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Logline

The strength of twin brothers Peter and Paul’s relationship is tested in the wake of a secretive right of passage. Based on lived experiences, this haunting coming of age story follows young Peter precariously navigating the intricacies of a hyper-masculine environment, and enduring the devastating fallout from a life-changing event.

Synopsis

We open on a rough game of Red Rover at an all-boys prep school. It’s a daily trial of strength and athleticism. A boyhood battlefield. Twins Peter & Paul’s innocent relationship sharply contrasts this hyper-masculine environment. When Peter is injured in the chaos Paul concernedly stays by his side, comforting Peter as he tries to hold back the tears that he fears will give his weakness away. Their intimate companionship is further highlighted later that evening as they whisper fantastical stories to each other in bed.

The next afternoon on a playdate at their classmate’s house, Darren tries to coax the twins into playing a mysterious game. In an attempt to prove himself, Peter agrees to play without fully understanding what the game entails. Darren jumps on his eagerness and leads him into the nearby forest, leaving Paul alone at the house, mind racing and distressed by what might be happening to his brother. When they return, something has changed in Peter, yet Paul is too afraid to ask, and Peter, too ashamed to open up.

Consumed by paranoia, Peter’s shame pushes him to his breaking point. Triggered by possible gossip spread by his brother at school, Peter ruthlessly targets Paul in a game of Red Rover. In a fury of anger, he violently unleashes his torrent of emotions onto Paul, leaving us in a state of helplessness. A tragic loss of innocence as their precious bond is unforgettably broken. Their future, uncertain.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Bill Chen – Writer/Director
Bill Chen is a South African writer, director and editor. A graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a BA in Film and TV Production, Bill’s work has been featured in various international film festivals including the Nantucket Film Festival and the Clermont Ferrand Short Market. He has worked in music videos for artists featured in Rolling Stone magazine and shot content for brands such as Cape Town City Football Club, First National Bank (FNB) and La Liga Spain. Bill is currently in post-production for his next narrative short film, Boys Will Be Boys, and is developing his first narrative feature film.

Margaret Montavon – Producer
Margaret Montavon is a New York-based actor, producer, writer, educator, and co-founder of production company, Pipe Dream, who believes in harnessing the transformative power of the arts to convey meaningful stories and tap into the shared universality of the flawed human experience. Margaret holds a BA in Theatre Performance from Marymount Manhattan College, a Master’s in Education from Northeastern University, and is a graduate of the Upright Citizen’s Brigade, where she developed her love for comedy and telling stories with heart and humor. While also actively creating, producing and developing several forthcoming series (including Disruptor, executive produced by Priyanka Chopra Jonas), Margaret recently produced the short film When We Arrive As Flowers and wrote and produced her first two children’s books. Margaret is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA, and The Gotham.

Elizabeth Raia – Producer
Elizabeth Raia is a New York-based producer, actor, writer, certified crisis counselor, and co-founder of production company, Pipe Dream. She is passionate about telling stories focusing on overlooked and underestimated individuals and communities. Elizabeth earned degrees in Communication Arts and Business from Marymount Manhattan College and has worked in various areas of production, garnering ample time at The Colbert Report, ABC, VIACOM, and the PGA. She is a member of WIF, The Gotham, and the HRTS. Elizabeth recently produced the short films, Wait, Waterfall, and When We Arrive As Flowers. She has recently created and co-created several scripted projects, including Disruptor, executive produced by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and the limited series Ruby, a MMIWG-centric dramedy currently in development with a predominantly Native creative team and the Crow Tribe of Montana.

Allan X. Chen – Composer
Allan X. Chen is a passionate, award-winning composer. He is the writer and director’s own twin brother and will lend authenticity to the storytelling behind the music. Born and raised in South Africa, he is the twin brother of the director. He is a first prize winner of the 2022 Percussive Arts Society International Composition Contest, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) Composer’s Hub, the Bowdoin International Music Festival Composition Competition, and recipient of the Elgar Memorial Prize from the Royal College of Music (RCM). His music has been performed by the RSNO, the JACK Quartet, Alea III Ensemble, Quartetto Indaco, and has been performed across the globe at the São Paulo Contemporary Composers Festival, Cheltenham Int. Music Festival, and Bowdoin Int. Music Festival. His film scores have been featured in the Nantucket Int. Film Festival, São Paulo Int. Film Festival, and Los Angeles Int. Shorts Festival.

Dr. Èmil Haarhoff – Intimacy Coordinator
Dr. Èmil Haarhoff is a freelance actor, director, choreographer and intimacy coordinator (IC). He completed his Ph.D. in Drama through the University of Pretoria, his Master’s Degree in Musical Theatre through the Tshwane University of Technology and his Certification in Movement Analysis (CMA) through the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York. He is trained and certified as an IC through Intimacy Coordinators and Directors (IDC) in the USA, and is the only SAG-AFTRA registered IC in Africa. Èmil trained (and co-designed training modules for) IC’s throughout Europe, India, Brazil, The Middle East and Africa for Safe Sets and Netflix. IC credits include work for Netflix, Showmax, HBO and other major streaming platforms and channels. He also has a vibrant career as a stage performer and film actor, including international touring productions and creative work featured on some of the biggest festival and theatre stages around South Africa.

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Contact

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