Experiencing Interruptions?

Us or Them

In the course of 2-minutes, "Us Or Them" brings the debate on how to address gun violence in schools powerfully center.

A woman, on the job, trained to respond instantly and violently to any threat.

Traci Loper is a first time film director.

  • Traci Loper
    Director
  • Brent Walker
    Writer
  • Rob Underhill
    Producer
  • Brent Walker
    Producer
  • Brent Walker
    Executive Producer
  • Rob Underhill
    Director of Photography
  • Rob Underhill
    Editor
  • Traci Loper
    Key Cast
  • Rick McDermott
    Key Cast
  • Mark Hayes
    Key Cast
  • Brook North
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    2 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 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
  • Athvikvaruni International Film Festival
    Tamil Nadu
    India
    July 15, 2022
    BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
  • Diamond Bell International Film Festival
    Chennai
    India
    July 9, 2022
    BEST MICRO SHORT FILM
  • Neelshal International Film Festival

    Kuwait
    August 3, 2022
    BEST MICRO SHORT
  • Makizhmithran International Film Festival
    Alampattu
    India
    August 7, 2022
    BEST MICRO SHORT & BEST EDITOR
  • Berlin Flash Film Festival
    Berlin
    Germany
    August 31, 2022
    HONORABLE MENTION
  • Sittannavasal International Film Festival

    August 7, 2022
    BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
  • White Pearl International Film Festival
    Chennai
    India
    August 9, 2022
    BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
  • Vadugan Film Awards
    Chennai
    India
    August 20, 2022
    BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM & AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
  • AltFF Alternative Film Festival

    September 12, 2022
    BEST WRITER & BEST FIRST TIME FILMMAKER
  • Afraid. Online Film Awards

    Ukraine
    September 9, 2022
    BEST ACTRESS
  • 27th Cine-Maniacs Filmfest
    Turkheim, Bavaria
    Germany
    March 18, 2023
    FINALIST
  • 10th Raleigh Film & Art Festival
    Raleigh
    United States
    October 7, 2022
    SEMI-FINALIST
  • 12th YES Film Festival
    Columbus, Ohio
    United States
    October 29, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Sugar Loaf Film Festival
    Chester, New York
    United States
    September 24, 2022
    Official Selection
  • 14th Northern Wave International Film Festival
    Snæfellsbær
    Iceland
    November 12, 2022
    Iceland Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Santa Clarita International Film Festival
    Santa Clarita, California
    United States
    December 10, 2022
  • International Micro Short Film Festival
    Boston, MA
    United States
    January 26, 2023
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Traci Loper

Working primarily as an actress, Traci Loper brings a unique perspective to directing. Constantly striving for balance between serving the story, and encouraging actors to find their voice within the role, while marrying both with the DP's vision.

In her twenty-plus years in the entertainment industry, Traci has had the honor of being on multiple film sets with immensely talented cast and crew. It is there, where her passion for story telling was nurtured.

Traci continues to cultivate collaborative efforts that bring compelling stories to life.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I was inspired to direct this film based on the succinct handling of the subject. Brent Walker took a timely, and extremely threatening crisis that our country is facing and distilled it down to a single page of dialogue that encapsulates the absurdity of the American gun control debate, and specifically how we choose to protect our children.

We realize a single micro-short film cannot begin to solve these problems. However, we do hope to get audiences to consider the impact of guns on the hearts and minds of people who use them and upon the people they are supposed to be protecting and serving.