Imagine going to a conference, meeting a felloww attendee, hooking up with them, and waking up to an unusual incident. This is the premise of Blake Winston Rice’s latest short: DISC. DISC stars Victoria Ratermanis as Alex, and Jim Cummings as Carey, who play these doomed attendees that have to deal with a situation that neither of them could have imagined.
The short begins with Alex waking up and attempting to leave the hotel room before Carey wakes up. In the middle of getting dressed, Carey wakes up, and the awkward conversation about the night before and the day ahead begins. Alex is trying to rush to get back to the conference. She is speaking and needs to prepare, and goes into the bathroom to get ready. Carey attempts to keep the conversation going when he hears Alex in the bathroom.
The interesting thing about this scenario is that these two people only met a few hours earlier and now have to work together. The help that is needed from Alex is not only personal but something that these two do not have, physicality. They have not known each other for years to get this close, but they have to put all of that aside to work together.
What follows next is some of the most anxiety-inducing minutes that I have ever seen in a short. The combination of images, sounds, and camerawork builds tension as Alex and Carey confront their situation. The editing in this moment is spectacular as it pulls the audience into the room with them and highlights all the distractions that attempt to stop them. I can only imagine how chaotic these scene looked in the script compared to the finished version.
DISC can be seen as a parable on the dangers of hooking up at conferences or as the beginning of a new friendship. The audience will have to decide for themselves what happens next, but they will not forget the experience that Alex and Carey took them through.
DISC is currently playing at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival through February 7th.
Final Thoughts: In under 14 minutes DISC, tells a story that is compelling, anxiety-inducing, hilarious, & touching! The performances from both leads are stellar and the look of fear in Jim’s face is priceless. This short can be seen as a cautionary tale but also as a hilarious beginning of a new relationship. If DISC plays a festival near you, go check it out and discuss with your friends what you think will happen next.
Violence: There is no violence in DISC. Although there is a shot of blood in one scene, there is nothing too violent in the movie.
Kid Friendly: The situation the characters are in is not something for young kids to watch. This might be suitable for the 18 and over crowd, but parents should have the final say.
After a one-night stand during a work conference, a man and woman wake to an unexpected crisis. With a career-defining presentation looming the two near-strangers must navigate an uncomfortably intimate situation—and the fragile connection it reveals.
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