Text that says 'The Writer' in large white font on a black background.

In 1956, a visionary writer undergoes a forbidden occult procedure to experience death firsthand — then returns to complete her magnum opus and confront the meaning of life (and death) itself.

→ Follow THE WRITER

THE WRITER‘HERE IN DEATH’ TEASER

This teaser doesn’t explain The Writer, it steps into its rhythm. It’s meant to be felt before it’s understood.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

The Writer began as a bit of a thought-experiment, an insane writing bender, and the urge to create something after multiple long-form narrative films left me wanting more. I wanted to build something where every frame had purpose and where camera movement, lighting, and editing worked as one. This film was previsualized heavily from the start, with the edit serving the design, not the other way around.

Visually, it draws from the aesthetic of mid-20th century filmmaking. We worked within the limits of what could have been done in the '50s (within reason, of course, we’re not that nostalgic), using practical effects, fixed lighting setups, and deliberate motion. It wasn’t an exercise in ‘making new old, old new’ but rather it uses those tools to ask something more present. The story deals with mortality, with what remains after we’re gone. That question has followed me throughout this project, especially over the past year, where three heavy losses were felt. It’s not grief exactly, but a deep attention to the shape of life and what it leaves behind.

Everything about this film was a test: can one actor carry this alone? (Yes). Can we make the most out of every frame? Can the text be trusted implicitly? At its core, The Writer is both a study and a reflection—an attempt to understand something just out of reach by building it, piece by piece, with precision. I only hope the novelty of this film stays with you, as it has stayed with me.

This film is for дед, who, I wish could have seen this.

THE HIGH-WIRE ACT OF THIS FILM IS IN ITS DESIGN, WHERE EACH SHOT IS CAREFULLY CRAFTED TO CONNECT SEAMLESSLY WITH THE NEXT, ACTING AS A VISUAL BLUEPRINT.
- Nicholas Keil

FILM STILLS

FILM STILLS

SHORT FILM | DRAMA/BLACK COMEDY | 18 MIN | 1.66:1 | COLOR

Official stills from the film below.

A woman with short brown hair and fair skin sitting in a dark room next to a wooden table with a pack of cigarettes, a lighter, and an ashtray.

