Watchful Eye

Galea, a young psychology student, is on the phone with her best friend, Vanessa, as she hastily prepares for a blind date with a supposed University peer. Vanessa questions her motives and judgment in going on a blind date, but Galea ignores Vanessa's concerns and arrives at the house. After some brief conversations of ambition, she overzealously plans to hide a little gift she got for her date, Riley. In the process, Galea stumbles into dark information regarding Riley's future intentions.

She has one saving grace in this sudden revelation— Riley doesn't know she found out this information. Knowing Riley's true intent, Galea faces a fight for her life as she does everything possible to survive and escape the date without signaling suspicion from Riley.

  • Mikel Cravatta
    Director
  • Mikel Cravatta
    Writer
  • Robert Benoit
    Writer
  • Trevor Dylan
    Writer
  • Mikel Cravatta
    Producer
  • Ravjot Mehek Singh
    Producer
  • Cayla Berejikian
    Key Cast
    "Galea Fascez"
  • John Potvin
    Key Cast
    "Riley"
  • Katrina Brianne
    Key Cast
    "Vanessa"
  • Yolanda Dawson
    Key Cast
    "Mrs. Jackson"
  • Earl Fechter
    Key Cast
    "Vanessa's Father"
  • Michael Wohl
    Key Cast
    "Suited Man"
  • Trevor Dylan
    Key Cast
    "Car Visitor"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    31 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 18, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    23,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Mikel Cravatta

Mikel Cravatta is a New England-based award winning Film & Video Director and Producer. In early 2019, he launched his producing career with the independent feature film production "Co-Moms" while simultaneously working as a Director for the anchor story of a horror anthology feature "Creepypasta", which released on Screambox. His work as a producer for a Bollywood music video published by T-Series in 2021 for Punjabi music artist Pinky Paras led him to great success and becoming one of the youngest producers to be published by T-Series.

Born in Massachusetts on October 15 of 1994, Mikel emerged as an animation entertainment artist at 12 years old, learning from reading college textbooks he couldn’t understand from his oldest brother. He forged himself into an active and acclaimed Film Director after his graduation from Fitchburg State University in 2017. By age 21, Mikel had accumulated 6 accolades through many national/international festivals and competitions from his directed works; achieving his 7th just after his 22nd birthday. Continuing in his early rising success in 2016 and 2017, he co-directed a horror-themed cinematic piece in collaboration with two multi-million subscriber influencers and assistant directed a horror film which was picked up by Crypt TV. Both of which received millions of views.

A visionary Director, script writing original projects as well as working as a Director-for-hire on diverse productions. His artistic voice as a creative writer and visionary director flourishes in social and existential reflection. With Watchful Eye, Mikel challenged himself by tackling the project in a hard-hitting, terrifying, but respectful manner that grips people with its politically relevant plot.

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Director Statement

As a filmmaker, I wanted to shed light on several issues, both personal and political, that all Americans are faced with. In an era plagued with more mass shootings than there are days in the year, I felt it was vital to share a story through a potential victim’s lens, expressing their fear, expressing their disappointments in the mental healthcare system, expressing their disappointment with how manipulative men in particular are often able to protect their crimes with their privileges. While addressing a larger societal issue, I wanted to incorporate the feelings I had as a younger brother to a sister who still suffers an emotionally abusive marriage. Through this story, I wanted to connect with others who have felt the same tensions, frustrations, and inability to escape that is made physical through the storyline of a young woman being trapped in a gunman’s house with no escape.

With the pressures of societal expectation, we may make mistakes trying to uphold them, whether or not we truly want to, for the sake of image and pride. Unfortunately for psychology student, Galea, she leads herself into her biggest mistake yet. Though the script is a work of fiction, this short film delivers an emotional range of comfort, happiness, fear, anxiety, and tonal whiplash a sudden invisible hostage circumstance would produce for the victim and/or a helpless viewer, presented in a heightened fashion for suspense, drama, and thriller fans.

Watchful Eye at its heart explores the impact social/external pressure, no matter how big or small, can have on our lives. Inspired by Wes Craven’s Red Eye and the anxiety of Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash, what follows is a tense and horrifying experience which displays prominent, timely subjects I wanted to spotlight relating to modern dating culture and gun violence that both individually affect many people in the current climate of the United States. This is a sample short of a larger feature film I aim to bring to life which will explore these themes and more in greater depth.

Like for my sister, this story portrays the dangers of dating culture and displays the consequences of how a lack of self-awareness of your own insecurities can lead you astray. It’s also meant to shape a conversation of mental health within the community, asking people to question how much of their life is being molded by the emotional influences of your friends, family, and environment versus their own personal interest.