Private Project

The Frame That Breathes

This is a film that brings the Lost Coast to the viewer. A disconnected place in the wondrous state of California. Much in the way that the modern world feels unfamiliar to me, the world feels unfamiliar to Eureka.

  • Henk Conn
    Director
    Self Defense
  • Mohamed Mohsen
    Writer
  • Moss Nipkau
    Key Cast
  • Henk Conn
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Fiction, narrative
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 57 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 14, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Filmmaker Sessions Volume 2
    Iver
    United Kingdom
    February 9, 2026
    United Kingdom Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Indie Film LA
    Los Angeles
    United States
    May 2, 2026
    Los Angeles Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Short Way International Short Film Festival
    São Paulo
    Brazil
    August 22, 2026
    South American Premier
    Official Selection
  • X World Short Film Festival
    Rome
    Italy
    October 10, 2026
    Official selection
Director Biography - Henk Conn

Henk Conn is a director, editor, and cinematographer. He focuses on man-on-the-street filmmaking and moral questions. His work includes documentary, narrative, and experimental film. He has produced stage plays and managed political campaigns. These experiences shape his interest in performance, power, and public life. His films value restraint, observation, and clear intent.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I made this film to work with limits. Digital filmmaking allows endless correction, but I wanted decisions to matter at the moment of capture. I returned to the basic practices I learned in black-and-white photography and committed to them fully.

The film was shot entirely with a single 50mm lens on a Canon C100. I used physical color filters—yellow, orange, red, and green—during production, even though the final image would be monochrome. That choice may seem unnecessary in a digital workflow, but it forced clarity and discipline. In post, the image was only converted to black and white. There was no color grading and no lighting correction.

Eureka is a city that feels held in place by time. Its architecture and weather give it a quiet permanence. I wanted the visual restraint of the film to reflect that quality.

The actor is a trained stage performer. His presence carries weight and scale. I wanted the city to feel like a stage and the performance to stand without technical intervention.