Watch The Chairman for Free

Good news, everyone: this Saturday at 8:00pm central time, The Chairman will be unleashed on YouTube for free. I will be there in the premiere chat to hang out and answer questions, and am always interested in hearing audience feedback. So come kick off the (nearly?) post plague spooky season with our low key horror movie about the intersection of late capitalism and the supernatural.

If you happen to be in Northeast Wisconsin on the 9th, there is one last chance to catch The Chairman on the big screen at the Sawdust City Fright Fest in Oshkosh. Check out a curated selection of midwestern horror filmmakers, and listen to an interview with me about the film.

Thank you once again to the incredible cast and crew that brought The Chairman to life, as well as the festival programers and audiences that supported us along the way.

Awards:

Cinepocalypse 2018 - Best Actor: Al Clemente Saks

Cinepocalypse 2018 - Best Actress: Bianet Diaz

Northern Frights 2018 - Best Editing, Best VFX

Motor City Nightmares 2019 - Best Horror Short

Cardiff Mini Film Fest 2019 - Winner: International Twisted Tales

 

<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXsIZ_ioaVbd5Qf8540FnTEJ5RwnZHTm8LH8J0dGC7rgx8pRXKN5CN5eGnOzmUeTmZh3mveyq7nDe-3gMzWrLHwdWHr-7I-GQYHeD8T0NpXmU7qm0N-AkU8Uu4kwf82msF58liGIdv0Hv/s1600/Chairman+VOD+Poster_Tall.jpg" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXsIZ_ioaVbd5Qf8540FnTEJ5RwnZHTm8LH8J0dGC7rgx8pRXKN5CN5eGnOzmUeTmZh3mveyq7nDe-3gMzWrLHwdWHr-7I-GQYHeD8T0NpXmU7qm0N-AkU8Uu4kwf82msF58liGIdv0Hv/w150-h200/Chairman+VOD+Poster_Tall.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Good news, everyone: this Saturday at 8:00pm central time, The Chairman will be unleashed on YouTube for free. I will be there in the premiere chat to hang out and answer questions, and am always interested in hearing audience feedback. So come kick off the (nearly?) post plague spooky season with our low key horror movie about the intersection of late capitalism and the supernatural.<div><br /></div><div>If you happen to be in Northeast Wisconsin on the 9th, there is one last chance to catch The Chairman on the big screen at the <a href="https://sawdustcityfrightfest.com">Sawdust City Fright Fest</a> in Oshkosh. Check out a curated selection of midwestern horror filmmakers, and listen to <a href="https://sawdustcityfrightfest.com/index.php/scff-events/2021-scff-curated-fright-fest/interview-with-the-chairman-director-frank-white/">an interview with me</a> about the film.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you once again to the incredible cast and crew that brought The Chairman to life, as well as the festival programers and audiences that supported us along the way.</div><div><br /></div><div>Awards:</div><div>Cinepocalypse 2018 - Best Actor: Al Clemente Saks</div><div>Cinepocalypse 2018 - Best Actress: Bianet Diaz</div><div>Northern Frights 2018 - Best Editing, Best VFX</div><div>Motor City Nightmares 2019 - Best Horror Short</div><div>Cardiff Mini Film Fest 2019 - Winner: International Twisted Tales</div><div><br />  <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/70nTc2UeSr0" width="400" youtube-src-id="70nTc2UeSr0"></iframe></div></div>

The River's on Fire

Since I didn't get all the analog glitch art out of my system with The Chairman, I helped make this cool music video for Maple & Beech.
<iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/350226617" width="400"></iframe><br /> Since I didn't get all the analog glitch art out of my system with <a href="http://www.videoupdates.net/search/label/The%20Chairman">The Chairman</a>, I helped make this cool music video for <a href="https://mapleandbeech.com/">Maple & Beech</a>.

Watch The Chairman

The Chairman - Retro Horror Short

The Chairman is now available to stream on Amazon Prime!

