Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program opens the door to nonprofit funding for independent filmmakers and media artists. Donate today and help bring Color Drain to life.
 

Logline

A woman travels to a foggy coastal house to care for her estranged mother on the edge of death, and disturbing events begin to occur in her sleep.

Synopsis

Adrien Rubell arrives at the home of her estranged mother, Frances, greeted by hospice nurse Simone. Simone leads her to Frances, whose aged appearance and unbroken eye contact discomforts Adrien. After being asked if she is ready to be left alone with her mother, Adrien nods.

While feeding Frances, Adrien listens as her mother weakly expresses fears and resentments about dying. When Frances loses consciousness, Adrien’s unease grows. That night, Adrien sleepwalks into Frances’ bathroom, filling the tub, pushing a loofah down her throat, and attempting to drown herself while asleep.

The next morning, Adrien awakens on the balcony, confused, her throat in pain with no memory of the night before. As Frances’ condition worsens, Adrien tries to connect, recalling childhood memories of her mother’s sleepwalking. Later, Adrien sleepwalks again, this time into the nearby ocean. She wakes in the early morning, scratched and bleeding, returns home on foot, and climbs into bed with Frances.

While moistening a rag in the bathroom to dampen Frances’ lips, Adrian sees the loofah from her drowning attempt and sees her eyes in the reflection, now a milky yellow like Frances’. As she prepares to flee, Adrien hears Frances’ death rattle and, guilt-ridden, stays.

That night, Adrien succumbs to the pressure of Frances’ impending death and her own sleepwalking episodes. She retreats to a guesthouse but sleepwalks again, into her car. She drives recklessly until she encounters Frances standing in the road, who breaks down viscerally in the street. Frances vanishes, and Adrien is left alone, jolted by a sudden switch to daylight.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Sam Stone – Director/Co-Writer
Sam Stone is a director based in Los Angeles with a background in advertising, music, and fashion. He started his career as a production designer, his discipline extending across both film and art. He become the youngest designer to design a local 800 union project and moved into directing with his 2021 fashion film LACA which got him placed in ShowStudio’s fashion showcase.

Equally enamored with both traditional cinematic form and contemporary visual languages, he is attracted to hyperreal and emotional imagery.

Ava Benjamin Shorr – Director of Photography
Ava Benjamin Shorr is a Director of Photography whose work is influenced by fine art, skate videos, 90s Magic: the Gathering cards, and art-house film.

Her most recent credit is 2AM/Killer Films’ Omni Loop (SXSW 2024), directed by Bernardo Britto and starring Ayo Edebiri and Mary-Louise Parker. Other credits include: Disclosure (Sundance 2020, Netflix), Framing Agnes (Sundance 2022, Kino Lober), and Equal for HBO/Max.

Ava was awarded an ASC Vision Mentorship with Rachel Morrison, ASC (Black Panther, Mudbound), and is a participant of The Sundance Institute’s Reframe Rise program. She also co-hosts the popular Cinematography Salon podcast, which has over 45k followers on Instagram.

Sophie Weir – Production Designer/Co-Writer
Sophie Weir is a production designer and writer born and raised in the San Francisco film community. After graduating Kenyon College with honors in Fine Arts, She moved to Los Angeles where she designs across commercial, music video, and narrative spheres.

Adapting between screenwriting and design has allowed her an acute awareness of how to install character and intention into the world of a film, and implements an invisible design practice in her sets to create realism for both talent and department heads to play off of. She is an obsessive when it comes to suspense and horror.

Paul Lee – Producer
Paul, born and raised in Los Angeles, discovered his passion for the film industry at a young age. Fueled by this passion, he pursued his dreams by attending Chapman University’s film school. Beginning his career as a production assistant, Paul diligently worked his way up, gaining invaluable experience in coordinating and production management.

Through perseverance and a bit of luck, Paul eventually found himself producing commercials and music videos, where his talent and hard work shone brightly. He won a Clio award in 2022 for his work on Robert Glasper’s Black Superhero. Paul collaborates with a select roster of top brands and artists, consistently delivering innovative and impactful content.

Make a donation to Color Drain.

Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.