Dr. Kurd Archibald Schiefler, a vain general practitioner obsessed with conducting, uses his wealth to form an orchestra of struggling college musicians. But when his medical negligence causes the death of a loyal patient, he finds himself torn between facing justice or pursuing the concert that fuels his delusion. This 12-minute short examines the thin line between passion and obsession.
* Check out the trailer for Refrain! The film is about to start its festival run, please message me if you’d like more info or a private link to watch the full short.
Refrain
-
Producer - Isa Chacón
Writer / Director - Cole Mihalich
Co - Producer - Charlie Walker
Co - Producer - Quentin Glover
Process
Our senior thesis film, Refrain, went through multiple script revisions and a two-year development process. The project came to life over two quarters of production and was filmed in just six days with a team of nearly 60 crew members, talent, and extras.
Planning
Revised the script over two years, refining story, characters, and themes.
Planned pre-production across two quarters, including scheduling, budgeting, and resource allocation.
Acquired props, wardrobe, and set materials to maintain continuity and authenticity.
Developed casting strategy for extras and coordinated crew sourcing.
Role & Responsibilities
Coordinated and managed a crew of up to 60 people, including talent and department heads.
Oversaw casting of extras, specifically recruiting musicians to authentically represent orchestra members.
Secured all necessary production permits and scouted/managed filming locations.
Created graphics, social media content, and promotional materials.