Private Project

The Firefly Jar

A magician, some magic, and a wish. A walk down Reverie Rd. brings a young boy on a magical journey as he learns to cope with the recent passing of his mother in this wondrous telling of life after loss.

Audience Choice WINNER - Open Gate International Film Festival
Best Short Film - CANNES SHORTS

  • Gary Fierro
    Director
  • Gary Fierro
    Writer
  • Justin Tacchi
    Writer
  • Gary Fierro
    Producer
  • Zac Polhemus
    Producer
  • Reno Venturi
    Producer
  • Marty Lang
    Producer
  • Charlie Tacker
    Key Cast
    "James"
  • Edie Hofstatter
    Key Cast
    "Fay"
  • Dan Mauro
    Key Cast
    "Ian"
  • Reno Venturi
    Key Cast
    "The Great Sampson"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    29 minutes 13 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    6,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Open Gate International Film Festival
    Boston, MA
    United States
    November 12, 2022
    Audience Choice WINNER
  • Cannes Shorts
    Cannes
    France
    January 3, 2023
    Best Short December 2022
  • Hollywood Gold Awards
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    January 29, 2023
    Best Fantasy Short Film
Director Biography - Gary Fierro

Gary Fierro is a filmmaker from Rocky Hill, CT where he lives with his girlfriend Michelle and dog Remy. Always having a creative imagination, Gary found the best way to bring his ideas to life was through film. As a child of the 90's, he grew up watching classic films like E.T., Back to the Future, Jaws, The Goonies, Indiana Jones and many more. His love for these films inspired him to one day make films much like the ones of his childhood.

After graduating from Central Connecticut State University in 2011, he set out to direct two micro-budget comedy feature films. From these, his knack for camera techniques and framing helped shape his ideas on-set and his background as a video editor helped him take creative control of projects in post-production.

Breaking from the early comedic films, he wanted to move his focus onto drama and fantasy films. Moving away from his one-man band style of filmmaking for his most recent short film, 'The Firefly Jar', proved to be a big change for him. Allowing creative control to others opened his eyes to newer experiences and creative pathways outside of his own. Proving that it definitely does take a team that wants to bring your idea to life just as much as you do, and having a crew of people who are wholeheartedly dedicated to the project is amazing.

Gary is very excited to showcase 'The Firefly Jar' at film festivals this year and be a part of the indie filmmaking pathway.

Gary's next step after this film is unknown at the moment. He hopes to write and direct another drama or fantasy film and has always had an adventurous family-friendly treasure hunting film, a dramatic crime-drama and even a mind-bending time-travel story in mind.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I have always had this idea in mind for a film where the main character was given a wishing jar. But unlike the three wishes and a genie idea, in this film it was just one wish and you need to give up something sentimental in exchange. What would you wish for with that one wish? That could become a tough decision especially for a child. Mix that in with a massive amount of sadness that your main character is enduring and it would most likely come down to an instinctual choice. Incorporating a mystical being such as the light-worker in the film, depicted as a glowing orb was a way to visually portray the belief that someone is always with you to help guide you and to help you through hard times.

For The Firefly Jar, I wanted to make a film much like the ones I watched growing up as a child in the 90's.

This was my first project hiring an extensive cast and crew. The film raised $6500 on Kickstarter for production. We put together props, locations, and cast.

The film turned out to be a little different than the script due to budgetary restrictions and final timing for the film. Due to budget demands in other areas, I undertook some of the visual effects work, learning 3D animation and visual effects compositing to be able to create the vast visual effects sequences in the film. This film forced me to learn and I became a better filmmaker because of it.

- Gary