Hysterical
In the days following a traumatic event, a stand up comedian fails to find solace in comedy, forcing her to look inward to heal.
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April MoreauDirector
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Emily HanleyWriter
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April MoreauWriter
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Chelsea O'ConnorProducer
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Tara DonovanProducer
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Emily HanleyKey Cast"Bridget"
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Helen HongKey Cast"Susan"
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Kimia BehpoorniaKey Cast"Mia"
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Christine LahtiKey Cast"Mary"
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Project Type:Short
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Runtime:15 minutes 5 seconds
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Completion Date:October 10, 2021
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Production Budget:25,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:Yes - AFI Directing Workshop for Women
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Florida Film FestivalMaitland
United States
April 9, 2022
World Premiere
April Moreau is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where she earned a BFA in Acting. In Los Angeles, she studied TV Writing at UCLA Extension and improv and sketch at Groundlings and UCB. Moreau’s directing career began in the world of digital shorts, with her work being featured on the homepage of Funny or Die and Elizabeth Banks’ WhoHaha. In 2018, her film, BITCHES BY THE SEA, screened in Paul Feig’s shorts contest at the Women in Comedy Festival presented by HBO. Her 2019 short, RIDE IN PROGRESS, premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. She is a proud member of the Alliance of Women Directors and the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, class of 2021.
In the United States, every 68 seconds, someone is sexually assaulted (according to the Rape Abuse & Incest National Network). Despite this staggering statistic, we see relatively few stories of sexual assault and recovery on screen. And when we do see them, they often play out in a sensationalized way, turning trauma into entertainment. My goal with this film is to share a simple, honest representation of one woman's experience in the days following a sexual assault. Her experience is messy, imperfect, and, at times, funny. In my experience, humor finds a way to rear its head at even the darkest of times, and that holds true in our film.