Work samples

  • "The Star in the Mirror" short clip from film
    This is a clip from the short film, "The Star in the Mirror," which premiered at the 2021 Maryland Film Festival. The film stars Emmy Harrington, Jake McMichael, Vera Takemoto, Chad Smith, Alina Smith, Ada Smith, and Eileen O'Donnell. Cinematographer - Lauren Scott Producer - Eileen O'Donnell Score - Rick Szybowski
  • Sea Monster - Short Clip
    Short clip from the short film, "Sea Monster." Heather dares Sydney to sleep with the "big man" on campus, and gets more than she bargained for. Starring Alexandra Clear, Aurora O'Greenfield, and Zach Michel. Produced by Eileen O'Donnell. Cinematography by Travis Whitworth. Music by Rick Szybowski.
  • "Blue Light - Haunt My Dreams" clip
    In 1957 Mildred Sullivan takes a surreal trip, skipping through time. Here, among other things, she sees herself as a child and becomes self-conscious, questioning whether or not she has lived up to her childhood expectations. This film was made for Charm City Fringe's Nights on the Fringe, where staged actors in the audience acted across from the screen. We filmed the live performance, and then cut the two together.
  • Deeper - Clip - NSFW
    A short clip from the short film, Deeper.

About Miceal

Baltimore County
Miceal O’Donnell is an acute observer of the fractured person. In his films he exposes the inner workings of his characters, and challenges the viewer to condemn them. He also can’t help but to find humor in the most wretched of situations.

He has written dozens of short and feature length scripts. He has directed a number of short films and seven feature length films. Nearly all of his films have been made with little to no budget. Collaboration with others who are looking to… more

Man Cannot Live Without Phone

This Short film exploresa person who is desperate for the endorphins sourced in the Pings from teh phone. He desperately takes selfies to prompt likes and approvel. Man Cannot Live Without Phone premiered at the 2022 Maryland Film Festival.
  • MCLWP-poster.jpg
    MCLWP-poster.jpg
    Ones Image is built from the outside in.
  • Maybe Love is Found in the Paper
    Maybe Love is Found in the Paper
    Our hero searches through the personal section of the paper. Or rather, he scrolls through a dating app.
  • Man Cannot Live Without Phone
    This is the full movie, Man Cannot Live Without Phone, where our character struggles to connect to the outside world through antiquated selfies and social media. Through this, we explore how the idea of the photo has changed from the analog cameras to the phone.

The Star in the Mirror

"The Star in the Mirror" premiered at the 2021 Maryland Film Festival and was funded through a successful crowdfunding campaign. 

Brief Synopsis: Harold invites a music promoter, Brigit, to his house under the pretense of a blind date. He then tries to force his music on her. Harold responds poorly when she shows no interest.

  • "The Star in the Mirror" short clip from film
    This is a clip from the short film, "The Star in the Mirror," which premiered at the 2021 Maryland Film Festival. The film stars Emmy Harrington, Jake McMichael, Vera Takemoto, Chad Smith, Alina Smith, Ada Smith, and Eileen O'Donnell. Cinematographer - Lauren Scott Producer - Eileen O'Donnell Score - Rick Szybowski
  • 001 Jake McMichael - Mirror.png
    001 Jake McMichael - Mirror.png
    Harold, played by Jake McMichael, stares in the mirror, preparing for his date, and his future.
  • 002 Vera Takemoto - Tunnel 1.png
    002 Vera Takemoto - Tunnel 1.png
    The elf, played by Vera Takemoto, comes to enforce Santa's naughty or nice list.
  • 007 Emmy Harrington - Intro.png
    007 Emmy Harrington - Intro.png
    Brigit, played by Emmy Harrington, thinks she is on a date, not realizing Harold is about to pitch his new song.
  • 022 Edwards family and maid.png
    022 Edwards family and maid.png
    The cast of everyone's favorite show, "The Star in the Mirror."
  • 009 OTS - Emmy Harrington.png
    009 OTS - Emmy Harrington.png
    Brigit becomes suspicious.
  • 010 Jake aka Harold CU - kitchen.png
    010 Jake aka Harold CU - kitchen.png
    Harold tries to deal with her lack of interest in his song.
  • 015 Emmy Harrington - looking down.png
    015 Emmy Harrington - looking down.png
    Brigit realizes that she has just been played.