Hey you, watch my short film. People say it's weird, and usually they mean in a good way. Imagine if Verhoeven was as big a fan of Nigel Kneal as Carpenter is, or maybe if Kneal hated yuppies more than hippies. Now turn that into a low budget movie by a big nerd from Minnesota.

Give it a rating or a review if you can. The algorithmic gods demand engagement before they will dare push unproven content to the masses.

Also check out the original analog synth soundtrack by OGRE



<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVC3UfI4MTxJtOh_7tIJbbJXQ73-uiVE9u_-QtwmV2sxvhScd75uii7q-2jbR8QjY6nSw6KHL4nJ9HNyLWTEKIzi3PXPzGpi3nibTfEpEp4eZUdVBWfLx645I8aJ84WUx9sO8vaahCpoL/s1600/The+Chairman+Laurels+Amazon+Prime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVC3UfI4MTxJtOh_7tIJbbJXQ73-uiVE9u_-QtwmV2sxvhScd75uii7q-2jbR8QjY6nSw6KHL4nJ9HNyLWTEKIzi3PXPzGpi3nibTfEpEp4eZUdVBWfLx645I8aJ84WUx9sO8vaahCpoL/s400/The+Chairman+Laurels+Amazon+Prime.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chairman - Retro Horror Short</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RN1SYH7">The Chairman is now available to stream on Amazon Prime!</a><br /> <br /> Hey you, watch my short film. People say it's weird, and usually they mean in a good way. Imagine if Verhoeven was as big a fan of Nigel Kneal as Carpenter is, or maybe if Kneal hated yuppies more than hippies. Now turn that into a low budget movie by a big nerd from Minnesota.<br /> <br /> Give it a rating or a review if you can. The algorithmic gods demand engagement before they will dare push unproven content to the masses.<br /> <br /> Also check out the <a href="https://ogresound.bandcamp.com/album/the-chairman">original analog synth soundtrack</a> by OGRE<br /> <br /> <br /> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8nUuWJESWrQ" width="400"></iframe>

The Chairman (2018)

The Chairman is a retro sci-fi/horror short about the intersection of business, media, and the supernatural.

Unsanctioned by the board of directors at their powerful multinational, The Pantheon Group, Joy and her supervisor, Vincent, run an experiment on telepathic abilities. Katie, an unwilling research subject and powerful psychic antenna, prepares to silence the chaos in her head by drowning. Her father Miguel, held in a nearby warehouse, must intervene by contacting his daughter telepathically, or watch her drown via hidden cameras. When the experiment is ultimately interrupted by a call from corporate headquarters, Joy must return to the office and face her reclusive, unnatural employer, the Chairman.


The Chairman draws inspiration from a wide variety of 20th century genre material. From the cynical media accelerationism of Paul Verhoeven to Nigel Kneal's scientifically recontextualized spiritualism, with hearty helpings of Cronenberg, Ballard, and even Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Beyond asthetics and nostalgia, it seeks to emulate retro horror at its most intellectual, a tradition from long before the phrase "elevated horror" emerged from the thinkpiece abyss.


Clocking in at twenty minutes (an epic length in the world of short films) The Chairman is densely packed with contributions from a wildly talented cast and crew. For the world premiere at Cinepocalypse 2018, the best short film actress and actor awards were bestowed on Bianet Diaz and Al Saks for their roles as Katie and her father.


In the second half of 2018 The Chairman played an additional eleven festivals, received four more award nominations, and won best editing and best visual effects at Northern Frights. The editing award is especially exciting for yours truly, as it's the first win for something I'm directly responsible for, so not only can I call it an award winning film, but I be insufferably smug and can call myself an award winning filmmaker.

While the film's eventual release on VOD/VHS is waiting for its festival run to wrap up, you can check out its trailer below, and enjoy the short's ghostly, analog synth score by UK composer OGRE Sound.



