Experiencing Interruptions?

The Battle of Grovers Mill

An aspiring journalist faces the unimaginable when news of a nearby crash site comes over the radio.

Based on “The War of the Worlds” by H.G. Wells and the Orson Welles / Mercury Theatre on the Air radio play of the same name.

  • Nolen Sternkopf
    Director
  • Nolen Sternkopf
    Writer
  • H.G. Wells
    Writer
  • Nolen Sternkopf
    Producer
  • William Hubbard
    Producer
  • Nicolas Nipp
    Composer
  • Blake Fry
    Sound
  • Ben Kroon
    Key Cast
    "Harold"
  • Alexiel de Ravenswood
    Key Cast
    "Harold (voice)"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Horror, Noir, Disaster
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 31 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 16, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    11:8
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Portland Horror Film Festival
    Portland
    United States
    June 8, 2024
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival (Preview @ Necronomicon)
    Providence, RI
    United States
    August 17, 2024
    East Coast Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Legacy Theatre Independent Film Festival
    Branford, CT
    United States
    September 23, 2024
    Connecticut Premiere
    Official Selection
  • H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival
    Portland, OR
    United States
    October 4, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival
    Brooklyn, NY
    United States
    October 17, 2024
    New York Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Oregon Short Film Festival
    Portland, OR
    United States
    November 10, 2024
    Finalist
  • Another Hole in the Head Film Festival
    San Francisco, CA
    United States
    December 7, 2024
    California Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Nolen Sternkopf

Nolen Sternkopf is a Pacific Northwest based independent writer and director. He graduated from San Francisco State University in 2021 with a B.A. in Cinema. Nolen is constantly feeding his passion for storytelling and cinema with exciting filmmaking projects, many of which deal with the supernatural and twisting genre elements in creative new ways.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"The Battle of Grovers Mill" is a passion project through and through. I was completely allured with the idea of bringing Orson Welles' infamous radio adaptation of "The War of the Worlds" to screen through the lens of a golden age film. I wanted to honor both the original novel and Welles' historic work in an authentic period appropriate manner, and do so in both script and technique. The result is my proudest work, and one that I hope can successfully transport you to a devastating Martian invasion 86 years ago... just as Orson's radio broadcast does to this day.