The Star in the Mirror - a short film

The short film, The Star in the Mirror, was shot in November 2020, funded by a successful Indiegogo campaign led by producer Eileen O’Donnell, and will be premiering at the 2021 Maryland Film Festival in the Midnighters Block.

We were initially solicited to shoot the film as a contribution to the horror anthology, The United States of Horror. While we turned in an eight minute version of the film for that project, the short film being submitted to festivals is the 17 minute version.

The movie comes from a childhood distrust of Santa’s Elves after being told they were always watching from a corner of the window, being trapped in a pitch meeting, and the desperateness that sometimes comes with the idea of being an artist and financially unsound.

Brief Synopsis: 1950’s, Baltimore, Christmastime, a failing musician invites a music promoter over under the false pretense of romance. His true intent is to force his music on her. When she is not moved by his music or his antics, he responds poorly. He is “bad” not realizing that one of Santa’s elves is watching, making a list, checking it twice.

CREW

• Written and Directed by Miceál Og O’Donnell

• Produced by Eileen O’Donnell

• Cinematography by Lauren Scott

• Musical Score by Rick Szybowsky (Vocals performed by Chris Taylor)

• Production Design & Special FX MakeUp by Eileen O’Donnell

• Comic Art by Michael Iannece

• Crowdfunding Art by David C. Ranking III

• Co-Produced by JWJ Ferguson and Eric Cotten

• Associate Produced by Jeff Daly, Tom Hill, Suzanne Wilson, and Leesa Ashley

• First A.C. and Smoke FX by Charlie Knott

• Digital FX and Onset Editing by Travis Whitworth

• MakeUp Consulting by Siobain O’Donnell

• Dialect Coaching by Georgina O’Toole

CAST

• Emmy Harrington as Bridgit

• Jake McMichael as Harold

• Vera Takemoto as Santa’s Elf

• Eileen O’Donnell as the Housekeeper

• Chad Smith as Edward Edwards

• Alina Smith as Doris Edwards

• AND Ada Smith as Judy Edwards

Special Thanks