BLOOD RUNS DOWN
short film by Zandashé Brown
It’s the night before Ana’s fifth birthday and Elize wants to make sure all is in order to give her daughter the best celebration yet. Invitations have been sent, food has been prepared, and Ana’s last braid is finally secured, meaning it’s time to rest before the big day. Consistently weary from the never-ending job of single motherhood with no outlets for her own care, Elize searches for a place for her own peace and vulnerability. But for women like her, vulnerability comes with a price.
When Elize undergoes a frightening transition, Ana must decide between saving her or protecting herself in this haunting account of inheritance, daughterhood, and demons.
We reached out to Zandashé Brown and asked her a couple of questions for our blog.
Where did you guys shoot and when?
“We shot summer of 2017 in New Orleans. Some outdoor scenes were shot at Fountainbleau State Park.”
How long was production, and what was your post-production process like?
“Production lasted 3 days, and the post-production was very scattered. We were still figuring things out and it was a new experience for most of us. Also much more intimate. You develop a relationship with your crew and this project you’re all working on together during production but in the edit with just yourself and your editors, it can be a different experience. We’d seen the cut so many times that we weren’t always sure what were looking at. That’s where private screenings really come in handy – I wish we’d had time for more of those.”
What’s your favorite shot in the video?
“Elise walks over to Ana after she rips her dress in the mirror and I love the way Zac (our DP) captured her reflection entering the shot before she actually did. I could watch it on repeat.“
What are you looking to direct next?
“Who knows. I’m working on a feature script and trying to amp up the pace. But in the meantime, I’d like to work on shorter length projects. Not to say that shorts are exercises for directing a feature, but they’re much more manageable for someone who’s still learning her style, her communication, preferences. And cheaper to mess up on. So I’m just generally ready to get back in the field.”