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Things Go Boom

Two young men test their friendship selling fireworks for the summer; enduring boredom, nature and the tribulations of growing up.

  • Eliot Brown
    Director
  • Danielle Elise Bartley
    Director
  • Eliot Brown
    Writer
  • Sonny Mallhi
    Producer
  • Evan Mascagni
    Producer
  • Stuart McWhirter
    Producer
  • Danielle Elise Bartley
    Producer
  • Eliot Brown
    Producer
  • John Henry Smothers
    Key Cast
    "Eric"
  • Jacob Kaufman
    Key Cast
    "Jamie"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 30, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    28,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Clapham International Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    November 11, 2023
    International Premiere
    Winner
  • Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival
    Athens
    Greece
    Best Atmosphere
  • European Cinematography Awards
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    Finalist
Director Biography - Eliot Brown, Danielle Elise Bartley

The Wrecking Crew is made up of Danielle Elise Bartley and Eliot Brown. Together they have made an online community for their short films. The Wrecking Crew Youtube page has over 14k subscribers and over 2.5 million views.

Danielle is a Director, Cinematographer and Camera Operator for a wide array of projects, including narratives, commercials, and documentaries.

Danielle’s recent projects including:
DP Artemis Launch for NASA
A camera for Wildcat (Ethan Hawke) TIFF 2023
Cinematographer for “Good Daughter” premiered at Oscar qualifying short film festival “Hollyshorts” 2023
Op for Wrestlers (Greg Whiteley) Netflix 2023

Eliot has worked in the electric department as a Gaffer and Best Boy on over forty films and hundreds of commercials. Notable crews he’s been a part of this year include Wildcat directed by Ethan Hawke and a New Balance commercial featuring Jack Harlow.

“Things Go Boom” has been awarded a Finishing Funds Grant from 502 Film.

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Director Statement

"Things Go Boom" at its heart, is a coming of age story about two best friends, Eric and Jamie, who are beginning to drift apart. The decline of their friendship is only accelerated
by living and working in a fireworks tent for the summer.
I originally set out to write “Things Go Boom” as an ode to a nostalgic time in my own life. Much like the characters in our film, I spent a summer selling fireworks with my best friend.
It was hot, exhausting, monotonous and a little dangerous, but I wouldn’t change a thing about that time because of the experience we got to share. Our lives are shaped by these moments and people that flow throughout them. Our goal with this film was to capture this notion in a particular space and time.
Through this niche slice of life story, we wanted viewers to ponder on familiar themes- the evolution of friendships, the pressures of transitioning into adulthood, surviving small towns and the sentimentality of summer.