    Director
    Kick, PUBG: Cold Front
  • Alex Backes
    Writer
    Star Wars: The Old Republic - Disorder, The Walt Disney Company
  • Josh Callahan
    Writer
    Star Wars: The Old Republic - Disorder
  • Marque Richardson
    Key Cast
    "Danny"
    Dear White People, True Blood
  • Debra Wilson
    Key Cast
    "Dr. Miller"
    Mad TV, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order
  • Taylor Craig
    Producer
    Paramount+, Netflix, HBO
  • Stephen Ellis
    Producer
    The Walt Disney Co, Discovery+, PUBG,
  • Marque Richardson
    Producer
  • Sara Amini
    Producer
    Twilight Zone
  • Tanner Boyajian
    Producer
    Built by Jedi - The Making of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
  • Danny Grunes
    Director of Photography
    The L Word
  • Elizabeth Goldsby
    Production Design
    Windfall
  • Jasmine Amini
    Costume Design
  • Todd Zelin
    Editor
    The Righteous Gemstones, Fresh off the Boat
  • Daniel O'connor
    Music
    Four Year Strong
  • Joseph Bicknell
    Colorist
    Company 3
  • Ian A. Harris
    VFX
    Avatar 2: The Way of Water, Avatar 3, Black Panther
  • Patrick Devaney
    VFX
    Avatar 2: The Way of Water, Avatar 3
  • Dark Burn Creative
    VFX
  • The Kroot
    VFX
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    dramedy, indie, sci-fi
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 8, 2022
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • PROOF Film Festival: American Cinematheque

    United States
    Grand Jury Award
  • Cinequest

    United States
    World
    Official Selection
  • Salem Horror Fest

    United States
    Official Selection
  • Panic Fest

    United States
    Official Selection
  • Genreblast

    United States
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Alex Backes

Alex has been a working creative in Los Angeles for the past 16 years. From his early days of performing improvisation in underground theaters and comedy staples like Upright Citizens Brigade and The Second City, Alex applies the core philosophies of his time on stage into his work as an award-winning writer/director. His first independently produced pilot presentation, Shark Bites, landed a development deal with The Walt Disney Company, where it was adapted to an animated comedy series.

While Alex has been in front of the camera for top-tier commercial projects for Apple and Nike, he’s also directed campaigns for AAA video game titles like PUBG and The Elder Scrolls Online. But perhaps his proudest moment came with he was tasked to travel to a galaxy far, far away and write an animated short film for Lucasfilm. Star Wars: The Old Republic-Disorder has garnered tens of millions of views online since its debut in 2022.

However, Alex hasn’t lost touch with his independent spirit. He continues self-publishing comics, podcasting, and directing independent films. His latest work, That’s Our Time, started its festival run in 2023, kicking things off with an acceptance to the Oscar-qualifying Cinequest and the BIFA-qualifying MANIFF. He is currently writing a feature based on the short to direct later this year.
His original concept Shark Bites found its way into the pristine white gloves of The Walt Disney Company where it was lovingly developed into an animated comedy. While working with The Walt Disney Company he found his voice and has continued to push himself into more challenging projects. His recent work for Star Wars: The Old Republic has garnered tens of millions of views online.

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Director Statement

Grief sucks. Grieving through a pandemic? Really sucks.

The last few years have been hard. My dog and two colleagues passed away suddenly, my father had a stroke, and my wife’s childhood best friend was murdered. I found myself in therapy once a week, grappling with what had become a pretty substantial fear of my own inevitable death. 

I opened up to my writing partner about this new and particularly potent anxiety I’d been developing, only to discover that he suffered from similar crippling sentiments. I don’t remember who said it first, but one of us pitched, “What if the grim reaper had a fear of death?”

Marque Richardson (Dear White People, True Blood) is our collector of souls, unable to connect to the world around him. Instead, he finds comfort in his authentic and empathetic therapist, played by Debra Wilson (Mad TV, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order). Watching Marque and Debra bring these characters to life (and death) was an experience I’ll carry with me for a long time.

I‘m super grateful to the entire cast and crew, who were instrumental in realizing this project from page to screen. My producers, who made sure that our team was as diverse behind the camera as it was in front of it. Production design, wardrobe, make-up teams and every other department brought their A-game and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. A special shoutout to my Director of Photography, Danny Grunes, who helped me achieve a nostalgic, dreamy, anamorphic world that could only exist on a big screen.

Over the last year, this project has helped me forget about the invisible ticking clock that floats above my head. I can’t promise it will stay that way, but I’ll take it for now.

Thank you for spending your time with our film.

Alex Backes // Director of That’s Our Time