Dangerous Discourse
​(2020)

Synopsis: 
Dangerous Discourse, a Zoom film, follows the story of a group of friends learning to navigate having political discussions. Will the friends be able to see past their differences? Or will their disagreements cause a rift in their friendship? As we all know, discourse can be delightful... or it can be dangerous. Starring Matt Tierney, Candace Michelle, and Aidan Martinez, this is Samantha Bozin's second film as a director with Fentress Films.

​DISCLAIMER: This movie was filmed entirely on a laptop on Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo above: Dir. Samantha Bozin

Photos from the film:
Director's Statement: 
Imagine filming an entire film on Zoom on your laptop with actors from all over the Unites States. Well, that's exactly what we did with Dangerous Discourse. 

After learning about the extreme defunding of USPS resources right before the 2020 presidential election, I knew I had to speak up about this issue! So, Miles Thompson and I wrote the script in a week's time, casted nationwide via Backstage the week after, and then we filmed the movie the first week of September 2020 (right in the middle of the global COVID-19 pandemic). Due to the fact that this project was entirely casted, rehearsed, and filmed on the internet allowed us to cast actors and crew members ranging from Denver, Colorado to Austin, Texas, and all the way to New York City. 

Filming an entire movie on Zoom was incredibly fun and innovative, but it also had its challenges. We only used the cameras from each actor's computers to film on Zoom and Quicktime, and then we recorded audio separately through our professional microphone. Filming this way was challenging because 1) the quality of a computer camcorder is nowhere near the quality of a real camera, and 2) there are only so many camera angles and shots one can do when recording in isolation. But, we were all up for the challenge and it was incredibly fun collaborating with the actors to find the right camera angles, pick out costumes, and style hair/makeup. And when I say that these actors put in 110% effort, I mean that! They had to not only focus on their acting, but also focus on changing their camera angles, making sure they are in focus and can be heard, checking in to see if their makeup needs a touchup, and adjusting lighting when necessary. So, we all wore many hats for this project, and it was a very challenging, collaborative, and ultimately satisfying process!

Going back to the story itself, Dangerous Discourse is important to me because as a young person, I am trying to navigate my way through political conversations with my friends (without getting my feelings hurt or without hurting my friends' feelings), which is so challenging! And since the 2020 election is coming up (and there's a lot at stake), I figured this would be the best time to open up the dialogue and show the world how to (or how not to) have these uncomfortable conversations with friends. The film is a coming of age story shot in an innovative and experimental way, and I truly hope you enjoy it!
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"Coffee may be hot, but so are some people's tempers..." If you read our tagline and are thinking "oh yeah, that's definitely me whenever I get in a heated debate with my friends", then this film is for you!!
Film Festival Screenings & Awards:

Andromeda Film Festival 
Award Winner: Honor Award

Brazil International Monthly Independent Film Festival
Award Winner: Best Poster
Finalist: Best Directing

London International Monthly Film Festival
Finalist: Best Directing

Sweden Film Awards
Semi-Finalist: Best Directing
Semi-Finalist: Best Editing

Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival
Finalist: Best Directing
Honorable Mention: Best Poster

International Moving Film Festival
Semi-Finalist: Best Actor
Semi-Finalist: Best Actress
Semi-Finalist: Best Editing
Semi-Finalist: Best Poster

Prague International Monthly Film Festival
Finalist: Best Trailer

Frostbite International Indie Fest
Official Selection

American Golden Picture International Film Festival
Official Selection

The Lift-Off Sessions
Official Selection

The Quarantini Monthly Film Festival
Official Selection
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