[Dana Boulos](https://www.instagram.com/danaboulos/?hl=en) recently screened her film “THE CASTING” at [Brooke Wise’s](https://www.flaunt.com/content/brooke-wise) Aloha from Hell Film Festival to a crowd of cheering cool kids. The film director, photographer, and DJ has often worked on narrative based works which confront the expectations of femme identity while showcasing a well-rounded dynamic female narrative. The film stars [Karina Fontes](https://www.instagram.com/karinafontes/?hl=en) and follows her as a seemingly naive actress on her path to the casting couch with a devious turn which questions our own understanding of control and power. Check out the short and BTS as well as chat about the fast pace process of getting concept to movie, her collaboration with Nick Zinner, and the fear in horror.
**Where did this concept of _“THE CASTING”_ come from?**
I had been asked by curator Brooke Wise to submit a film for Aloha From Hell a film festival presented by Comedy Central and Sexy Beast to help benefit Planned Parenthood. I kept thinking about making a short film noir type of film for it. I sat in a room with a computer and I kept typing the words “I DIDN’T DO IT!” and I just kept going with it, until I had a script. I decided to write a short film about an actress auditioning for a lead role in a 1940s horror film where the casting director soon realizes that the actress isn't as reserved as she appears to be.
**What was the process of creating this film?**
I had a week to write the script, audition actors and produce the short film. I ended up writing the film on monday, auditioned different people for the lead two roles on Tuesday, Wednesday prepped for locations to steal shots from, Friday we shot the film and by Sunday we had the music completed. It was a super super fast turn around and I couldn’t have done it without the amazing crew we worked with.
**What was the process like working with Nick Zinner on the soundtrack was it work that came after the shooting or was it in tandem?**
I had been wanting to work with Nick for a while now, we had a meeting almost 2 years ago on working together for a feature film which I’m currently developing. When it came to this short film he was the perfect person to work with, he really knows how to tap into making a suspenseful but yet elegant score.
**The costuming is gorgeous how did you guide working with Adri Law on getting the right fit and stylistic nuances?**
Once I had written the script, I started doing my visual treatment of basically how I wanted everything to look like / feel like. I had been saving images of early 1940’s actresses of them at castings. The wardrobe really is a huge part of any film and it has to be done right. I wanted to work with someone who really understood and had experience with decade pieces. Adri was the perfect person for the job!
Karina’s main look are from Adri’s exquisite collection. There are so many hidden details that make the character come to life.
**Do you have it in your mind to do more work in horror?**
Of course! It’s funny because I really don’t watch any horror films in theater, I get really creeped out by them but I feel like Hitchcock and I have the same viewpoint on horror, “The only way to get rid of my fears is to make films about them.”
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