Sea Monster

For this short film, “Sea Monster,” we wanted to make something for the WTF short film blocks at film festivals, while also focusing on theme and character. Although we’ve enjoyed many of the After Dark films and the WTF films, we felt they were often singularly about the WTF moment. With that, our goal was to make a movie that worked regardless, and then to add the most absurd thing in that we could.
 
Thematically, it is about no one actually experiencing their own lives. From Heather who wants to live through her roommate. To Sydney who doesn’t want to a make any of her own decisions. To Kenny, who has a problem with falling asleep during all his big moments.
 
Poster tag line: Heather dares Sydney to sleep with the “Big man” on campus, and gets more than she bargained for.
 
Logline: Heather wants to watch her roommate have sex with the big man on campus, but learns from her hiding spot under the bed that he turns into an alien monster when aroused.
  • Sea Monster - Short Clip
    Short clip from the short film, "Sea Monster." Heather dares Sydney to sleep with the "big man" on campus, and gets more than she bargained for. Starring Alexandra Clear, Aurora O'Greenfield, and Zach Michel. Produced by Eileen O'Donnell. Cinematography by Travis Whitworth. Music by Rick Szybowski.
  • BTS One.JPG
    BTS One.JPG
  • Sea Monster 6.JPG
    Sea Monster 6.JPG
  • Sea Monster 3.JPG
    Sea Monster 3.JPG
  • Sea Monster 2.jpg
    Sea Monster 2.jpg

Deeper

Deeper is a stop motion short film that spans the course of 100 years.  The film focuses on the representation of three characters in different eras, and has fun hypothesizing on how technology affects their relationships, communication, and expectations.
  • Deeper - Clip - NSFW
    A short clip from the short film, Deeper.
  • Screen Shot 2018-11-19 at 9.26.02 AM.png
    Screen Shot 2018-11-19 at 9.26.02 AM.png
    Liam eyes the cell phone, skeptical.
  • Production still.jpg
    Production still.jpg
    Cindy and Ron spend quality time together.

Blue Light: Haunt My Dreams

Blue Light: Haunt My Dreams is a short film loosely based on the web series we shot by the same name.  The movie is about a housewife in the 1950s who is unsure if she is losing her mind or experiencing something from the realm of science fiction.   The film was shot in somewhat of an experimental way.  We shot part of the film, and screened it in front of a live audience during Charm City's Nights on the Fringe.  During the screening there were actors staged throughout the theatre, who interacted with the characters on the screen.  We then filmed the staged actors at the live performance to incorporate into the finished film. With this project we were excited to get Jessie Pinnick in one of the lead roles.  We had met Jessie at the Maryland Film Festival, where she was promoting Princess Cyd - a feature where she plays the lead, Cyd (since written about in IndieWire, RogerEbert.com, variety, Village Voice, etc.) 
  • "Blue Light - Haunt My Dreams" clip
    In 1957 Mildred Sullivan takes a surreal trip, skipping through time. Here, among other things, she sees herself as a child and becomes self-conscious, questioning whether or not she has lived up to her childhood expectations. This film was made for Charm City Fringe's Nights on the Fringe, where staged actors in the audience acted across from the screen. We filmed the live performance, and then cut the two together.
  • Eileen_at_Magic_Disco.jpg
    Eileen_at_Magic_Disco.jpg
    Eileen O'Donnell as Mildred, trapped in a disco party that materialized in her living room.
  • Eileen_ODonnell_hides.jpg
    Eileen_ODonnell_hides.jpg
    Mildred hides in the closet, hoping that reality has the ability to autocorrect.
  • Jessie_Pinnick.jpg
    Jessie_Pinnick.jpg
    Jessie Pinnick, as Peggy Sullivan, imagines a life free of the obligations her Aunt Mildred happily suffers through.
  • Wild_Lines.jpg
    Wild_Lines.jpg
    Baltimore actors Leesa Ashley, Eric Cotten, and Alina Smith record wild lines after their performance at Nights on the Fringe.
  • Penny_Takemoto.jpg
    Penny_Takemoto.jpg
    This young actress plays Mildred as a five year old. With the merging timelines, Mildred gets to walk in and witness the happiness she felt as a child.
  • Mhairi_Cameron.jpg
    Mhairi_Cameron.jpg
    Mildred hears a seraphic voice echoing through the house, and finds a teenager resembling a younger version of herself.
  • Zach_Brown_and_Zoe_Irving.jpg
    Zach_Brown_and_Zoe_Irving.jpg
    The first unwanted ghosts to flash into Mildred's living room are from Mildred's distant future. Played by Zach Brown and Zoe Irving.
  • Blue Light - Haunt My Dreams.jpg
    Blue Light - Haunt My Dreams.jpg