<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpey_oYSF0GFAby554Y8YWv-KksyFZq7Uo_kkByb_1BiAjOUHBGOOZEE2TBmhk81pv-0-oYbzK11VlPArR9aocxMVN7Ur7v6nvMfk9fH965Hhuvtt9hfuSd9ddHTCoZPG92qmCKo1_Uqu/s1600/The+Chairman_Blogsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpey_oYSF0GFAby554Y8YWv-KksyFZq7Uo_kkByb_1BiAjOUHBGOOZEE2TBmhk81pv-0-oYbzK11VlPArR9aocxMVN7Ur7v6nvMfk9fH965Hhuvtt9hfuSd9ddHTCoZPG92qmCKo1_Uqu/s1600/The+Chairman_Blogsize.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Chairman is a retro sci-fi/horror short about the intersection of business, media, and the supernatural.</span><br /> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unsanctioned by the board of directors at their powerful multinational, The Pantheon Group, Joy and her supervisor, Vincent, run an experiment on telepathic abilities. Katie, an unwilling research subject and powerful psychic antenna, prepares to silence the chaos in her head by drowning. Her father Miguel, held in a nearby warehouse, must intervene by contacting his daughter telepathically, or watch her drown via hidden cameras. When the experiment is ultimately interrupted by a call from corporate headquarters, Joy must return to the office and face her reclusive, unnatural employer, the Chairman.</span><br /> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkfM3dqUNoBTRaEWWMU9oNgj3BgVnHMTdlC2MfGn2zHowaoVvTUgo2ga-6oSMmeNrtnwp4obDqlHz2iNJseU3ZORwwAY-IFPwzzAyLdLE01iSQq0uwcT8ChIOSqhPwhv3fIOXhVucALdk/s1600/Still1_Blogsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkfM3dqUNoBTRaEWWMU9oNgj3BgVnHMTdlC2MfGn2zHowaoVvTUgo2ga-6oSMmeNrtnwp4obDqlHz2iNJseU3ZORwwAY-IFPwzzAyLdLE01iSQq0uwcT8ChIOSqhPwhv3fIOXhVucALdk/s1600/Still1_Blogsize.jpg" /></a><br /> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Chairman draws inspiration from a wide variety of 20th century genre material. From the cynical media </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">accelerationism of Paul Verhoeven to Nigel Kneal's scientifically recontextualized spiritualism, with hearty helpings of Cronenberg, Ballard, and even Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Beyond asthetics and nostalgia, it seeks to emulate retro horror at its most intellectual, a tradition from long before the phrase "elevated horror" emerged from the thinkpiece abyss.</span></span><br /> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqM0hlvYu4fymhlD7gG4IP5eaolPyWpR8AT9UNZi8xVvA3Jv2gCdUiJgj3KUnvUG4HT8Ma9Vun-U_I3p07T0_eKUsRKL8DCRUT6EvXgkHyu0UyxTXlSiV5Nf5VjHKzxIvHpXbHsARZ0mj/s1600/Still3_Blogsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqM0hlvYu4fymhlD7gG4IP5eaolPyWpR8AT9UNZi8xVvA3Jv2gCdUiJgj3KUnvUG4HT8Ma9Vun-U_I3p07T0_eKUsRKL8DCRUT6EvXgkHyu0UyxTXlSiV5Nf5VjHKzxIvHpXbHsARZ0mj/s1600/Still3_Blogsize.jpg" /></a><br /> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clocking in at twenty minutes (an epic length in the world of short films) The Chairman is densely packed with contributions from a wildly talented cast and crew. For the world premiere at Cinepocalypse 2018, the <a href="https://reelchicago.com/article/cinepocalypse-announces-2018-award-winners/">best short film actress and actor awards</a> were bestowed on Bianet Diaz and Al Saks for their roles as Katie and her father.</span></span><br /> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSxUBLKdrRKCCzPy0V0PZYT7vr9XuVkCnxGyx7tI9eLULpfzfLF6WwEvNRLT08egCkeYmMaOf8OffNcjli0QxewYZ1tCDQt6YzXOqh3082idEZBBpYPBmpMJOulZcw-5QFCoJV_AyEGF9/s1600/Still4_Blogsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSxUBLKdrRKCCzPy0V0PZYT7vr9XuVkCnxGyx7tI9eLULpfzfLF6WwEvNRLT08egCkeYmMaOf8OffNcjli0QxewYZ1tCDQt6YzXOqh3082idEZBBpYPBmpMJOulZcw-5QFCoJV_AyEGF9/s1600/Still4_Blogsize.jpg" /></a><br /> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the second half of 2018 The Chairman played an additional eleven festivals, received four more award nominations, and won best editing and best visual effects at <a href="http://www.northernfrightsfestival.com/">Northern Frights</a>. The editing award is especially exciting for yours truly, as it's the first win for something I'm directly responsible for, so not only can I call it an award winning film, but I be insufferably smug and can call myself an award winning filmmaker.</span></span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2StrmFhUUHRu5pWIXemCh9rI4pNUc_2vualywMP3wuEikBD6gAup7eVn2I9U9GACiVuzk-Gqp8rP0p_m7NIXI9h8zq6rpqql1h86XXhEJ_c_ALoKHbeBW4EFTOXv-9gaNot2Yeucg_jZn/s1600/ChairmanLaurels800px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2StrmFhUUHRu5pWIXemCh9rI4pNUc_2vualywMP3wuEikBD6gAup7eVn2I9U9GACiVuzk-Gqp8rP0p_m7NIXI9h8zq6rpqql1h86XXhEJ_c_ALoKHbeBW4EFTOXv-9gaNot2Yeucg_jZn/s320/ChairmanLaurels800px.jpg" width="239" /></a></div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the film's eventual release on VOD/VHS is waiting for its festival run to wrap up, you can check out its trailer below, and enjoy the short's ghostly,</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> analog synth score by UK composer </span><a href="https://ogresound.bandcamp.com/album/the-chairman" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">OGRE Sound</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: 12.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span><br /> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ayb494FRyhs/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ayb494FRyhs?feature=player_embedded" width="400"></iframe> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>

