Joey's Security Question Quandary

Joey's Security Question Quandary

Bruce Von Stiers

Joey is a guy doing a job interview by way of a live video streaming. The interview is going great. That is, until Joey's internet freezes up. Then things go downhill fast. That's how the short drama film, Dial Up, starts out.

Having seen the title, and reading the overview of the film, I thought it would be Joey dealing with horrible tech support people. But that's not what this film was about.

Through the course of trying to answer automated security questions about his Internet account, we learn that Joey's wife has left him. And that he really didn't know his wife as well as he should have. Not knowing, as a child, what she wanted to be when she grew up or the first concert she attended adds an extra layer of drama to an already angst ridden experience.

Michael Ridley played Joey. He co-starred in the films, Another Brick In The Wall and July Rising.

Taylor Stone was the automated voice from tech support. She co-starred in several short films, including the western adventure short film, Hart of the Wild Bunch.

Angela White was the interviewer for Joey's video interview. She played a nun in the horror film, Consecration, and Marilyn Monroe in an episode of Poker Girls.

Cole Needham co-wrote the screenplay, directed the film and co-produced it. His screen credits include camera operator on an episode of The Rookie: Feds and camera operator on Gran Turismo. Jackson Peckinpah co-wrote the screenplay and co-produced the film. This film is his first IMDB listed screen credit. And Taylor Stone also shared producer credit for the film.

Taylen Anderson was the director of photography. He has been a camera operator and drone operator for almost twenty films, including Argylle and Harold and the Purple Crayon.

Dial Up was a good drama. The essence of a failed marriage and who was to blame, is uniquely played out during the course of questions and answers to account security questions.

The film did get me to wonder about a few things. How well do we know things about our significant others? If something should happen with that person, would we be able to answer security questions like the ones asked in the film? And if there's no active communication between a couple, are they really expected to stay together?

Dial Up has been submitted to the Santa Clarita International Film Festival for possible inclusion in this year's upcoming festival.

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