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.

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The Writer ‘Here in Death’ Teaser

Director’s Statement

The Writer is about a woman who goes to the edge of death and returns with something unfinished.

She is not only searching for answers, but for a way to continue past her threshold. What follows is less a story than a movement toward completion, toward disappearance, toward something that resists being named.

This film exists in a space where time feels suspended. It is nearly eleven pages of straight-dialogue and a few bits. But there is a question beneath it: what does a life leave behind when it is over?

I did not want to resolve this question. Only to approach it.

Film Stills

Film Stills

SHORT FILM | DRAMA/BLACK COMEDY | 16m33s | 1.66:1 | COLOR

Official stills from the film below.

A woman with short red hair and a serious expression sitting in a dimly lit room wearing a dark blouse. She's seated on a wooden chair with a brown cushion. Next to her is a small wooden table with a glass ashtray, cigarette pack, and an ash, with a magazine titled "LOOK" visible underneath.

Production Stills

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.
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.
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 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.
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
A woman with short hair sitting at a desk, smiling, in a studio setting with professional lighting and camera equipment.
A person wearing a cap and dark clothing leaning over a table, with three observers in the background watching intently in a dark environment.
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.
Behind the scenes on a film set, showing a camera operator focusing a professional camera while a person in the foreground observes.
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.
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

CREW

MAIN UNIT

Story By: Nicholas Keil

Written By: Nicholas Keil

Executive Producers: Enzo Flores, Nicholas Keil

Produced by: 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

Colorist: Jared Rosenthal

Post Production Sound Mix & Design: Brendan Roche

Graphic, VFX, Nuke Artists: 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: Isaac Huang

Hair & Makeup: Rita Sylvester

PRODUCTION

Matterhorn Films

Nicholas Keil
Executive Producer
www.matterhornfilms.com
hello@nicholaskeil.com

Overland Pictures

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

DISTRIBUTION

TBA

MARKETING

TBA