The 5th Room
A tragic accident led a woman to isolate herself inside her home for several years. She has built a community inside her home, but when a young child is in danger just outside her front door, she is forced to decide if she will break free or stay locked inside forever.
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Candace PatrickDirector
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Candace PatrickWriter
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Candace PatrickProducer
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Ash FrancisProducerBre's Company, Relative Success with Tabatha
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Charletta RozzellKey Cast"Natalie"Praize, In Character, Bliss House
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Shakira ReedusKey Cast"Lexie"#ShandaDidWHAT!?, South Side, Broad Shoulders
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Jarrel CudjoeKey Cast"Devin"Falso Colors
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Harlem SophiaKey Cast"Nicole"
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Jordan HunterKey Cast"Samuel"Santa's Fired
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Natalia MoscocoDirector of PhotographySaving Harold, Nuestra Camino, Coyote
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Cesar ReyesProduction DesignerEl Mozote
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Koki MiyazakiEditorTorn, No Tip, Gatorade J's
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Lorenzo JohnsonMusic ByHustlers, The Originals, The Aquarium
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Musau OnwubikoProduction Manager
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Britt CooperAssistant Director
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Brian Chow (First Assistant Camera)Camera and Electrical
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Jonathan Suarez (Gaffer)Camera and Electrical
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Benjamin Hernandez (Gaffer)Camera and Electrical
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Jonathan Sohn (Key Grip)Camera and Electrical
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Christopher R. Lewis (Still Photographer)Camera and Electrical
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David A. Alvarez (Production Sound Mixer)Sound Department
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Juan Pablo Moreau (Sound Designer)Sound DepartmentUnderneath the Same Moon, The Ascent
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Sophia Bawany (SFX Makeup Artist)Makeup Department
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Dyamond Daniel (Makeup Artist)Makeup Department
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Tawan Basemore, CSIColoristSOUND, Paper Friends, To Have & to Hold
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Project Type:Short
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Genres:Drama
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Runtime:20 minutes
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Completion Date:November 1, 2019
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Production Budget:12,500 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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San Francisco Black Film Festival
June 21, 2020
Official Selection -
Believe Psychology Film Festival
June 25, 2020
Official Selection; Special Achievement Award (Trauma) -
Queen Palm International Film Festival
Official Crown Selection; Honorable Mention - Best Short Film Drama, Best Writer -
San Antonio Black International Film Festival
October 2, 2020
Official Selection -
Hollywood First-Time Filmmaker Showcase
September 13, 2020
Official Selection -
Phoenix Monthly Short Film Festival
Canada
Semi-Finalist -
Indie Short FestLos Angeles
Award Nominee: Best Short Drama; Best Actress (Charletta Rozzell), Best Director -
Denton Black Film FestivalDenton, TX
January 27, 2021 -
LA Indie Film FestivalLos Angeles, CA
Candace D. Patrick, a Los Angeles native, grew passionate about screenwriting in her late teens. Earning her B.A. degree from Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television, she was able to hone her storytelling abilities. Many of Candace’s projects center around the stories of women, their paths to show strength through vulnerability, and their growth as characters. She continues to strengthen her skills as a filmmaker by writing stories and collaborating with cast and crew members that empower underrepresented identities in the Film and Television industry.
I wrote this script in 2017 after I realized I hadn’t left my home in several days. I’ve had moments where I’ve felt a great deal of anxiety and depression resulting in me choosing not to leave my home. I chose comfort, routine, and perceived safety. Theoretically, I survived just fine, because the technological advances that have been setup for convenience, can be just as detrimental. It is so easy to get into the habit of comfort, and I wanted to explore what that would look like for someone who had an actual fear of leaving their home.
“The 5th Room” is about a woman who experiences a traumatic incident in her past and as a result, she develops a fear of leaving her home. This fear is challenged when there is a young child in danger right in front of her house that only she can save. The diagnosis for someone in this woman’s situation is agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder that causes a person to avoid certain places that may cause fear, panic, or helplessness. Although this is a fictional display of the disorder, it is a very real condition that an estimated 200,000 U.S. Americans struggle with each year.
Admittedly, I didn’t know this was an actual medical condition until after I wrote the script, but I think that adds to the importance of this film. How often are we struggling with, or we know someone who is struggling with a serious mental health condition, and we don’t know how to define it, or how to help them? I hope this film will create a real discussion about mental health issues, specifically in response to trauma, and more specifically in the black community where mental health has been stigmatized for too long. People that need help are not getting it because they have an unnecessary shame, don’t have access, or are unaware that they can get help for whatever they are struggling with.
“The 5th Room” is about trauma, mental health, loss, friendship, and healing. It’s a film about living through PTSD, but then hopefully breaking free of that trauma. It’s about finding strength through vulnerability and it’s about the friends, family, and community members that share traumatic journeys with those we love and care for.