Blue Light - Web Series

Blue Light is a Twighlight Zone inspired web series with its six episode first season complete.  The show starts with Mildred, a 1957 housewife, coming home to find people from the future talking to her through her television.  Throughout the episodes, Mildred regularly doubts her judgement and sanity, and opts to clean when faced with the possibility of ghosts, home invaders, or simply losing her mind.

Blue Light has been written about in several online magazines, including Tubefilter, and has recently won "best creative direction" at the BNM Web Fest.
  • BL Poster Sep 2018 2.png
    BL Poster Sep 2018 2.png
  • Blue Light Still with knife.jpg
    Blue Light Still with knife.jpg
    Mildred first hears noises coming from the living room.
  • Blue Light - web series - Episode 1
    This was a collaboration between the Baltimore Filmmakers Collective, writer director Miceal O'Donnell and students of his acting class. Blue Light is a psychological study of one woman's experience in a "Twighlight Zone-ish" world. Created for the Charm City Fringe Festival.
  • Blue Light - Web Series - Episode 2
    Episode 2 of the web series, Blue Light.
  • Blue Light - Web Series - Episode 3
    Episode three from the web series, Blue Light.
  • Blue Light - Web Series - Episode 4
    Episode Four from the web series, Blue Light.
  • Blue Light - web series - Episode 5
    Episode Five from the web series Blue Light.
  • Blue Light - Web Series - Episode 6
    Final episode from the first season of Blue Light.
  • Blue Light Web Poster.jpg
    Blue Light Web Poster.jpg
    Poster for Blue Light - Web Series

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is an independent feature film shot in Philadelphia and Baltimore featuring Brian Anthony Wilson from HBO's The Wire. The film was shot on the Scarlet Red camera on a micro budget.

Thematically, the film explores how one's life can turn when emotional intelligence or impulse dictates one's actions in the face of conflict - emotion versus the intellect.

Logline: After release from prison, Billy has one chance for a new life. Caught between a sea of violence and his own demeanor, can he escape?
  • img_1799.jpg
    img_1799.jpg
    Actors Brian Anthony Wilson and Arnold Y. Kim. Photo by Miceal Og O'Donnell.
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    img_1339.jpg
    Actor Ivans Theo, Tommy Vita, and Claire Ganshert. Photo by Miceal Og O'Donnell.
  • img_1281.jpg
    img_1281.jpg
    Actor Claire Ganshert in background, cinematographer Bruno Doria in foreground. Photo by Miceal Og O'Donnell.
  • Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea - trailer
  • billy.png
    billy.png
    Actor Tommy Vita as Billy. Production still by Bruno Doria.
  • billy-sadie.png
    billy-sadie.png
    Actors Tommy Vita and Claire Ganshert. Production Still by Eileen O'Donnell.
  • billy-sadie-2.png
    billy-sadie-2.png
    Actor Claire Ganshert. Production Still by Bruno Doria.
  • img_1393corrected.jpg
    img_1393corrected.jpg
    Actors Ivans Theo and Tommy Vita. Photo by Miceal Og O'Donnell.
  • audax/viator (detail of view 2)
    audax/viator (detail of view 2)
    Actors Tommy Vita and Claire Ganshert. Photo by Bruno Doria.

Dante and Minnie

Dante and Minnie is a feature length independent film shot on the Canon 7D. It is a Christmas movie shot in June 2011 in New Orleans, LA.

