The Egg

In a world where women lay eggs and are required to submit them to the government, Emma decides to keep her egg for herself. But can she survive the consequences amidst the oppressive regime?

  • Olivia Dance
    Director
  • Olivia Dance
    Writer
  • Olivia Dance
    Producer
  • Diba Beihaghi
    Key Cast
  • Harrison Fuller
    Key Cast
  • Alessandro Stagno
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Dystopia
  • Country of Origin:
    Ukraine
  • Country of Filming:
    Czech Republic
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Prague City University
Director Biography - Olivia Dance

Olivia Dance is a Ukrainian filmmaker who focuses on quirky scripts in the fantasy and magical realism genres. She holds a British-accredited bachelor’s degree in Creative Media Production and is trained in both narrative and documentary filmmaking. Passionate about green filmmaking, Olivia strives to reduce the environmental impact of each new project.

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Director Statement

Since childhood, I've been fascinated by eggs and the idea of a child developing outside the mother. I wondered how it would be to reproduce via eggs.
The script went through many settings and genres, making it difficult to decide what was right for the story. Considering eggs’ association with reproduction, I knew that topics like abortion and the ethics of having children would be unavoidable. I aimed to approach these sensitive subjects with care, not center the story on them, and let viewers decide for themselves. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, and I certainly don't have the definitive one. I wanted this film to be an exploration of human behavior, posing a question rather than providing an answer.
The biggest production challenge was that some cast and crew members were abroad, complicating rehearsals and location scouting. We had to conduct online rehearsals with my actress in Iran, and my DOP, based in Germany, couldn't see the location until shortly before the shoot. This led to many adjustments during pre-production and on-site rehearsals. Another challenge was designing the egg prop. After many tests, we used a chicken eggshell injected with red food coloring, which would be the only color amidst the black-and-white film.
All in all, “The Egg” turned out to be a film I never thought I would make: black and white, 4:3 aspect ratio, set in a dystopia. However, the making of it was a valuable learning experience that resulted in a film I can be proud of.