A Local Coverup?

A Local Coverup?

Bruce Von Stiers

A young woman is splashing herself in the surf. As she exits the water, she's caressing a slim cross dangling from a necklace.

This is the beginning of a short film titled Locals Only. At first it seems to be a drama, but the film's director considers it to be a dark satire. It is a micro-short film with a runtime of just under five minutes.

The young woman is a lifeguard at the beach. We see her at the lifeguard station at the beach. She hears on her walkie talkie some information about a missing woman. And then she sees something in the water. It is the body of the missing woman.

But there is something not quite right about the whole situation. What happened to the dead woman? And does the lifeguard know something about it?

Taryn O' Connor wrote and directed the film. Per the bio sketch on her website, she “writes comedies and dramedies about girls getting into trouble.” Her films have been finalists in various competitions, and she also writes and directs commercials such as one currently airing from Aday. And she is working as a writer on a Kevin Hart NBC/Peacock project.

Tom Kalnas was the producer.

Eloise Payet was the lifeguard. She starred in the short thriller film The Visit.

Angela Batuure was the body in the water. She co-starred in When I Consume You.

Evan Weidenkeller was the director of photography. He was the cinematographer for such short films as Fallen Angels and Hellmouth.

There was original music by Jake Rose, Nicky C. Rose and Hayleyjane Rose. And there was a song in the film, Pool Hopping that was performed by the Illuminati Hotties.

Locals Only is a bit of an intriguing film. I wasn't too sure what was going on until near the end. And then the ending scene brought a kind of twist that I hadn't anticipated.

The film is currently a submission for this year's upcoming Santa Clarita International Film Festival.

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