SYNOPSIS
Stumbling into an empty bar in the middle of a stormy night, drunken Rick tries to ignore his life's problems. A mysterious man appears from the shadows to offer Rick a better life... All he has to do is win a game of pool. If only it were that simple.
BACKGROUND
The Caligo Cuckoo was slated to be filmed in 2020 but was postponed due to the global pandemic.
As the US continued to struggle with COVID-19, we even considered turning this film into a 3D animated short using cutting edge virtual production technology but ultimately decided against it.
Eventually we decided to shoot it live-action in LA and I couldn't be happier with how it all turned out.
INSPIRATION
My mom showed me the Twilight Zone Series as a kid and I would watch the reruns on TV all the time. I loved how each story would transport you to another dimension with endless possibilities, usually with some kind of sinister twist in the end. They felt like old ghost stories you'd tell your friends around a campfire, cautionary tales of sorts.
The show made a huge impact on me at a very young age and I wanted to create a film that gave me the same feeling today.
Caligo Cuckoo is a story about losing sight of what's important. It's about seeing yourself in someone else's shoes, not with empathy but envy.
PRODUCTION
The Caligo Cuckoo was filmed mid June for two days. We had to cram a lot of work in a short amount of time but I'm very proud of what we were able to accomplish.
POST PRODUCTION
The editing, VFX, music and sound were done over a period of five months. The film was edited, colored, and sound mixed on DaVinci Resolve with VFX work completed in After Effects. An original score was composed by John William Johnson with an original song for the end credits written and produced by Vernon West.
L.A. PREMIERE
The first premiere screening of The Caligo Cuckoo happened on Monday October 23rd 2023 at The High Low in Glendale, CA, where we filmed the short.
COMIC CON SCREENING
The film was screened at the L.A. Comic Con on Sunday December 3rd, and was followed by a Q&A panel with cast and crew.
ONLINE PREMIERE
After a few months of small tweaks and revisions, The Caligo Cuckoo was released online on YouTube, January 2nd, 2024. It can be seen by clicking here.
The bar is empty and atmospheric. A chilling setting for a cautionary tale.
Rick and Mr. Black begin their game.
Mr. Black stands alone... what is he waiting for?
The bar is empty and atmospheric. A chilling setting for a cautionary tale.