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A Carroll native and 2020 graduate of Carroll High School will lead you into the depths of a fractured mind in her first leading role. Taydem Shoesmith plays Jessie, a polyphobic woman who also suffers with anxiety and panic attacks in a 16-minute independent short film. She becomes infected with a virus which leads her into the dark recesses of her dying mind to face some of her biggest fears in today’s (Thursday’s) release of “In the Dark.” Shoesmith says normal is a difficult concept in the best of times, and Jessie somewhat exemplifies what this means.
Co-author of the book, producer, director and editor, Steve Hermann, says “In the Dark” is based on a short story he wrote with Bella Emy. He always wanted to do a zombie piece, but the market became over saturated, so he came up with a new twist on a common concept.
Hermann says it was about two and a half years between the time the story was written and then entered production; shot in one day in a bedroom of a Chicago condominium. He adds the screenplay adaptation was impacted by his initial meeting with Shoesmith.
She did not disappoint as Hermann calls her performance fantastic. Shoesmith worked ahead of filming to prepare for the complex role of Jessie.
It was her empathy and sympathy with the character that allowed her to bring out the emotion needed. She says she could relate to most of Jessie’s phobias. But even though she never had a fear of clowns, she sure does now after seeing the one played by Beth Metcalf of Ohio. Hermann says he didn’t allow Shoesmith to see the clown ahead of time, so the reaction on film is her first real reaction. When it comes to a message from the movie, Hermann says he wants people to perhaps gain a better understanding of those who suffer from anxiety, depression and other issues and how deeply what is inside can affect the way they view themselves and how they feel others perceive them. Shoesmith agrees.
Shoesmith’s acting background began right here in Carroll when she enrolled at Serendipity Studio at the age of 12; which she says helped her open up and see a different world. Until this film, she was mostly involved in theater work and some commercial roles. This is her biggest role to date, but there are more productions on a very bright horizon for this rising star. In fact, the connection with her character actually led to another artistic endeavor tied to the film.
Hermann and Shoesmith collaborated on a music video for her song, “A Nightmare in the Dark.” A link to “In the Dark” as well as her music video and details about Shoesmith’s and Hermann’s upcoming projects can be found below.
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“In the Dark” is available on Vimeo on Demand—a link will be posted some time today (Thursday, April 22) on the Acrostar Films Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Acrostar-Films-102492441710657 (the link will become active once the film is officially released, please try again later if it does not initially work)
Upcoming projects for Shoesmith include more collaborations with Hermann. A prequel to “In the Dark” is expected in July and then they will go right into production on a short film series called “Morium” that will have 20 to 25 minute segments released over the next three years. The story is about a high school student and her friend who are bullied and how they deal with that before and after they develop telekinetic powers. Hermann says this is not about good and evil, it is more about right and wrong, a moral debate with a bit of a sci-fi twist.
They will then work together again on another short film series beginning at the end of this year. These are independent romance stories that do not have the happiest of endings.
