The Haze
a short film by Currie Lee
On the hottest day of the summer, Elizabeth Rathbone, the only survivor of an infamous family tragedy twenty years prior, has found herself in a bit of trouble: the podcaster who built a platform off of her story has witnessed Elizabeth in a compromising position. Her always-reliable high school boyfriend, Cal, steps in to help, but his loyalty to Elizabeth is beginning to wane. By the end of the day, tensions are high and the consequences are irreversible.
Characters
ELIZABETH: (mid 30s) witnessed her father murder her mother and brothers which triggered a dark transformation into an unrecognizable monster. she's hidden the truth of how she came out unscathed, and the nature of her survival has been up for national debate ever since. little does the public know that what once saved her in a moment of crisis still continues to cause chaos and disaster to her stability years later.
CAL: (mid 30s) Elizabeth's only true friend. they dated in high school before the event. because of their history and that he knows she doesn't have a family, he remains by her side and would do almost anything to support her, especially when it comes to her trauma. but this most recent episode might just be enough for him to leave behind the toxic cycle for good.
NATALIA: (late 20s, early 30s) an internet famous true crime podcaster who boasts an empathetic and media-critical lens. her true nature as an unrelenting journalist who would pretty much stop at nothing to wield Elizabeth's story for her own benefit. though because of the time and attention she does spend on Elizabeth, she has developed a parasocial affection for her and may be willing to forgive Elizabeth, for a price.
Thematic Elements
PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE LIFE: in many ways, Cal represents Elizabeth’s private life while Natalia represents Elizabeth’s public life. the story sets out to juxtapose these two poles: Cal pictured against all of Elizabeth’s book covers, Natalia hidden away in the shed, etc.
ISOLATION: & CODEPENDENCY: Elizabeth’s secret has alienated her from a normal life. she’s holds onto deep shame of her past and therefore isolated from normalcy. Cal is her one tether to a regular life. her dependence on him has created an uneven dynamic between them.
TRAUMA: Elizabeth’s transformation into the monster is a metaphor for unhealed trauma.her first transformation was to save her from a real and physical threat. now, years later,anything that conjures those same unsafe feelings can TRIGGER an unruly transformation,inflicting pain onto others in a CYCLE OF ABUSE. her transformation alters her physicality, thus her IDENTITY feels fragile.
Visual Language
ENVIRONMENT: an emphasis on the lush, cavernous, dreamy quality of Baltimore summer. overgrowth, winding canopied roads. dilapidated architecture overtaken with nature.
MOVEMENT: slow, steady shots. track, dolly, and zoom. very little handheld. everything will feel fluid and deliberate.
FRAMING: many scenes shot through thresholds or other environmental frames. this is to create a sense of voyeurism, the audience is participating in Elizabeth’s surveillance.inversely, the layered compositions reference theatre flats (painted backdrops that are often positioned at the wings to give the scenery depth), what we see is an echo of Elizabeth’s carefully presented life.
LIGHTING: soft, naturalistic lighting, maintaining skin tone. during emotionally charged scenes colors of the environment and lighting heighten the character’s emotions. blues to indicate innocence, yellows to indicate danger, greens to indicate falsehoods or manipulation.
Crew
Film in its very nature is a collaborative venture. This project can only come to life with the support of my professional network. Funding will enable the hiring of the film’s crew members.
DANNY SIEBENHAAR, CINEMATOGRAPHER
MEI LIN MAU MANN, PRODUCER
VIVIANA SANTINI, GRIP/ASSISTANT CAMERA
Social Media
Follow the journey through production of The Haze on instagram and tiktok!
Bibliography
Oathout, Taylor. “Family Annihilators: The Psychological Profiles of Murderous Fathers,” University of Albany Scholars Archive, May 2020.
Mellody, Pia. Facing Codependence: An Insightful Approach to Healing from Childhood Abuses, Overcoming Love Addiction, and Breaking Free from Toxic Emotions. San Francisco, CA: Perennial Library, 2003.