Private Project

The Big Pivot

During the time of the Great Resignation, people break out of the confines of their flat lives after taking the last life-coaching session they’ll ever need. Adapted from “Forum (a.k.a. Careers)” from “Take Me Out to the Balkans” by Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello, Steve Carell, David Razowsky, Ruth Rudnick, Fran Adams, and Amy Sedaris.

Award winner: Swedish International Film Festival, World Indie Film Awards, Airflix Film Festival, Movie Play International Film Festival, Medusa Film Festival, Bright International Film Festival, Medusa Film Festival, and Bright International Film Festival.

Finalist: Multi Dimension Independent Film Festival, Cult Movies International Film Festival, Delta International Film Festival, EdiPlay International Film Festival, Crown International Film Festival, and Indiefare International Film Festival.

Semi-Finalist: Tokyo International Monthly Film Festival, Rio de Janeiro World Film Festival, Robinson Film Awards, London Indie Short Festival, Florida Shorts, Niagara Falls International Short Festival, and Austin International Art Festival.

Official Selection: NYC Indie Theatre Film Festival, Chain NYC Film Festival, Asia Film Festival, The Independent Film and Art Festival, Liberty Film Awards, and others.

  • Chris Harcum
    Director
  • Chris Harcum
    Writer
  • Chris Harcum
    Producer
  • Jeanne Lauren Smith
    Key Cast
    "Stevie"
  • Lisa Barnes
    Key Cast
    "Ruth"
  • Heather Carlson
    Key Cast
    "Amy"
  • Jimmy Pope
    Key Cast
    "Paul"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 21, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    500 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:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Movie Play International Film Festival

    May 20, 2022
    Winner, Best Short Film (Main Category)
  • Swedish International Film Festival

    May 10, 2022
    Outstanding Achievement, Best Comedy
  • Bright International Film Festival

    May 10, 2022
    Winner, Best Short Film (Main Category)
  • Medusa Film Festival (14th Season )

    May 31, 2022
    Winner, Best Short Comedy
  • Airflix Film Festival

    May 25, 2022
    Winner, Best Short Comedy Film
  • Multi Dimension Independent Film Festival

    June 24, 2022
    Outstanding Achievement, Best Director
  • EdiPlay International Film Festival

    May 28, 2022
    Finalist, Best Short Film (Main Category)
  • Tokyo International Monthly Film Festival

    December 11, 2022
    Honorable Mention
  • World Indie Film Awards

    April 27, 2023
    Best Lockdown Short
  • Cult Movies International Film Festival (9th Season)

    June 30, 2022
    Best Short Quarantine Finalist
  • Delta International Film Festival

    May 27, 2022
    Best Short Film Finalist
  • Crown International Film Festival

    June 1, 2022
    Best Short Film Finalist
  • Indiefare International Film Festival

    May 6, 2022
    Best Short Film Finalist
  • Rio de Janeiro World Film Festival

    July 20, 2022
    Best Comedy Short Semi-Finalist
  • Robinson Film Awards

    August 12, 2022
    International Short Film Semi-Finalist
  • Florida Shorts

    July 30, 2022
    Short Comedy Semi-Finalist
  • London Indie Short Festival

    July 24, 2022
    Narrative International Shorts Semi-Finalist
  • Niagara Falls International Short Festival

    December 7, 2022
    Best Comedy Short Semi-Finalist
  • Austin International Art Festival

    August 31, 2022
    Best Comedy Short Semi-Finalist
  • FilmNest International Film Festival

    January 20, 2023
    Best Short Film Finalist
Director Biography - Chris Harcum

Chris Harcum is an actor, playwright, and filmmaker, based in New York City. His short films include "The Big Pivot," "Coney Island Promise," and "Beyond & Above." He is half of the the long-form improv duo Pedro & Chris and serves as the Producing Director for Elephant Run District. His solo shows include "American Badass," "American Gun Show," "Anhedonia Road," "Gotham Standards," "Green," "Mahamudra," "The Preservationist," and "Some Kind of Pink Breakfast." His full-length plays include "Martin Denton, Martin Denton;" "Rabbit Island;" "The Hypochondriac;" and "The Devil in Ms. Spelvin." His "American Gun Show" received 5-star reviews in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His writing has also appeared in The New York Times and the Brooklyn Rail. He was named NYTTheatre’s Person of the Year for his work on Green. More details: www.chrisharcum.com.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My mission is to deep dive into our human mess, to crack people up, and to leave a dent in the universe. I want to create pieces that people enjoy in the present and are haunted by later on.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, I completed Second City’s Conservatory program. As I thought about going back into the world, I determined to create more digital content, so I enrolled in the Second City Film School. This project is an adaptation of a sketch created at Second City. I updated it to reflect going from life on Zoom back to the real world and how we might want to do things differently. It serves as a reminder, especially to me, that happiness is generated from within.