Experiencing Interruptions?

The Spanking

When an adult brother and sister show up unannounced to Grandma's house after Grandpa's recent passing, they're shocked to find a happy, vibrant woman who has already moved on with life, and their plan to worm their way into her good graces goes awry.

Grandma, feigning delight at the unexpected visit, allows a brief stay before ushering them away; but when the pair announce their intention to stay the weekend, Grandma grows increasingly cranky.

As the sibling rivalry intensifies, Grandma's motives become clearer. The pair grow more childish in their antics, and Grandma realizes there's only one thing they'll understand: a good spanking. She orders them into the yard to fetch a switch. The brother and sister laugh for a moment, but quickly realize Grandma is dead serious. The child-adults skulk into the backyard and begin their search.

Trapped and with no escape, the brother and sister must quickly resolve their differences and figure a way to avoid Grandma's judgment.

The evening meal, though awkward, goes smoothly enough - until Grandma refuses to rule out not spanking the pair. The brother and sister flee, and the old widow laughs gleefully.

As the siblings drive away though, the sister realizes her purse is missing and an argument erupts about recovering it. As the two sneak into Grandma's house, they catch Grandma in a compromising situation, and discover the real reason she was so reluctant to have guests.

  • Aaron Land
    Director
  • Jason K. Allen
    Writer
  • John Kestner
    Writer
  • Aaron Land
    Producer
  • Jason McCrite
    Key Cast
  • Gale Payne
    Key Cast
  • Shannon Land
    Key Cast
  • Miguel Chavarria
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 13, 2018
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Aaron Land

A writer/producer/director currently based in Phoenix, Arizona, Aaron has taken a not-so-conventional route to filmmaking.

While finishing concurrent degrees in Management and Finance at ASU's W.P. Carey School of Business, and Film Production at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, Aaron was asked by a professor to draft a budget for an upcoming feature film and serve as its line producer the year before graduating. The opportunity for hands-on work experience in all three areas of study was an easy decision, and Aaron would continue to serve in various crew positions on several student capstone pictures.

Seizing the chance to merge a diverse educational and employment history in an underserved local market, Aaron would found Renegade Pictures after graduation.

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Director Statement

I'm always reading scripts - I have a library numbering in the thousands on my computer, from every source imaginable. Once in a great while a really good writer bubbles to the surface, and Jason Allen is one of those writers, and I'd had the opportunity to read several of his short scripts before he and I agreed upon terms to option The Spanking.

Arizona is a flyover state when it comes to narrative filmmaking, and I wanted a project that says to our community, "Look, if you're willing to take time off from your primary job to work on this, you shouldn't have to choose which bill goes unpaid." I made sure our budget reflected everyone's concerns, and took care of them.

I've worked on several productions, but I can't remember another with a cast and crew that had the same kind of spirit that ours had. Phoenix summers are brutal, with daytime temps of 120 degrees not uncommon, and witnessed the best Arizona had to offer in uncompromising conditions. The only complaints offered were after our last wrap - when we knew there no more scenes to shoot and there was no excuse to show up for work the next day.

I honor the commitment of my cast and crew with this film, and I hope the audience can see their enthusiasm and devotion on the screen.