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Touch of Heaven

A conflicted priest is finally able to choose between his faith and the free-spirited woman he has fallen for, after experiencing an eye-opening vision.

  • Charlie Balsar
    Director
  • Sam Tudor-Hidy
    Producer
  • Zachary Owen
    Key Cast
  • Keziah Williamson
    Key Cast
  • Charlie Balsar
    Cinematographer
  • Reese Givens
    Writer
  • Lawson McGrain
    Assistant Editor
  • Jennifer Fenstermaker
    Production Designer
  • Ryan Felberbaum
    Sound Designer
  • Marianna Palladino
    Sound Designer
  • Keaten Franklin
    Composer
  • Max Vanderwerf
    Additional Cast
  • Robert Kelly
    Additional Cast
  • Kelly McElligott
    Camera Operator
  • David Edmonds
    1st Assistant Camera
  • Gavin Pringle
    1st Assistant Camera
  • Max Vanderwerf
    2nd Assistant Camera
  • Quinn Pfitzer
    B-Unit Assistant Camera
  • Camryn Tabiolo
    Gaffer
  • Max Vanderwerf
    Gaffer
  • Mei Marzonie
    Key Grip
  • Jose de Paz
    Key Grip
  • Andrew Skalak
    Key Grip
  • Norah Finn
    Art Director
  • Zoe Maddix
    Wardrobe
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Romance, Arthouse, Religious Drama, Romance Drama
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 41 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 18, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    35mm, 16mm
  • Aspect Ratio:
    3:2
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Columbia College Chicago
Director Biography - Charlie Balsar

Charlie is a Chicago-based cinematographer and technician with an extensive cinematography background gained through freelance camera department positions and experience in cinema equipment rental facilities. Charlie was a member of Columbia College Chicago's roster of BFA students who were the last to receive instruction on 35mm and 16mm film.

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Director Statement

Touch of Heaven is heavily built upon my time growing up in rural Iowa, in a largely religious community. I always felt that there was some kind of gap between what I heard in church on Sunday morning, and what I experienced when surrounded by Iowa's natural environment. This film aims to dissect that feeling and take a closer look at the relationship between structured religion and the organic world.

My personal relationship with religion has never been simple. I wanted Touch of Heaven to show how someone chooses what to follow when their divine guidance and human instincts are not speaking the same language.

Being able to capture this story on 35mm film has been one of my greatest privileges. For a story about nature's interventions in life, celluloid was the obvious choice. It captures light in its most raw sense, and therefore was also a great learning opportunity for myself as a growing DP. I'm eternally grateful for the opportunity to tell this story on the medium it was destined for.