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

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