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The Detective & The Murderer

After a string of killings during a fancy dinner party, a woman named Aella is confronted in the bathroom by a guest who accuses her of being the culprit. But is Aella's crime really murder, or instead a crime of passion towards a certain Detective?

  • David Zulian
    Director
  • David Zulian
    Writer
  • Olivia Morgan
    Key Cast
    "Aella"
  • Jacob Dobosh
    Key Cast
    "The Detective"
  • Juliana Musap
    Key Cast
    "Mrs. Peacock"
  • Sydney Osmon
    Key Cast
    "Dub for Aella"
  • Juliana Musap
    Assistant Director
  • Kristina Hawk
    Director of Photography
  • David Zulian
    Editor
  • Amanda Patterson
    Production Assistant
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Romance, Murder Mystery
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 33 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 14, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    25 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    256:135
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Tampa
Director Biography - David Zulian

David Zulian is a writer and director with a passion for romance, fantasy, and animation. He is fascinated by the stories that form between human relationships and how memory changes over time. His main goal is to write wonderful stories and use the stories to make wonderful films.

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Director Statement

This film was born from a simple writing exercise: Put two opposites together in a room. Off the top of my head, I threw out "A Detective and a Murderer", which I was determined to turn into a romance. And well, the concept almost writes itself doesn't it? I was inspired by the kooky, over-the-top characters of classic comedy films as well as rom-com anime. Because of this, the characters and acting was the most important thing to get right for such a silly film. Aella was my primary focus. On the surface a classic femme fatale, but one who's confidence has been removed. I needed her to be able to shift between a cold-blooded killer and blushing schoolgirl at the drop of a dime. For The Detective, I just needed him to be fun. His name betrays his nature, a silly title (that only he and Aella seem to recognize). He was my favorite character to write. Finally, there is Mrs. Peacock, the poor woman who finds herself trapped between the two would-be-lovers. She's the most righteous person in the film, and was practically doomed by the narrative for that reason! These characters and this concept is very dear to my heart, and I'm so excited to share this fun world!