The Chairman is always watching

Ladies and gentlemen, Video Updates is officially in the content™ business. Please refrain from burning yourself out on retro trash before you see our short around Halloween 2018.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72TpsZVxQhuthVTrZhEklvtEr8XJDsEUVBbiw42v6YLeZW5VdlJxX9KNZjEMEGZyBGf2lq2iNlX3kh6cpFe9NdaG_6nn_Ws1bq1tk9cKWP_3j1HO27bVT1JxLAZrFqhS3lSSfKs56DPDX/s1600/Diner+Cigarettes+Blogger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72TpsZVxQhuthVTrZhEklvtEr8XJDsEUVBbiw42v6YLeZW5VdlJxX9KNZjEMEGZyBGf2lq2iNlX3kh6cpFe9NdaG_6nn_Ws1bq1tk9cKWP_3j1HO27bVT1JxLAZrFqhS3lSSfKs56DPDX/s1600/Diner+Cigarettes+Blogger.jpg" /></a></div> Ladies and gentlemen, Video Updates is officially in the content™ business. Please refrain from burning yourself out on retro trash before you see our short around Halloween 2018.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidelvF0BnWfEQn7GX61TETZ-muQBZ9M7xNxD7EGHdO-B4kaS4eSQomX-joTrTVXcu7wNMqg5C4ltpF_xzLbJ3-DfHhfLbB10-whskiE5XdOTQt8XMwBq8NA_P6Drgr5Z9vsaWfj0zYXnDt/s1600/The+Chairman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidelvF0BnWfEQn7GX61TETZ-muQBZ9M7xNxD7EGHdO-B4kaS4eSQomX-joTrTVXcu7wNMqg5C4ltpF_xzLbJ3-DfHhfLbB10-whskiE5XdOTQt8XMwBq8NA_P6Drgr5Z9vsaWfj0zYXnDt/s1600/The+Chairman.jpg" /></a></div> <br />