Staff Select First Premiere "Dekalb Elementary" by Reed Van Dyck |

 CONTENT WARNING: The following video has content that can hurt or cause trauma to some audiences.

Based on a 911 message which made news across the nation 2013 and this week's Staff Choice Premiere is "Dekalb Elementary,"" a gripping Oscar-nominated short written by Reed Van Dyck.

A film that's shot within the confines of a single space doesn't get much better than this. Within 20 minutes, Van Dyck puts forth an impressive feat in environment and pacing. Tension is created by an eerie feeling of seclusion and a clear and confusing understanding of a dubious threat. "I tried to investigate the things we don't see," says Van Dyck. "Whether the actor is blocking his face or leaving the chaos of children running screaming off-screen, heard but never observed. I was thinking that you, the viewers, could create more intriguing images in your own mind that I can show you." The play with space makes every minute more arresting than the previous.

Given the astounding performances from leading actors Tarra Riggs as well as Bo Mitchell, it's no surprise Van Dyck said he wouldn't complete the project without the best actors. A true testament to the crew and cast and the care given to the art of storytelling, "Dekalb Elementary" feels like a non-fiction report of a very real incident.

 We talked to director Reed Van Dyck to talk the inspiration behind his film, as well as challenges and the control of the movie.

What was your inspiration to create the film?

 "'DeKalb" is the basis of a 911 call that was featured on the news in the year 2013. The call is in which we listen to Antoinette Tuff talking to the young man Michael Hill, who walks into her Atlanta elementary school with an AK-47 as well as fifty rounds. I had not heard of the phone call at the time the news first broke and I discovered the information years later when I was researching on a different work I was involved in about a mass shooting. I recall sitting on my sofa on the couch in Los Angeles riveted and emotional when I was listening to the 14-minute audio recording play out. Over the course of weeks, I could not take their voices out of my mind. Her strength and compassion, his confusion and regret. The story touched me from a profound way, and I started to think about how I could bring their encounter to life on film."

 Did you face some challenges while making the film?

 "The film is in essence one-man show. So one of the primary problems was to find the best actors to fill the characters. It was my decision to not produce the film without having the right actors. It took me months of searching IMDb as well as looking over the cast lists for independent movies, TV series, etc. If I came across someone who looked right for one of the two leads, I'd add their name on a list. Once that list had grown to 30 or 40 people I'd begin looking through the names of all actors in it, and looking up their past projects (TV appearances, films, etc) then cutting it down.

 Then I'd start the whole procedure over. This is how I came across Tarra Riggs and Bo Mitchell who play the leading roles. I actually hand-picked every other actor in the film, even the secondary roles, using the similar method. My feeling was that one false note from any actor could take our attention away from the actuality of the circumstances and that's why I needed the best actors that I could locate for every role ."

 It's not easy to set an impactful tone in a matter as serious as this. What did you find to work for you when making this arousing environment?

 "My principal inspiration in making the film was always the 911 call. When I began to consider ways to make the film both visually and emotionally I decided that less was more. The film had such an intense response to the call, that could be described as a radio play -- just these two voices. So, with the movie I was looking to investigate the things we can't see... for example, the actor's face being blocked or children in chaos and screaming on the screen, being heard, but not seeing.

 The impression I got was that you, the viewer, would create more interesting pictures in your own mind that I can present to you. And by giving less information both visually and narratively maybe the audience would take a more active interest in the movie, adding their own personal experience to the experience. The goal was to make it more enjoyable at the least. ."

 The film is extremely controlled, which makes it feel like it was made within a single day. What did the production timeline end up looking like?

 "The script is twenty pages long and so we shot for five days. I attempted to reduce my daily page count to a minimum for the very reasons you mentioned. The longer my crew and I spent to work on the project, the more intentional and attentive I/we were in regards to the design of shots blocking, performance costumes, and production designs. Therefore, for me, having more time means greater control. It's a fact that includes an extended preliminary production process ."

 What's your favorite tip for aspiring filmmakers?

 "This isn't so much advice, but I lived in a small town located in New Jersey called Mahwah. The place I grew up on is an unceded tribal Lunaape land. I have researched about the Lunaape extensively for the documentary that I am making. One aspect that stood out to me, moved me, was the way they viewed stories. Storytelling was thought to be a powerful healing tool for the entire people in the community. The Storyteller was a key figure who traveled between clans within the tribe and told stories that taught people what they needed to do to survive. Stories were part of how these communities and their individuals evolved and awoken.

 Personally, I believe this is the reason I go to the movies. And in strange times like ours, I crave films and filmmakers willing to speak honestly and deeply about their lives and the world around them. I am in search of stories that inspire me to keep on waking. So my (selfish) desire or goal for filmmakers who are aspiring is to see them begin the work of a filmmaker -- this path -- exploring themselves and this world , and then sharing what they find ."

 What's next? Do you have any new projects in the pipeline?

 "I'm currently putting two feature projects together currently. The first is an original script of mine. My producers and I are looking for actors to perform on. The other is based on a New Yorker piece and we're nearing the end of securing releases, rights and other agreements. ."