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Logline

Sawyer and Patrick’s vacation goes off the rails when they discover the house they’re staying in is filled with creatures, and they won’t let them leave.

Synopsis

Sawyer is an unemployed artist who is struggling with her self worth in a tough job market. So when her longtime best friend, the lonely accountant Patrick, asks if she wants to help housesit his uncle’s mansion, it seems like the perfect getaway. At their different crossroads in life, Patrick and Sawyer struggle to see eye to eye and communicate. This only escalates when they realize the house they’re staying in is full of creatures—played by puppets—and they won’t let them leave!

Both Patrick and Sawyer think they know the right way to get out. Sawyer attempts to understand the creatures despite the fact that they don’t speak the same language. Meanwhile Patrick is afraid of the creatures, and-refusing to play make believe with them-insists on finding a more practical way out. Both strive towards their own goals while butting heads and dealing with the increasing chaos caused by the creatures.

Eventually this all reaches a head with neither of their plans working. This is the last straw for an already disheartened Sawyer, who retreats into a defeatist mindset. Switching dispositions, Patrick has to step up and attempt to find them a way out. Eventually they realize they’ve been doing it all wrong. The only way to solve the problem is to bring the creatures back together, and work as a team.

Creatures of the House explores themes of isolation vs community, empathy, and the importance of human made art. The film uses a unique blend of live action, puppetry, and animation to tell its story.

Meet the Filmmakers

Michaela Wadzinski — Producer/Director/Writer
Michaela Wadzinski is a story artist, writer, and director. She loves to tell character-driven stories with a lot of heart and a healthy dose of comedy! She grew up with an incredible passion for animation, but found a second love in live action. Michaela can often be found working in either medium or mixing the two.

The short films she’s directed have played in over 80 festivals worldwide and won over 20 ‘best of’ awards. Including the ‘Ron Clements Award for Excellence in Animation’.

Reed Ellefson – Director of Photography
Reed Ellefson is a Director of Photography hailing from Rapid City, SD. During his early years, Reed found his love for film thru producing stop motion animations using his Lego collection. This later grew into an interest for live action and the role that the camera plays in the tone and emotion of films. Outside of his passion for narrative, Reed is also an avid sports cinematographer, regularly shooting for NFL Films and several college athletic programs.

Ethan Grafton — Sound Editor/Composer
Ethan Grafton is a sound editor and music maker from the Midwest. For the better part of ten years, he’s been mixing dialogue on various shows and movies at Outloud Audio in Burbank.

Greyson McCown — Production Designer
Greyson McCown is a production designer and technical director. From theater, to film, to live staging, Greyson has been designing appealing and imaginative environments for years. He looks forward to the unique creative challenges of designing a puppet film.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact [email protected].