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The Dark Essence

After being shunned by the community, Todd Reid and Jim James are determined to gain more followers for their satanic group, The Dark Essence, and to spread the word of secularism to the United States.

  • Mari Assad
    Director
    Brother Husbands
  • Mari Assad
    Writer
    Lucky Undies
  • Brenda Nascimento
    Writer
    Not Enough
  • Quentin Kirby
    Key Cast
    "Todd Reid"
    Overrun, The Pine Art Incident:
  • Max Cutler
    Key Cast
    "Jim James"
    Good Trouble, S.W.A.T., Angie Tribeca
  • Camille Pipkin
    Key Cast
    "Rose"
    In The Blood
  • Mari Assad
    Key Cast
    "Mari"
  • Brenda Nascimento
    Key Cast
    "Brenda"
  • Christian Gnecco Quintero
    Key Cast
    "Mike"
    The Sound of The Wind
  • Jordan Van Clief
    Key Cast
    ""Karen""
    Failure is An Option, Normally Mormon, Eating Ladybugs
  • Mari Assad
    Executive Producers
    Brother Husbands
  • Brenda Nascimento
    Executive Producers
    Not Enough
  • Jordan Van Clief
    Producer
    Failure is an Option, Eating Ladybugs
  • Melisse Sporn
    Director Of Photography
    Dollface, Pen 15
  • Layne Inselman
    Gaffer
    In the Forest, Secrets of an Escort
  • Cory Zembower
    Sound
    Maze of Fate, Fighting Olympus
  • Angel Strangis
    HMU
  • Caleb Cordes
    Production Assistant
  • Jose Restrepo
    Editor
    Fly Myself Home
  • Xenia Leblanc
    Editor
    Orange is the New Black, WB Justice League
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Horror, Mockumentary
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 8 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 1, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    6,490 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Canon EIS C300 Mark II
  • Aspect Ratio:
    3:2
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Mari Assad

The Dark Essence is Mari Assad’s directorial debut. She is very excited for everyone to see The Dark Essence and to meet Todd and Jim. The Dark Essence is inspired by a real satanic group, The Satanic Temple. She immediately became enamored by the group and began reading about the good deeds they were contributing to the community, and loved their stand on the separation of church and state in the United States. After many rewrites, with her cowriter Brenda Nascimento, and a campaign, The Dark Essence was brought to screen.

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Director Statement

I hope that people will watch this with an open mind and an open heart, and to look at the short as a rom com of religion.

And, I wanted this team to be Female Lead, to remind the world that women are funny.