PRODUCTION STILLS

Silhouette of film camera and lighting equipment in a dark setting with illuminated background
Black and white photo of a woman with short hair sitting at a desk, working on a typewriter, with a desk lamp illuminating her face.
Behind-the-scenes photo of a film or television production set with multiple crew members and actors, illuminated by large bright lights.
A person typing on a vintage typewriter at a cluttered desk, illuminated by a desk lamp.
A man with curly hair, beard, and mustache, wearing a dark shirt, is illuminated by a focused light against a black background.
Black and white photo of a man with curly hair and a beard, looking down at a book or paper in front of him, in a dark setting with dramatic lighting.
A woman sits in a leather chair in a dimly lit studio, illuminated by a large professional light. She is looking slightly towards the camera with a subtle smile.
A vintage tape recorder with two reels and control buttons on a wooden table, beside a clapperboard with actor and director names, dated February 17, 2024.
Group of five young men in casual clothing on a film set, some with beanies and hoodies, looking at a camera or screen, with a dark background and professional equipment around.
A man with glasses, curly hair, and a beard is sitting in a chair on a stage, wearing a brown suit, blue shirt, and dark tie, with a serious expression.
A woman in a dark dress sitting on a chair in a dimly lit studio or set, with two men nearby, one standing and the other sitting, along with filming equipment.
Three men on stage, one seated on a chair, two standing behind him, with stage lights and set pieces around them.
A young man with short hair, smiling, is sitting in front of DJ equipment. Two other men are standing behind him, one wearing a black t-shirt with a logo and the other in a light shirt. The scene appears to be in a dimly lit room or club, possibly du
A wooden table with a small bird figurine, a notebook or photo album, a smartphone, and a tablet with a photo displayed, in a dimly lit room with a dark background.
Three people on a film set: a man in a black hoodie and beanie operating a large camera, a man in a black hoodie and red cap making a peace sign, and a woman with short hair and a patterned shirt sitting on a chair, with a bright light overhead.
Blurry photo of a person operating camera equipment on a film set or production stage, with another person nearby. Scene is dimly lit.
A young man with a mohawk hairstyle appears to be on set, looking intently at a typewriter while a crew member adjusts equipment nearby.
Close-up of a person's hand pointing to a colorful illustrated picture book, with pencils or brushes visible on the right side.
Black and white photo of three men in a dimly lit room. One man in the foreground wears a baseball cap and is working with electronic equipment, focusing on the task. Two other men are in the background, one sitting at a desk with a lamp, and another
Two individuals standing side by side, each with hands clasped together, in a dark, blurred setting.
A woman with short hair sitting at a desk, smiling, in a studio setting with professional lighting and camera equipment.
A dark room with three people dimly lit by glowing rectangular lamps, two are sitting and one is standing, with the person standing looking directly at the camera.
A person wearing a cap and dark clothing leaning over a table, with three observers in the background watching intently in a dark environment.
Two men with dark clothing and serious expressions are standing in a dark space, illuminated by a small light source.
Three people in dark room illuminated by a dim light from the left, with one person looking down and the other two looking forward.
A person sitting in front of a monitor displaying a ballet dancer, captured in black and white, with soft lighting focusing on the person.
A man in a dark shirt looks down at a body covered with a sheet, lying on a table. The scene is dimly lit with a single bright overhead light.
A person typing on a vintage typewriter in a dimly lit room, surrounded by papers, pencils, and a jar, with a small desk lamp illuminating the workspace.
A woman with blonde hair styled in an updo, wearing a black blouse, sitting at a desk with a typewriter, a teacup, and papers, looking confidently at the camera against a dark background.
A woman with short hair sitting at a desk, holding three tarot cards with eye illustrations, and smirking at the camera, with a typewriter and various items on the table.
Behind the scenes on a film set, showing a camera operator focusing a professional camera while a person in the foreground observes.
People backstage at a concert or event, preparing or discussing, with dark background and stage lighting.
A woman with blonde hair in a patterned top looking at a man lying on a table, covered with a plastic sheet, in a dimly lit room with bright light coming from a window or light fixture behind them.
A person is lying on a table with a rain simulation over them in a dark room, while a man operating a camera looks on. The scene appears experimental or artistic.
Black and white photo of two young men, one holding a camera, standing behind a barricade or barrier at a nighttime event.
A woman with tattoos applying makeup to a man with short hair and a sleeveless shirt in a room with framed pictures on the wall.
Black and white photo of a man looking into a large camera or film camera, with a dark background.
Black and white photo of a man wearing a cap and dark T-shirt, leaning over a table or surface, with another person partially visible in the background, indoors with dim lighting.
Black and white photo of three young men, with one holding a camera above his head, in a dimly lit room.
A person sitting behind a sign that says "CENSORED" at night. The person has one hand on their head and is looking at the camera in a dimly lit setting with a bright light source above.
Black and white photo of a person with short hair seen through a narrow opening, creating a framing effect with blurred edges in the foreground.
A person in a suit sitting on a chair on a dimly lit film set at night under a clear sky with the moon visible.

CAST & CREW

CAST

The Writer: Teresa Mae Lafferty

The Doctor: Miguel K. Ries

The Assistant: Karl Keil

The Cadaver: Shaun Melady

CREW

MAIN UNIT

Story By: Nicholas Keil

Written By: Nicholas Keil

Executive Producer: Enzo Flores, Nicholas Keil

Producer: Samuel Cowan, Teresa Mae Lafferty, Gabriel Galvez

Production Companies: Matterhorn Films, Overland Pictures

Director: Nicholas Keil   

DP: Sam Ari Cowan

1st AC: Zack Auron

2nd AC: Karl Keil

Gaffer: Jason Chua

Key Grip: Chris Violette

Dolly Grip: Malcolm Moore

Hair & Makeup: Rita Sylvester

Prod. Sound Mixer: Jordan Buttolph

Dialect Coach: Barbara Rubin   

1st AD: Gabriel Galvez

Set PAs: Taína Hernandez, Dwight Williams, Jude Nicastro

Production Designer: Travis Devine

Taxidermy by Brooklyn Taxidermy, Amber Maykut

Location Services: Rollin Studios, Broadway Stages

Studio Services: Anthony Argento

Color & VFX: Nicholas Keil & Karl Keil

Music by Ryan DeFranzo

PICKUP UNIT

DP: Sam Ari Cowan

1st AC: Zack Auron

2nd AC: Karl Keil

Gaffer: Jason Chua

Key Grip

Hair & Makeup: Rita Sylvester

PRODUCTION

Matterhorn Films

Nicholas Keil
Executive Producer
www.matterhornfilms.com
info@matterhornfilms.com

Overland Pictures

Enzo Flores
Executive Producer
www.overland.pictures
enzofloresinfo@gmail.com

DISTRIBUTION

TBA

MARKETING

TBA