Arkansas Short Films

Join us for a showing of short films made in Arkansas.  Raelyn Munneke, president of the NWA Screenwriters Collective will present a collection of short films by the NWA Screenwriters Collective. This Event is a fundraiser for the NWA Screenwriters Collective and The Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow.

2024 NWA SWC Short Film Synopses

Hushed Mind

Run Time: 10:35

SYNOPSIS:

On the way to spend time with her friend, she is captured by the haunting “Hushed Killer”, and fights to survive.

Written by Raistlin Clem

SCREENWRITER BIO:

Raistlin Clem was first introduced to screenwriting when his good friend, Joseph McCulley asked him to write a ten-page script for a class. That script ended up becoming Hushed Mind.

He has spent most of his life in the NWA area and most of Raistlin’s inspiration as a writer, in both novels and screenplays, comes from when he lets his mind wander during the day, but music is another strong source of inspiration.

He’s always been drawn to creative professions. It makes sense, given his namesake. Someone with the Dragonlance name would be interested in making stories.

Tommy

Run Time:

SYNOPSIS:

A young man awakens from a nightmare.  His girlfriend tries to console him, but in the end, she's the one who needs to be consoled.

Written by Kate Siegenthaler

SCREENWRITER BIO:

Kate lives with her husband, Lyle, on a 35-acre ranch in Bentonville, AR. The daughter of an Air Force Colonel, Kate traveled extensively and lived in many parts of the world, including Southern California for nineteen years.

A writer since youth, Kate has authored six original screenplays. She has produced and directed three award-winning documentaries since 2013.

Kate just completed production of the feature thriller, Inthralled, which will begin screening in film festivals and seek distribution in 2024. She is currently in development and seeking funding for her feature film, Somewhere Downriver.

Hit On Me

Run Time: 14:44

SYNOPSIS:

Ben waits patiently for Joy to arrive for their first date.  Having met on a cheater's website, their secret rendezvous sparks immediate chemistry.  Tensions begin to rise and the meeting unravels in spectacular fashion!  Hit On Me is a suspenseful thrill ride full of intrigue, plot twists, and second-guessed missteps.

Written by Josh Baxter & Clayton Bowman

SCREENWRITER BIO:

Josh Baxter and Clayton Bowman grew up sharing a love for film and storytelling. Their first screenplay was an epic thriller, Crowley’s Ridge, which was an official selection of the Beverly Hills screenplay competition. Their writing includes ten feature-length screenplays and a number of short scripts. Leather Britches was awarded “Best Overall Short Western” at The Wild Bunch Film Festival, and Hit On Me received honors of “Best Suspense” and “Best Plot Twist” during its festival run. Among their favorite writing themes are multi-layered drama and suspense, giving stories of any genre an emotional hook and a thrilling conclusion.

Back to Bora Bora

Run Time: 6:20

SYNOPSIS:

Old married couple, Him and Her are so sick of each other. They try to discuss their final plans for death, but it takes a different direction, one that fellow old couples will relate to.

Written by DZ Rife

SCREENWRITER BIO:

DZ Rife has been a writer her whole life. In her 60s, she started writing short and feature scripts. One short script was filmed and accepted into seven festivals, winning one. Her feature script was award-winning at one festival, and reached quarter- and semifinals among three other festivals.

Love for humor makes comedy her favorite genre. She uses double entendres in most scripts, exploiting ambiguity. A southern girl, she knows the language of the South, it’s laughter, tears, and joy. It is beautiful music to her ears.

Mom.ent of Peace

Run Time: 8:17

SYNOPSIS:

To escape the chaos of motherhood, four moms retreat to their respective bathrooms but their kids inevitably follow, and break their moment of peace.

Written by Raelyn Munneke

SCREENWRITER BIO:

Interviewing sports stars for ESPN was fun, but the sideline perspectives truly enriched the art of stories for Raelyn. From Oklahoma roots to the University of Texas, and now, NWA, she’s been a documentarian for 18 years, yet wrote Full House specs at age 8.

Her scripted work has led to recognition at the 2022, 2023 Austin Film Festival and CineStory quarterfinals, continuing to motivate the juggle of life with three kids and this adventure called filmmaking.

Banana Triangle Six

Run Time: 23:30

SYNOPSIS:

A day in the life of an elderly gentleman, Hank Crute, as he deals with the trials and tribulations of a resident of Spring Valley retirement home, bad food, conniving females and an unexpected Doctors visit.

Written by Marc Crandall

SCREENWRITER BIO:

Marc Crandall is a long-time resident of Fayetteville, AR by way of New York, Baton Rouge and St. Thomas, USVI. Currently retired from the construction industry, Marc finds that filmmaking is very akin to building a building. Plans (script), Subcontractors (Crew and Cast), working on time and budget with a lot of creativity thrown in to boot. Very satisfying!

Marc was thrusted into screenwriting by two forces: First, a producers seminar at UCLA convinced him that the best position to find success in the industry was one of Producer/Writer. Second, since COVID had shut down production, it was time to try to be a writer.

His current short film, Banana Triangle Six is Marc’s first attempt at screenwriting. It is adapted from a short story by Louis Bayard, who kindly allowed Marc to run with his story and really proved a leg up on the process. With a great story in place, Marc was able to concentrate on impactful dialogue and making the story visual.