STAYCATION, 93min,. USA
Directed by Russell Emanuel
How is the world affected by a catastrophic event? Everyday people live through a government mandated quarantine during a global pandemic while desperate scientists race to find a cure before it’s too late.

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Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

It was the Covid Pandemic. Everything was shut down so my late filmmaking partner Emile Haris (who unfortunately passed away during post-production in July 2023) and I went about to create a film about a pandemic against what seemed insurmountable odds (nothing was open).

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

Emile Haris and I started with a short film called "Routine" which we filmed in April 2020 at the start of the pandemic when even SAG-AFTRA was shut down and we couldn't go outside. So he and I took it upon ourselves to film a 5-minute proof of concept prequel called "Routine" at my condo with a non-SAG-AFTRA actress Paige Laree Poucel and we hired an amazing DC/Marvel Comics Artist Dave Beaty to "draw" the third act which took place outside and hired two amazing voice actors Bill Victor Arucan and Alan Courtright. Due to the success of this film, along with head executive producer Bill Victor Arucan (who reprised his role of 'Rob Peterson' from "Routine" and the Peterson name itself is a running gag in all my 6 feature films), we successfully raised the money to do "Staycation" and started filming in November 2024 when SAG-AFTRA was re-opened but with severe Covid restrictions. We then filmed piecemeal over 2 years, finally completing shooting in November 2022.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Horror Comedy.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The already mentioned death of my filmmaking partner Emile Haris who was the writer/editor/director of photography and was in the process of doing the visual effects for the film when he unexpectedly passed in July 2023. I had to complete the film on my own by hiring another editor/visual effects supervisor Brian Barsuglia and was finally able to complete everything in November 2024.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I was super grateful.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

When I watched Richard Donner's Superman at the age of 5 and fell in love with composer John Williams scores including for this film.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

The Empire Strikes Back – the film I grew up on and with the aforementioned composer John Williams who did the music for it.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

To be honest, what you have been doing is wonderful. Feedback, correspondence, a screening. Thank you so much.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

I love the platform, it's so easy to maneuver and many wonderful film festivals like yours are on there. Makes it super easy to submit.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Cookies and cream ice cream!

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Yes, I am currently doing an extensive polish on the sequel feature film Staycation 2 with amazing writer Avishai Weinberger. I had already written a 93-page script in late 2023 but felt it needed more work and had read a script by Avishai a few years back and loved it and knew I would want to work with him. He should be completed in a month or two and then along with many of the executive producers of the first film, we will start pre-production. I also have another script called The Dollhouse which I'm also very invested in and most likely will make that my next film after Staycation 2 (along with fellow producer Julie D'Aloiso out of Ohio).