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Midsummer

Hermia (Myra Magdalen) is a girl living in a small evangelical town in the Bible Belt south whose father, Egeus (Eric Krasle), a religious figure in the community, thinks it's best that she marries Demetrius (Andre Scott) a recent convert to the church. But, Hermia just wants to run away into the wilderness with Lysander (David Cozzo), a wild runaway who lives in the woods, and Demetrius is torn between his religion and his love for the rebellious Helena (Kristi Ray) who he used to make out with down by the river. Midsummer takes William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, set in Athens Greece and reimagines it for Athens, Georgia.

Shot on Location in Athens, Georgia

  • Natalie Ulman
    Director
  • Natalie Ulman adapted from the play by William Shakespeare
    Writer
    Wild Hearts
  • Eric Krasle
    Executive Producers
    Athens Burning
  • Sunny Moodie
    Producer
    Nighean Na Coille, Base, Wild Hearts, The Revolutionaries, Cat Call
  • Myra Magdalen
    Key Cast
  • Andre Scott
    Key Cast
  • David Cozzo
    Key Cast
  • Kristi Ray
    Key Cast
  • Eric Krasle
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    drama, romance
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 14, 2015
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Natalie Ulman

Natalie Ulman is a Director who runs a production company (The Highland Shakespeare Company) in the Highlands of Scotland, UK and Georgia USA. Her company produces Shakespeare & literary adaptations. Natalie is adamant on adapting Shakespeare inspired stories in cool & interesting ways for her generation. Natalie's first short is entitled Midsummer – a female coming of age story based off of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream but reimagined for the South. Her next film, currently in post, is a Gaelic short film shot in Scotland based on Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. All of Natalie’s films she produces or directs feature strong female stories and characters filmed by a strong female crew. Both films Natalie has directed were shot by female cinematographers. Natalie is now directing an electric narrative short film and modern adaptation of Shakespeare's As You Like It set in modern urban America.

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Director Statement

The short film MIDSUMMER is an adaptation of William’s Shakespeare’s full length play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The film features original Shakespearean dialogue in a timeless Bible Belt small town setting. The film seeks to make Shakespeare relevant for our generation.

The film particularly deals with the theme of the conflict between religion and sex. Our characters are constantly conflicted between doing what feels right to them and what is right according to the religious community. They are constantly washing their faces, going to the river, even being baptized to wash away what the community has told them are their sins. For example, much of the religious hymns are played over the films’ more ‘sexual’ scenes and traditional spirituals are used to describe their turning away from the Church and fleeing into the wilderness.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is Shakespeare’s most sexual play, but it begins in the stifling society of ancient Athens, Greece (now reimagined for Athens, GA). The short film deals only with the first two scenes of the original play – the scenes of the oppressive court before they run away into the wilderness where they can be ‘free’ from society’s demands.

Growing up in the suburbs of the South I feel that the relationship between Church and self is still a major conflict and source of anxiety for young adults.