Private Project

Under a Bad Moon

A former sheriff deputy moves to the country after a breakdown following her partner's murder. The perpetrator is still at large when she awakens to the sound of a gunshot and distressing voices. She seeks out the source and finds a dead body, and three young men and a woman. She's forced to deal with her trauma so she can handle the situation at hand.

  • Stephen Franklin Blanton
    Director
  • Stephen Franklin Blanton
    Writer
  • Stephen Franklin Blanton
    Producer
  • Cynthia Marie Breed
    Producer
  • Deanna Shaekel
    Key Cast
    "Roxanne Williams"
    Canaveral Chronicles, Shift Drinks, Strong Bones
  • Matthew James Bucklew
    Key Cast
    "Dean"
    The Lion in Winter, Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike
  • Britton Johnson Hollingsworth
    Key Cast
    "Orin"
    Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Misérables
  • Veronika Stoykova
    Key Cast
    "Jana"
    The Good Things Devils Do, Signs, Mel Tells
  • Sean Heslep
    Supporting Cast
    Playing Through, A Haunting
  • Michael Berthold
    Supporting Cast
    Peanut Butter Falcon, Terror in the Woods
  • Leslie Craven
    Supporting Cast
    Photography Model
  • Dan Dennis
    Director of Photography
    Camera Operator for Orlando Magic Basketball, Owner of iFilmFlorida
  • Dan Schimke
    First Camera
    Swamp People, Assistant Editor, 5 episodes, The Case of JonBenet Ramsey, miniseries, episodes 1-2, assistant editor
  • RJ Istvan
    Casting
    The Mad Hatter, Free Headshot
  • Bruce Marcho
    Assistant Director
    Owner of One Take Creative Production Company, known for commercials
  • Michael Helms
    Sound
    Central Florida Production Sound Mixer, Host of Location Sound Podcast
  • Louisa Caudron
    Costume Designer
    Student Projects at The Savannah College of Art and Design
  • Dawn Lemay
    Wardrobe Assistant
    Radio and Entertainment Facilitator and Personality "Dawn of the Underground"
  • Christy Alexander
    Hair and Makeup
    Photoshoot and Theatrical Production Makeup and Hair Artist
  • Kimberly Cobb
    Script Supervisor
    Multiple film projects, UCF Film School Graduate
  • Frank Starchak Starchak
    Music
    Music Producer and Composer
  • Kenioun Cooper
    Music
    Music Producer and Composer
  • Jason Derfuss
    Film Editor
    Edited "Scarlet's Witch" and Primary Editor for Infinity Pictures
  • Bruce Marcho
    Trailer Editor
    Owner of One Take Creative Production Company, known for commercials
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 43 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 4, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    45,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16.9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Think Shorts- Selected: 5 Star Review

    https://thinkshorts.com/77560/under-a-bad-moon
  • Selected-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  • Paris Film Awards- Silver Award: Best Thriller
  • Milan Gold Awards- Honorable Mention: Best Original Song
  • Snow Leopard International Film Festival- Honorable Mention: Best Director Debut
  • Fox International Film Festival- Honorable Mention- Best Thriller
  • Fox International Film Festival- Honorable Mention- Best Actress
  • Fox International Film Festival-Honorable Mention: Best Thriller
  • Honorable Mention---------------------------------------------------------
  • 4th Dimension Independent Film Festival- Nominee: Best Midnight Film

    Nominee Best Midnight Film
  • New Jersey Film Awards- Nominated Best Actress & Best Ensemble
  • Alternative Film Festival- Nominee: Best Short Film

    Nominee Best Short
  • Nominees-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  • Palm Springs Shorts- Semi-Finalist Best narrative US Short Film
  • Berlin Shorts Award- Semi-Finalist: Best Thriller Short

    Semi-Finalist Best Thriller Short
  • Madrid Arthouse Film Festival- Semi-Finalist: Short Thriller
  • Phoenix Shorts- Semi-finalist Graveyard Shift Shorts

