[ c a u t i o n l o u d m u s i c ]
[ r e d u c e v o l u m e ]
[ t u r n o n t h e CC f o r s u b t i t l e s ]
 |
         |
 LAND of the HAUNTED DOLLS a short film written, directed and produced by Susan Lien Whigham Welcome to the first chapter of an epic spiritual journey spanning multiple lifetimes, bridging two solar systems separated by billions of light years, connected by fate. Based on the novel of the same title by author/screenwriter/director Susan Lien Whigham, and featuring a diverse and talented cast and crew, this short film was created as a promotional film to help raise interest and funding for a feature film or television series based on the same novel - act one of a trilogy, featuring elements of fantasy, suspense, horror, science fiction, and drama. The short film opens the saga with 4 sex trafficking victims who believe they're under a Voodoo spell to reincarnate the souls of women who were hanged during the Salem witch trials. Rochelle Roy, a special agent investigating their case at the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, must confront skepticism and familial tensions, in an effort to find a way to bring them justice.  CAST of SHORT FILM: ANQUENITTA WILLIAMS [IMDb] as Special Agent Rochelle Roy SHARON KUO [LA Casting ] as Dr. Lin Mei Chen JIA TAYLOR [IMDb] as Titi Beaumond ROBERT PARHAM [IMDb] as Special Agent Jason Jefferson ACACIA VARNADO [Vimeo] as Abeni Abiola KATALEENA LOVEJOY [IMDb] as Quila Gonzalez PETRA VAN DE HEY [Facebook | IMDb] as Eka Oniani MORGAN LEWIS-PASTOR [IMDb] as Olena Petrenko MICHAEL JAMES JORDAN [IMDb] as Nimbeau DAVID JOSEPH MURRIETTA [IMDb] as Alejandro Serrano Leon ROBERTO DIVINA [IMDb] as Ricky Alden JEFF LUNZAGA [Web | IMDb] as Cabro MARIA PHILIP [El Ojo Malo] as Woman in Dream - Charity GABRYELL HANSON as Woman in Dream - Shani DIVINE CELIANE [ReverbNation] as Woman in Dream - Angelique ROBIN GABRIELLI [Web] as Dr. Carlos Beaumond  CREW: Writer/Director/Producer/Editor/Music: SUSAN LIEN WHIGHAM [Facebook | IMDb] Associate Producers: ROBERT PARHAM [IMDb] and ROBERTO DIVINA [IMDb] Assistant Director: APRIL CAMPBELL [IMDb] Director of Photography: RON SANTIANO of REDCAPE CINEMA [Facebook | IMDb] Fantasy Makeup: RENEE HAMILTON-McNEALY [IMDb] Special FX Makeup: ROCHELLE CARR [IMDb] Assistant Camera/PA: ROBERTO DIVINA [IMDb] Sound/Boom/PA: BO! CAMPBELL [IMDb] Vocalist: DIVINE CELIANE [ReverbNation] Vocalist: KATHERINE PARK [Web] Instrumentalist: AJ RIVLIN [Web] Additional Voice Support / ADR: STEPHANIE WHIGHAM [Facebook | Web]  A message from the writer/director: In spite of my decision to depict Voodoo elements in a horror story, in my view the practice of New Orleans Voodoo, or its antecedent, Haitian Vodou, is not something to fear, but has come to be so only through Western taboos which oppose it. The effort to represent such a deeply spiritual tradition can only fall short as it scratches the surface of its meaning. And yet, the unique value of what the practice of Vodou brings to a story about human beings and their haunted effigies is far too important to let pass without exploration. Vodou expresses something specific in a language not as readily accessible to other Western cultures. In my view, it's of benefit to all to learn to understand this language. Although tenets of Vodou do resonate with me (as do those of many belief systems), I would not characterize myself strictly as a Vodouisant. I'm a pantheist, and I believe that Vodou is one of many valid paths to spiritual understanding. As any Vodouisant can affirm, my initiation into the world of the lwa would have been impossible without the necessary faith, humility and sacrifice to go with it. Land of the Haunted Dolls, in its various manifestations, is a collaboration of kindred spirits and an examination of our intersectionality. As a storyteller, I hope to help pave the way toward more respectful conversation and a world where all have access to opportunities to share their stories. I'm deeply grateful to God and all those who have inspired and facilitated this work. As always, I welcome opportunities to further my understanding. Thank you for coming along on this journey, Susan Lien Whigham  "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." ~Proverb  Attention travelers! Snapping a picture of your hotel room could help stop human trafficking! And here are 15 more ways you can help.  "Surely we cannot take an open question like the supernatural and shut it with a bang, turning the key of the madhouse on all the mystics of history. You cannot take the region of the unknown and calmly say that, though you know nothing about it, you know all the gates are locked. We do not know enough about the unknown to know that it is unknowable." --GK Chesterton  [ Back to Land of the Haunted Dolls homepage ] |