The Herp

Everything changes when a young woman receives a distressing diagnosis...

  • Fern Poppy
    Director
    A Stop Along the Way
  • Fern Poppy
    Writer
    A Stop Along the Way
  • Fern Poppy
    Key Cast
    "Girl"
  • King SoloMon
    Key Cast
    "Guy"
  • William Cully Allen
    Key Cast
    "Protestor"
  • Aaron Fitzpatrick
    Director of Photography
    A Stop Along the Way
  • King SoloMon
    Music and Sound
    A Stop Along the Way
  • Peter Martin
    Gaffer
  • Eddie Swanson
    Assistant Cameraman
    A Stop Along the Way
  • John Caccamo
    VFX
  • Ryan Lesiak
    Grip
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 3 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 18, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    1,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    16 MM
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Fern Poppy

Fern Poppy (formerly Emily P. Townsend) is a girl who hopes to make sense of life through art and storytelling. Poppy's deep love for movies dates back to childhood. Starting her artistic career off as a surrealistic portrait photographer, Fern grew tired of the limitations of still photography and stepped into the world of film. In 2020, she directed her first horror short, A Stop Along the Way. Her most recent film, The Herp, is also a horror short, about a young woman who contracts a monstrous STI. Currently, Fern Poppy lives in Philadelphia with her husband (King SoloMon, who scores all of her films) and their two cats Pepe and Silvia.

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Director Statement

The Herp explores the stigma surrounding one of the most common STIs in the world. Genital herpes can be a scary and devastating diagnosis and my film intends to soften the fear and pain that accompany that. How do we separate ourselves from a diagnosis? Can the body become a welcoming home?