The Laundromat Off Malibu - Short Film

The Laundromat Off Malibu
Directed by Fiona Nova and Pier Paolo Piccoli
Starring Gigi McQuarrie & Austin Amelio
DP: Joe Simon
Producer: Katie Stevens
Editor: Mason C.W
Composer: Jonathan Richman
Production Designer: Paola Cortés-Manthey
Music:
"Tempted" by The Hazelnuts
"A 1950s Romance" by Jonathan Boyle
mgmt: [e-mail]

[@doombuddha]

This would be a really great series! Every week, a new laundromat, a new day, slowly unraveling what is going on

[@Blackjack_MD]

Oh man, this would've been great if it were longer. Everything happened so fast. I wanted to stew in the mystery. Explore Jason's emotions and slowly building panic or even see more hesitation to his final decision. What's waiting for him outside the door? Is it worse than this? We don't need to know, but it didn't take him long to make the decision. With more funding and run time, this could be one HELL of a thing.

[@mavismayaveisburnedthepopc7408]

100%. I love short films but with this much going on they should have shot for 45min. I also think there’s enough creativity and room to expand that a feature length film would also b plausible

[@TPark-rf3lt]

would be great as a series!! I would 100% watch

[@Arizona_gulper]

I think part of the point is to leave you wanting more

[@carpballet]

It’s a short film. That’s a genre. Lol.

[@TillyOrifice]

@@Arizona_gulper Yeah, I thought it was perfectly timed. Leaving you wanting more is a whole lot better than leaving you wanting less.

[@coreyhendrix4571]

This is why, I wait in my car while at the laundromat 😂

[@darrinsiberia]

4r!

[@lawoull.6581]

😂😂...yeah,keep.the dryer sheets sarah 🏃

[@mashihocafes7183]

I love the way this reflects purgatory, a time of reflection whether you want to look back or not

[@themarekch]

Yeah it was good 👍

[@anco6106]

That's actually not how purgatory works, but the idea that one can make a decision to atone for one's mistakes or sins is intriguing, albeit before we die.

[@FlyGuy2000]

I like how it was his choice to stay or face the consequences. I wonder if he would have stayed if the second guest would have joined him though, or if he would have had that corner to himself.

[@goodlookinouthomie1757]

This was really like a Twilight Zone episode. Perfect amount of ambiguity and mystery to keep us wondering what awaited Jason outside the laundromat and how the next guy would be judged.

[@tr33m00nk]

And the Twilight Zone 'aesthetic' prepared us all for this theme in very short films, I think, did it not?

[@trevorphillips8895]

I think the book ‘No Exit’ was a nod to the twilight zone episode of the same name

[@poisonappple6225]

Who’s here from the reel? 🙌

[@princevampnick]

same here this is good ash

[@kennymoore3409]

Shout to out @bryce_jv he brought me here 🎥

[@dancasey9410]

I'm here

[@fiercealicia]

Me

[@VivianGomez-i8r]

Meeee! Lol

[@skylerprosser27]

Fiona Nova deserves all the credit she has been fantastic for years now

[@aliashere993]

This was all around incredibly original and creepy. The entire concept was artistically imagined and so beautifully executed by the actors. Well done 👏🏽👏🏽

[@cobbetlprogrammer1344]

Wow. This is Major Movie Quality. Acting =A Cinematography =A Story = A: Cheers for More!

[@DJCadwell]

Fiona! This is amazing! Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece of art with us. Someone please give this incredible artist a feature length film!

[@bevonostro................]

Captivating. This fifteen minute film created an eternity...

[@AustinTXSlasher]

I could've sat through another 15 minutes of this and would've still been happy. Well done on this film!

[@sunnysideupnow]

got this recommended on a insta reel, love the concept a lot!

[@datgrrl5698]

*an insta... because insta begins with a vowel...

[@hosichasi]

​@@datgrrl5698or they 're initiating a contemporary dialect

[@dohmama33]

Good job Fiona, I don't think I've seen many amateur films with that level of cinematography

[@Mr3DBob]

Why waste two hours on a movie, when such a piece as this tells an allegory in fifteen minutes? She's a doll - I would be tempted to spend eternity with her.

[@TorieLJones]

absolutely fantastic! used such a small space to make a grand impression!

[@danielpopp1526]

I would love to see this expanded on in a feature length film. Have multiple peoples stories with clues as to what they did hidden throughout the laundromat.

[@tiffanythompson6952]

If you like anime, Death Parade has a similar plot line .

[@DanielWhite-v4e]

agency

[@DanielWhite-v4e]

WhiteOut

[@Joe-sg9ll]

what did Sarah do?

[@CaptainIronDog]

I truly enjoyed this film. The sense of eerie and horror mixed in was truly great. The cast gave a solid performance, the directing is really well done, and the set looks great. You and the rest of the crew delivered a great mindbending film. Also, I don't know why but it felt like Sarah was sort of like the ferryman from Greek mythology. She's the 1st person that is met, welcomes the deceased, "guides" them, and her "service" involves a coin or in this case: a quarter. That's just my thoughts though.

