In the wake of a mysterious family death, a couple’s night of mourning is interrupted by a strange delivery containing an antique dollhouse and a terrifying tale about its lone occupant.

What motivated you to make this film?  

I grew up as a “latchkey kid” of the 1980s and immersed myself in horror movies and short terror tales. A big fan of “Point Horror” tales from Scholastic, including Slumber Party by Christopher Pike and Twisted by R.L. Stine, I also consumed short-form terror tales on the small and big screens, including titles such as Creepshow, The Twilight Zone, Tales from the Darkside, and Tales from the Crypt. This lifelong interest in the macabre shaped my creative voice.  Under the pen name “JC Bratton”—a tribute to my paternal great-grandmother—I crafted a series of short terror tales that paid homage to the authors I respected.  I founded Blue Milk Publishing, LLC, as a small horror press to release these stories. One title in particular, Dollhouse—a “story-within-a-story” about three Japanese dolls—sold over 1,500 copies.  I secured a seed investment to bring a portion of this tale to life.  I went with the story of “Buffy,” the doll that torments a young couple, Mike and Amber. 

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

Well, the intention was to eventually take my stories to the big screen.  So, I’d say about 3 years (I have a busy day job… I am working on my Doctorate… So, you can say that my time is limited!).  The adapted screenplay took about a week.  Pre-production took about 2 months. However, the actual filming took only two days!

How would you describe your film in two words!?

Playful terror

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?The production team, actors, and crew were amazing!  The biggest challenge was getting this ready in time for the large genre festivals.  We made it happen, though!  And, I am proud to say that we did very, very well in the film festival circuit!

There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution. What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?

I actually like post-production, where editing is involved. I think if I had made film my career, I would have chosen to become an editor.

When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Well, my intention for writing my short stories was to see them eventually hit the small or big screens!

What film have you seen the most times in your life?

The original Star Wars (“A New Hope”).

In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with/collaborate with on a film?

Definitely Lucasfilm!  From what I hear, they may be interested in doing horror soon…?

You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It’s been really good! It’s a very easy way to submit our work to festivals around the globe!

What is your favorite meal?Probably breakfast. I am all about going to Starbucks in the morning.
What is next for you? A new film?

Well, I am working on my Doctorate.  My experience making a movie in the indie film industry has become a potential dissertation topic.  I would love to make a feature-length version of Dollhouse or maybe more shorts about the other dolls, Muffy & Duffy!