Sioux Falls Filmmaker Explores the Fringe with Supernatural Short Film

Brian Bieber, a Sioux Falls-based writer, director, and filmmaker, is set to premiere his latest short horror film, "The Events of That Night As Best I Can Remember," starring Minneapolis artist Dessa. In this exclusive interview, Bieber shares his journey into the world of filmmaking, the inspiration behind his supernatural narrative, and the collaborative process that brought this unique project to life.

Crafting a Captivating Supernatural Narrative

From Passion to Profession: Bieber's Filmmaking Journey

Bieber's path to filmmaking was a gradual one, rooted in his love for the medium and honed through hands-on experience. "I suppose I started getting smart about writing in college, where I majored in creative nonfiction writing," he explains. "While I've always loved film, I became much more interested in making it myself during my years working at an ad agency." There, he had the opportunity to collaborate with talented filmmakers, learning from their expertise and applying those lessons to his own projects.After several years of documentary filmmaking, Bieber decided to venture into the realm of narrative storytelling. "I wanted to try my hand at narrative filmmaking, so I pitched an idea and a rough script to my friend and director of photography, Wes Eisenhauer, as a way for us both to exercise some new storytelling muscles," he says. This collaborative approach allowed Bieber to surround himself with a skilled production team, including sound supervisor Isaac Show and lighting director Dan Ludeman, ensuring he could focus on his role as a first-time director.

Exploring the Fringe: The Inspiration Behind "The Events of That Night"

Bieber's fascination with the unconventional and the supernatural served as the driving force behind "The Events of That Night As Best I Can Remember." "I have always been interested in UFO experiencer stories, but am especially fascinated in the ones that deviate from the traditional 'little gray men' narrative," he explains. "My goal was to capture the strangeness of some of these stories that exist on the fringes of an already fringe subject."To bring this vision to life, Bieber enlisted the help of local artists Amy Jarding and Cameron Stahlheim, who collaborated on the film's costume and production design. "Those two took my initial ideas and completely elevated them," Bieber says, highlighting the importance of surrounding himself with talented collaborators.

Reuniting with an Old Friend: Dessa's Starring Role

Bieber's connection with Dessa, the Minneapolis-based artist who stars in the film, dates back to their college days. "Dessa and I met in a college writing workshop many years ago. We then published a short-lived literary journal together in our twenties and have remained friends ever since," Bieber recalls.When Bieber began developing the short film, he knew Dessa was the perfect fit for the lead role. "A few years ago she read a feature length screenplay I wrote featuring the same main character as 'The Events of That Night' and asked that she be considered for the role if I was able to get it made," he says. "The feature didn't pan out, but when I wrote this short, she was the only person I had in mind for it."Dessa's experience in front of the camera, from broadcast performances to music videos, proved invaluable, and Bieber was thrilled with her performance. "Unsurprisingly, she absolutely knocked it out of the park," he says.

Capturing the Essence of Sioux Falls

While the film's narrative explores the supernatural, Bieber made sure to incorporate local elements that would resonate with the Sioux Falls community. "A very gracious friend who lives in the All Saints neighborhood offered up her home for a night of marathon filming. I don't want to blow up her spot, but friends of the owner of the house will certainly recognize her living room in the party scenes," he says.The second night of filming took place at the Local Zip convenience store in Inwood, Iowa, where the owner, Andy Howes, provided the filmmakers with free reign after closing hours. "Andy is a huge supporter of the arts and through FUEL, his music promotion company, is also one of the sponsors of our upcoming screening event at the State Theatre," Bieber explains, highlighting the local community's involvement in the project.

Celebrating Collaboration and Community

The upcoming screening of "The Events of That Night As Best I Can Remember" at the State Theatre in Sioux Falls serves as a celebration of the collaborative effort that brought the film to life. "A lot of really talented people shared their talents to help me make this–admittedly strange–little film, so more than anything I want to use the event to celebrate that collaboration," Bieber says.The screening will also serve as a fundraiser for The Transformation Project, a local organization doing important work in the community. "And all of the ticket sales will support two organizations doing great things for our community: The State Theatre and The Transformation Project," Bieber adds, underscoring the film's commitment to supporting the local arts and social impact initiatives.As "The Events of That Night As Best I Can Remember" embarks on its festival run, Bieber is already looking ahead to his next project, a feature-length documentary exploring the growth of the comedy podcasting industry. But for now, he's excited to share his latest supernatural creation with the Sioux Falls community and beyond.