Dante and Minnie is the story of two young homeless people. Minnie is trying to escape life on the streets, while Dante is trying to escape the real world by retreating to the streets. They fell in love as their paths crossed, but now they struggle as they each try to push the other in the direction they are headed.
  • crew-surrounding-car.jpg
    crew-surrounding-car.jpg
    Cinematographer Bruno Doria, actor Tommy Vita. Photo by Miceal Og O'Donnell.
  • cu-2-shot-tommy-cynthia.jpg
    cu-2-shot-tommy-cynthia.jpg
  • crew-w-d-and-m.jpg
    crew-w-d-and-m.jpg
    Crew and lead cast of Dante and Minnie (sound Raul Doria, Producer Todd Ritondaro, Actor Lauren Allen, Production Manager Alex Payne, Actor Tommy Vita, Cinematographer Bruno Doria.) Photo by Miceal Og O'Donnell.
  • dm-poster-lower-res.jpg
    dm-poster-lower-res.jpg
    Poster by Bruno Doria.
  • Dante and Minnie Trailer
  • 2-shot-cu-through-glass-2.jpg
    2-shot-cu-through-glass-2.jpg
    Actors Tomm Vita and Lauren Allen. Photo by Miceal Og O'Donnell.
  • again.jpg
    again.jpg
    Actor Holly Ladnier as Cynthia. Photo by Miceal Og O'Donnell.
  • bruno-and-delia.jpg
    bruno-and-delia.jpg
    Bruno Doria, cinematographer in back seat, Actor Delia Bennett in front seat. Photo by Miceal Og O'Donnell.
  • bruno-in-car-waiting.jpg
    bruno-in-car-waiting.jpg
    Cinematographer Bruno Doria in back seat. Photo by Miceal Og O'Donnell.
  • cu-tommy-crying.jpg
    cu-tommy-crying.jpg

Swallow

Swallow is a 20 minute short film shot on the Scarlet Red camera in the Spring of 2012. It premiered at the Timecode:Nola Film Festival 2. The film is the exploration of a man whose idea of the world has been shaped by means of conditioning through guilt and shame. Swallow explores this man's life by means of an organic stream of consciousness - where all things have already happened and represent the flashes of images that would likely happen in a single moment of conflict. The film is a tribute to those raised in a strict Catholic household.
  • Swallow - short film
  • behind-camera-2.jpeg
    behind-camera-2.jpeg
    Actors Joseph Meissner, Nick Gomez, and Shanna Forestall. Photo by Chris Nausley.
  • behind-camera-3.jpeg
    behind-camera-3.jpeg
    Actors Joseph Meissner, Shanna Forestall, and Nick Gomez. Photo by Chris Nausley.
  • behind-camera-4.jpeg
    behind-camera-4.jpeg
    Actors Joseph Meissner, Shanna Forestall, and Nick Gomez. Photo by Chris Nausley.
  • behind-the-camera.jpeg
    behind-the-camera.jpeg
    Actors Joseph Meissner, and Shanna Forestall. Cinematographer Bruno Doria. Photo by Chris Nausley.
  • family.jpeg
    family.jpeg
    Actors Joseph Meissner, Shanna Forestall, and Nick Gomez. Photo by Chris Nausley.
  • nickbehindsheet.jpeg
    nickbehindsheet.jpeg
    Actors Joseph Meissner, Shanna Forestall, and Nick Gomez. Photo by Chris Nausley.
  • shanna.jpeg
    shanna.jpeg
    Actor Shanna Forestall. Photo by Chris Nausley.
  • shannajoseph.jpeg
    shannajoseph.jpeg
    Actors Shanna Forestall and Joseph Meissner. Photo by Chris Nausley.

The Victory Lounge

The Victory Lounge is an independent feature film shot in New Orleans, LA in the Spring of 2012, featuring an ensemble cast of local actors. The film was shot on the Canon 60D.

Thematically, the film deals with characters who are caught up with competing to project a false image of themselves to the world to deal with a deep torturing insecurity. The Victory Lounge is a dark comedy that often reaches into exploitation in its attempt to share the characters' humiliations with the audience.
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    holly-2.jpg
    Actor Holly Ladnier in The Victory Lounge. Production still by Miceal Og O'Donnell.
  • The Victory Lounge - first trailer
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    belinda-2.jpg
    Actor Elizabeth Ervin as Belinda in The Victory Lounge. Production still by Miceal Og O'Donnell.
  • belinda.jpg
    belinda.jpg
    Actor Elizabeth Ervin as Belinda in The Victory Lounge. Production still by Miceal Og O'Donnell.
  • Holly
    Holly
    Actor Holly Ladnier in The Victory Lounge. Production still by Miceal Og O'Donnell.
  • girls.jpg
    girls.jpg
    Actors Rebecca Laborde, Tommy Vita, Rebecca Barras, Samantha Sitzman, and Lauren Allen in The Victory Lounge during Sid's fantasy sequence. Production Still by Miceal Og O'Donnell.