3:33, 7min., USA
Directed by Michael Munz, Michael Ferrari
In the middle of night, a man’s quiet routine is disrupted by small, unsettling signs that something is sharing his space. As fear pushes him into hiding, the boundaries between safety and threat collapse. When help finally arrives, the house becomes a trap, revealing that whatever lurks within doesn’t leave witnesses.

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Get to know Michael Munz:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I wanted to explore the unsettling feeling of being watched or experiencing something you can’t fully explain, especially in those quiet late-night moments.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take?

From the initial idea to final cut, it took about 2-3 months. Most of that time was spent refining the concept and editing, making sure the pacing and atmosphere felt right. We shot the film over 2 separate days, each 2 weeks apart. So it certainly was a little bit of a struggle to keep continuity throughout, especially because we only had the creature on certain days.

3. How would you describe your film in two words?

Unsettling. Minimalist.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The biggest challenge was creating strong tension with limited resources. I had to rely heavily on lighting, sound, and pacing rather than big visual effects, which pushed me to be more creative with how I built suspense.

5. What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?

100% Production. To be honest, this is the first short film I’ve ever made, so to get on set with the 10-15 members of crew that we had, and to see everyone working together was just a great feeling.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Around 6 years ago, my grandmother bought me a GoPro as a Christmas gift. Truly I thought I was a professional director the second I laid hands on it. I would go around and make videos about everything and anything. And I think that’s sort of what really jumpstarted this whole journey as a filmmaker to where I am today. (I don’t shoot on a GoPro anymore. I recently purchased a cinema camera.)

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

I’m not really sure about my whole life, but in recent years I have watched the conjuring so many times I could practically recite lines from it. I really love the filmmaking style, and I really think that I have developed a lot of my identity as a filmmaker growing up watching films from the conjuring series.

8. In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with?

I’d love to collaborate with filmmakers who are known for building tension and atmosphere in unique ways, like David Fincher.

9. How has your experience been with FilmFreeway?

It’s been a really useful platform for discovering festivals and getting my work out there. It makes the submission process straightforward and accessible for independent filmmakers.

10. What is your favorite meal?

A Homemade Fried Chicken Cutlet

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I’m currently developing my next project and focusing on improving in areas like cinematography and sound design. I want to build on what I learned from 3:33 and create something even more refined and impactful.