Private Project

WHITE DEMISE

LOGLINE:
A desperate woman embarks on a journey to find a life-saving bullet, seeking to reverse the tragic death of her daughter, but the only way to do that is through the man who revived her murderer.

SYNOPSIS:
In this enigmatic world, rumors of a lifesaving antidote spread. This antidote, is personified in the form of a “white bullet.”

The story is interspersed with flash-forwards in which the protagonist, Samantha Grey, is reunited with her daughter, Lillian, in the afterlife. Their story penetrates the film serving as the narrative that unveils the truth behind her daughter’s demise. As the scenes between Samantha and her daughter unfold, the misunderstood relationship resolves.

Samantha, a single mother and dog trainer, is left to care for her dying daughter, Lillian. An elder acquaintance, Barry Syput, hears of Samantha’s struggle and visits her with a possible solution. Samantha begins to believe Barry, who has a hidden ulterior motive in his quest. The problem presents itself as Samantha learns that the antidote is his talking gun.

The voice in the gun is personified by Anessa, who yearns to be the white bullet, in hopes of saving her. But is she? With little hope left, Samantha hesitantly agrees to use the antidote on Lillian. Despite the desire to save her daughter, we discover Anessa is not the true white bullet at the cost of Lillian’s life.

Filled with anger, Samantha takes revenge by killing Barry, who reluctantly agrees to pen his own suicide note as a disguise. Unbeknownst to Samantha, Barry gives his Doctor, Cal Owens, a sealed letter ensuring his wife is left with the truth of his demise.

An ominous feeling causes Cal to open the sealed letter and unveil the truth. With the weight of Barry’s life, Cal feels culpable, as he is the one who holds the true white bullet named Dash. Regardless of Dash’s refusal, Cal decides to use the white bullet on Barry.

Samantha is stunned to see Barry, who has returned from the dead, knocking at her door. This not only proves the existence of the white bullet, but reveals that she needs her daughter’s murderer to find the owner of the white bullet.

In this quest, several twists emerge when Samantha must abandon a dying woman (who unbeknownst to Samantha is Barry’s wife), in order to escape from being caught sneaking into Cal’s home.

Leaving her with neither the white bullet nor providing help for this dying woman, Samantha is led to want to take her own life. She raids Barry of his gun and aims it at her own head. Anessa yells as she cannot keep watching people die at her expense. She boldly chooses to take her own life before Samantha can pull the trigger on herself, essentially warranting her the title of the white bullet.

  • Daeil Kim
    Director
  • Daeil Kim
    Writer
  • Melanie Sudyn
    Writer
  • Daeil Kim
    Story by
  • Melanie Sudyn
    Producer
  • John Spencer
    Producer
  • Daeil Kim
    Producer
  • Kelly MacDougall
    Key Cast
    "Samantha Grey"
  • L.J. Sams
    Key Cast
    "Barry Syput"
  • John Spencer
    Key Cast
    "Cal Owens"
  • Logan Spaschak
    Key Cast
    "Dash"
  • Yaz Georgia
    Key Cast
    "Anessa"
  • Michelle Majumdar
    Key Cast
    "The Lawyer"
  • Dianne Donelson
    Key Cast
    "Rose Syput"
  • Olivia Storm
    Key Cast
    "Lillian Grey"
  • Daeil Kim
    Cinematographer
  • Daeil Kim
    Editor
  • Pablo Anson
    Original Score Composed by
  • Sara Dolado
    Music Editor
  • Shaun Mullins
    Re-recording Mixer, Sound Editor & Designer
  • Jesse Parker
    Sound Recordist
  • Rob Bessette
    Colorist
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Fantasy, Drama, Thriller, Mystery
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 10 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 30, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    13,700 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.00:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Daeil Kim

Twenty-Four-year-old Daeil Kim, is a creator, writer, editor and director. The desire to write stories and turn them into films came early for Kim. It was the beginning of a journey to producing his first feature film, White Demise. The aspiring Korean filmmaker moved to the United States at the age of 18 in the hopes of pursuing his passion for filmmaking. In 2015, Kim enrolled at the State University of New York, where he began to work on his films.

With his high level of creativity and exceptional work ethic, he created eight short films, before the creation of his first full feature film, White Demise.

One of Kim’s shorts, “Re-Rehab” was officially selected to the Toronto Shorts International Film Festival, the Trinity Detroit International Film Festival, The New Jersey Recovery Film Festival, REEL Recovery Film Festival & Symposium, and the Buffalo International Film Festival. And, Kim’s production company, Xylograph Films, entered into a distribution contract with Hewes Pictures for this dramatic work.

For a further look at the director’s cinematic style, please take a look at his website: www.xylographfilms.com

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

White Demise is the onset of the beginning of my journey as a filmmaker. In this $13,700 budget film, there is a certain type of cinematic artistry, which will likely influence one of my core values in future projects. We have intentionally used a well-organized absence of narrative and visual information, which effectively lures the attention of the audience. This style of filmmaking comes from what we choose to conceal rather than what we expose.

White Demise explores the consequences of human desire. It is our hope to show how human conflicts can tie into modern social issues. One of the themes in the film underlines the use of guns and the violence they can create.

I was raised in the Republic of South Korea where gun violence is nearly non-existent; perhaps due to the limited acquisition of guns themselves? Whereas, branding gun use as its’ second amendment, America has a completely different historical relationship with guns. There are pros and cons to both. While in the Republic of South Korea, we do not see the public use of guns or the demise that results from it, we also do not have an ability to defend ourselves as citizens. In the dramatic story of White Demise, the fantasy element of a life-saving bullet, reveals both sides of the argument, leaving the audience to decide for themselves where they may stand on this issue.

The rhythmic editing pattern of White Demise allows for the density of the plots to resonate emotionally with the viewers, while simultaneously being intellectually challenged. The controversial issue of gun use is buried in the hidden meaning that is intended to reside deep within the film. Thus, the viewers are left to perceive it as a well-made story first, and then as a reflection on culture.