    Semi-finalist Graveyard Shift Shorts
  • Madrid Arthouse Film Festival- Semi-Finalist Best Thriller Short
    Madrid
    Spain
    Semi-Finalist- Short Thriller
  • London Indie Short Festival- Semi-Finalist: Narrative International Shorts
  • Semi-Finalists----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  • Delta International Film Festival- Finalist: Midnight Movie
    India
  • Robinson Film Awards- Finalist: Thriller Short
  • Morart Creative Film Festival- Finalist: All Genre
  • Crown International Film Festival- Finalist: Best Thriller
  • Finalists-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  • Philadelphia World Film Festival- Winner: Best Covid Short
    per e-mail notification
  • Bright International Film Festival - Winner: Midnight Film
  • Portland New Alternative Voices- Winner: Best Thriller

    Nominee Best Thriller
  • Cineplay International Film Festival- Winner: Thriller
  • Hollywood Blood Horror Festival- Winner: Best Thriller Short

    Winner
  • Sweet Democracy- Winner: Short Thriller
  • Athens International Monthly Film Festival- Winner: Best acting
  • Lily Indie Film Fest- Winner: Best Crime/Thriller
    Odessa
    Ukraine
  • Art Film Awards- Winner: Best Thriller

    Best Thriller
  • New York Neorealism Film Awards- Winner: Best Thriller
    Italy
  • The Pitch Film Fest- Winner: Best Short Thriller

    Best Short Thriller
  • Hollywood on the Tiber Film Awards- Winner: Best Narrative Short

    Best Narrative Short
  • Hollywood Gold Awards- Winner: Best Short Thriller

    Award Winner Thriller Short Film
  • Austin International Art Festival- Winner: Best Thriller Short

    Winner Best Thriller Short
  • Hollywood Blvd. Film- Winner: Best Short Thriller

    Best Short Thriller
  • Florence Film Awards-Winner: Best Thriller
  • Nicomedia International Bi-Monthly Film Awards- Winner: Best Thriller

    Best Thriller
  • NYC International Film Festival- Winner: Best Short Thriller

    Best Short Thriller
  • Vesuvius International Film Festival- Winner: Best Short Film
    Campania
    Italy
    Best Short Film
  • Royal Wolf Film Awards- Winner: Best Original Music Score

    Best Original Music Score
  • Snow Leopard International Film Festival- Winner: Best Thriller
  • Royal Wolf Film Awards-Winner: Best Action/Thriller & Film of the Month

    Best Action/Thriller, Film of the Month
  • White Vulture Film Festival- Winner: Best Horror/Sci-Fi/Thriller Short

    Winner Best Horror/Sci-Fi Short
  • Cult Movies International Film Festival- Winner: Best Short Thriller

    Best Short Thriller
  • Dreamachine International Film Festival- Winner: Best Revenge Short

    Best Revenge Short
  • Beyond the Curve- Winner: Best Midnight Film

    Winner Best Midnight Film
  • Hollywood International Golden Age- Winner: Short Thriller
  • Magic Silver Screen- Winner: Best Cinematography

    Netherlands
  • Magic Silver Screen- Winner: Best Actress
  • New Jersey Film Awards- Winners: Best Thriller & Best Director
  • Ediplay- Winner: Best Midnight Movie
  • Medusa Film Festival- Winner: Best Thriller
  • Winners-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Director Biography - Stephen Franklin Blanton

1991 Music Video- Writer and Performer "Moonshiner's Daughter"
2004-2014 Martial Arts Instructional Videos- Director/Producer
2021 "Under a Bad Moon" Writer/Director/Producer

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

In this short film we examine the darker side of human nature in regards to revenge and retribution. The main character is a woman who lost her partner to an unsolved murder and can't let go of her anger when she sees another woman wronged. Despite her fury, she has a softer side that comes out at the end showing that no one is beyond redemption.