Q&A With a Louisiana Film Prize Top 20 Short Film: ‘The Cutoff’

What is your film about?

It centers around a man attempting to deal with his own inner demons after being wrongfully incarcerated for 18 years. It is an honest and heartbreaking film based around many true events.

What kind of message are you trying to get across in your film?

We wanted to examine the very real and heartbreaking struggles of a man faced with the task of reentering society after an 18 year wrongful conviction; all while showcasing the many ways the legal system fails these people.

Where in Northwest Louisiana did you film?

Shreveport-Bossier

What were your impressions about Northwest Louisiana, specifically the Shreveport-Bossier area?

We absolutely loved it. The locals were kind, and we secured some amazing locations that we never thought possible. Definitely worth the drive from New Orleans.

Would you film in this area again?

Of course.

$50,000 is on the line! What do you plan on doing with the money if you win?

We pledged that if we win, we would split $20,000 between cast, and crew. The rest will go towards turning this short into a feature film.

Why should someone vote for your film?

We were pretty ambitious with this project. It stands out from most short films because it covers an extensive amount of time and subject matter - as well as being shot at a multitude of locations. It also deals with a lot of very real issues like drug addiction and flaws in the legal system.