Repeater

I discovered Chris Offutt’s “Target Practice” while studying Creative Writing at James Madison University and immediately saw its potential as a short film. At the time, I’d only dabbled in filmmaking, focusing more on short fiction, but following graduation, I submersed myself into video production, focusing primarily on narrative promotional videos and music videos (Eternal Summers; Creepoid).

After tossing a few scripts to friend and colleague Tim Estep, who had produced various features and short films, I finally decided to try my hand at an adaptation. I felt I was growing as a scriptwriter, but was still exploring different techniques. I revisited “Target Practice” because I knew I wanted to do a relatively straightforward, true-to-form adaptation, and the short story was already near-perfect for the screen and for my aesthetic. I knew this narrative would let me explore the terseness, the strained communication, and the isolation of my Appalachian upbringing the best way I knew how, through the open lens of filmmaking.