Experiencing Interruptions?

The Audience Member

A young man playing piano alone in a music hall has an unexpected visitor

  • Max Helmueller
    Director
  • Max Helmueller
    Writer
  • Max Jacobson
    Writer
  • Savanna Gorbunow
    Writer
  • Max Helmueller
    Editor
  • Max Helmueller
    Cinematographer
  • Percy Bartelt
    Cinematographer
  • Savanna Gorbunow
    Cinematographer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Horror, Thriller
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 33 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 15, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    70 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Academy Art Museum 48 Hour Video Race
    Easton, Maryland
    United States
    September 20, 2024
    North American Premiere
    WINNER: Best in Show - Adult
Director Biography - Max Helmueller

If you were to tell Max Helmueller at age 13 that he would become an independent, student filmmaker later in life: I don't know what he'd do, but he definitely wouldn't be thrilled. Flash forward 10 years and Max can't imagine wanting to do anything other than filmmaking! Max was 16 years old when he first got invested into the medium of filmmaking. Since then, he's written, directed, edited, and starred in about 35 short films. Dedicated to improving his work, he frequently asks friends to help him with short films at least every other month, whether it be with acting or technical aspects. All of Max's short films are uploaded directly to his YouTube channel, Zolar Films, which he runs with his friend Derek Hicks. Max often likes experimenting with different genres and prefers to go out and film something with the resources he has now. Along with the 35 short films, you could say he's very efficient at what he does.

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Director Statement

This is a good, old fashioned horror thriller taking place primarily in one enclosed location. In preparing for the 48 Hour Video Race, we (the filmmaking team) brainstormed for hours, thinking about what locations we have access to that would be awesome to shoot in. I believe it was Savanna, one of our cinematographers and story concept writers, that came up with the idea of shooting at our university's music hall, if we can get access
So we came up with the idea of someone practicing alone on stage, with the spotlights blaring on him being the only visible lights in the whole room. Then we thought of some sort of apparition watching him from the audience. We wanted them to be slightly visible, but not visible enough where you can tell what they are. We also decided not to give them a backstory or explanation to who/what they are. It creates a sense of mystery, foreboding terror. Is this apparition trying to kill the main character? Is it related to them in some way? What does it want? Why is it here? These questions I believe are the backbone of this film. We stand in the main character's shoes as we try to figure out these strange paranormal occurrences. The main character acts as the audience's eyes & hears. He knows what we know, which I believe enhances the suspense & terror to new levels