Experiencing Interruptions?

The Elephant Spiel

Newly retired Tilman Blain threatens to destroy the idyllic retirement of his fellow Cul De Sac dwellers by doing ALL of the task's his wife asks him to do. He is setting a bad example for the other Husbands on the block. His neighbor Brad Pointer calls a meeting with fellow leisure buddies Sam Waterman, and Azzim Patel to discuss how to handle the developing situation. It is determined that Brad needs to give Tilman 'The Elephant Spiel'

  • Rick Kain
    Director
    Final Notice
  • Lisa Mikitarian
    Writer
    Butterfly Kisses, Spent, The Fourth Question
  • Rick Kain
    Producer
    Final Notice, The Tracker, Leda, Anacostia, Unheard Melodies, The Adjuster
  • William L. Thomas
    Producer
    The Adjuster, Unheard Melodies
  • Susan Kain
    Producer
    Final Notice, The Adjuster, Unheard Melodies
  • Walker Thomas
    Producer
    The Adjuster, Unheard Melodies
  • Lisa Mikitarian
    Producer
    Butterfly Kisses, Spent, The Fourth Question
  • William L. Thomas
    Key Cast
    "Brad Pointer"
    Veep, House of Cards, Final Notice, The Perks of Being a Wall Flower, Fishbowl, Final Notice, West Virginia Stories
  • Felix Stevenson
    Key Cast
    "Sam Waterman"
    Sollars Point,The Wire, The District, House of Cards, Blue Before Grey
  • Rasik Ohal
    Key Cast
    "Azzim Patel"
    Quantico, Billions, The Outsiders, Mater of None, Mr. Robot, House of Cards, Veep, The Comedian, Here and Now, Nothing from Something
  • Rick Kain
    Key Cast
    "Tilman Blain"
    DC Noir, Fishbowl, Wonder Woman 1984, Jack Ryan, Mindhunter, Plagiarist, The Nextnik, The Henchmans War, Something From Nothing, The Hunt, Quantico, Anacostia
  • Donovan Randolf- Director of Photography
    Film Crew
    Mean Cuisine, En Route, Pet Whisperer with Augustaz Florence
  • Alvero G. Huezo-Gaffer
    Film Crew
    Turn, Tom Hayden: In Hiding, A Good Dream, Brigade, Loving
  • Jack Hanrahan-Key Grip
    Film Crew
    Thespian, American Titans
  • Sandy Johnson-Drone Operator
    Film Crew
  • Alexis Barone-1st. AD
    Film Crew
    Sides, Realms, All Square,Refuge, Over My Dead Body, Evil Kin
  • Brett Heidenreich-2nd. AD
    Film Crew
    Angry Ever After, Whitney Cummings: Can I touch it, All Families Fight
  • David Johnson- Production Assistant
    Film Crew
  • Jordan Miller- Sound Mixer
    Film Crew
    Adam and Eve, Camp Wilson, The Hope Dealer, 17 Locust Street
  • Dan Sadler-Sound Mixer
    Film Crew
    Ardeur, Commitment, En Route, Pet Whisperer With Agustaz Florence, Pierce
  • Erica Rowe-Editor
    Film Crew
    Ardeur, Commitment, En Route, Pet Whisperer With Agustaz Florence, Mean Cuisine, Drive
  • Josh Land-Colorist
    Film Crew
    I Like Me, Lotus Eyes, Nothing From Something, Bad Witch, Ape Canyon
  • Kevin Hill-Sound design
    Film Crew
    Ape Canyon, Bad Witch, First Lady, Beneath the Black Veil,
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 40 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 2, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 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:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Columbia Film Festival
    Columbia, Maryland
    June 17, 2020
    East Coast Premiere
    Audience Choice Award
  • The North Beach American Fim Festival
    North Beach, Maryland
    United States
    September 4, 2020
  • Maryland International Film Festival
    Hagerstown, Maryland
    United States
    August 20, 2021
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Rick Kain

Rick Kain is a 22 year veteran of the film and television industry working both in front of the camera as an actor and stuntman, and behind the camera as a stunt coordinator, director, cinematographer, and producer, with over 160 credits to date. His most recent work can be seen on ‘Glass’, ‘Wonder Woman-1984’, ‘Quantico’, Mindhunter, Jack Ryan, and the independent film projects ‘Sollers Point’, ‘Fishbowl’, and ‘D.C. Noir’. His short films ‘Final Notice’ and ‘The Tracker’ have completed their festival runs and he has just completed post on the short films ‘The Elephant Spiel’ and ‘Unheard Melodies’, and just began post production on a feature length documentary. He is a member of SAG-AFTRA, WIFV, TIVA, Vice-Chair of the SAG-AFTRA National Stunt and Safety Committee, and sits on the Mid-Atlantic SAG-AFTRA Board of directors.

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Director Statement

'The Elephant Spiel ' was born at a filmmakers reception party on the opening night of the 2018 Maryland International Film Festival. That is where I met writer Lisa Mikitarian. It went kinda like this "Hi. I'm Rick" "Hi, I'm Lisa, I'm a writer" "Cool, do you have any stories with middle aged men in them? " "I do!". A month later we were shooting "The Elephant Spiel" . That's how independent film should work. I hope you like it.