[@FionaNova]

You nailed it! 😎

[@CaptainIronDog]

You saying this just makes me appreciate this film even more. The ferryman is one of my favorite characters from Greek mythology and the fact that it sort of partook in this film makes me happy.

[@jasonmoore5619]

I agree totally with this, I really enjoyed it, and especially appreciated the take on a Ferryman. I recently read Under The Whispering Door by TJ Klune which is another interesting look at the Ferryman mythology, though in a much more lighthearted way. Both did a fantastic job at telling their stories and making you feel specific ways

[@rcdogmanduh4440]

One step beyond, the twilight zone.

[@hqmhqm]

very professionally done, the music , the cuts, camera angles. bravo

[@WordUnheard]

This was so well shot, directed, written, and performed. It'll never cease to amaze me that so many of the best films out there are the short films here on KZbin, for us to find. This definitely deserves so many more views.

[@Scorpiocatmeow644]

Agreed! My favorite films are short films!

[@corinnewagner5274]

Perfect depiction of purgatory

[@AndreyKurenkov]

Loved this! The twilight zone feel combined with the minimalist set design and two actor set up really worked. Looking forward to seeing your future stuff!

[@horizonmedia8394]

Wow, the camera shots depicting the emotion and the tension, the lighting and the composition, this short film literally made me go ….. wow, y’all did an amazing job

[@HydraQU33N]

I cant condense all that i wanna talk about. So here's just this In "No Exit" the phrase "Hell is other people" is coined to describe how we are irrevocably entwined and bound in the perception others hold on ourselves, specifically the guilt and shame associated when we do socially bad actions and have the feeling that someone is watching. We see this in how angry and distressed Jayson becomes upon feeling judged by Sarah. Additionally, even though he says that he never slept with the girl he still feels the perception and judgement of others looking in on his and her deaths and his general role he plays in her death. If i keep trying to explain all my analysis of the short ima blow a gasket and type up like 100 paragraphs

[@jessicasager72]

My mom used to say what goes over the devils back slides under this belly. In other words, be aware when you try and get away with something you know to be evil.

[@elessartelcontar9415]

I used to be tragically poignantly concerned about the opinions of what others thought of me. No matter if I worked 100 hours a week or earned $250,000 a year or how much love, time, monet or effort I selflessly gave it made no difference. I would be cruelly judged, my efforts derided. It's awful never being enough. Finally, I came upon the concept of insouciance, which, like the central tenets of Bhuddism is everyone suffers because they want something and if you don't want something you cannot be hurt any longer by anyone! I was born with CP in the Cherokee Nation east of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Besides we Native Americans it was all violent, racist redneck Christians that treated us a subhumans. Imagine being a little boy with CP and an abnormal body that would not develop muscles and had most of its systems malfunctioning causing constant severe pain and nausea. I was like the boy in the plastic bubble and allergic to most natural and man-made things. I couldn't play sports and that is all that a boy was valued for. But what I was shorted in my physical body my mind in all humbleness was like Sheldon Cooper's. I read everything I could. I would walk to the library and check out the maximum 17 books every day. Read them and get 17 more the next day. An older neighbor noticed me struggling trying to carry them and dropping them lots. He pulled a Red Chief wagon over and gave it to me for my library trips. I was on top of the world! The city library gave an award for most books read every year and I held it for 11 years straight! I walked on alien worlds, dove to the bottom of the sea, had adventures while invisible, fought off the Martian invasion, journeyed to the center of the Earth and found dinosaurs on a mesa in South America! I made 100% on every test. What's more impressive is that I could complete each test in 2 to 5 minutes, get up and put it on the teacher's desk and make the request for them to grade it while I waited! Always 100!! 😊The other kids were still struggling on the first couple of questions and groaned their misery and disbelief. The teachers would grade on the curve of the highest score but my 100s wiped that out so they graded on a curve excluding David to give the other kids a break. I never ever took 1 book from school home. My homework was done before I left school. had straight As in all subjects. No recognition at home for it as my father was an extremely violent psychotic IV drug addict child abuser. I thought he was going to kill me every day after he got home from work. That's hard on a 3 year old! His pet name for me was shouted at me in a red-faced rage, "Worthless POS!" Ah hood old dad. He's dead now and when my brother called me to tell me, I said "Good! I wish it had been much sooner!"😊 My parents were religious zealots, and when I went blind as a result of one of my dad's daily beatings, he yaneed me out of my hospital bed cursing me asking me if I knew how much my worthless blind ass was costing him everyday. Great guy, you'd like him, everybody liked him because no one in the family ever dared speak up. Of the 5 of us brothers, 4 of us were within seconds of killing him. I assume my oldest brother had been too. Anyhoo, my parents and the fanatical Pentecostal preacher decided that I was demon possessed and that was what made me blind. So, they did the obvious thing and had me violently exercised in front of the entire church of 300 people. I still didn't tell anyone my father's beating caused it. Dating or even talking to a girl was impossible because what girl would want anything to do with a "worthless POS"? I did date after highschool, got married, had 2 kids hot divorced, remarried for a very long time, had 2 kids, hot divorced. If you are a man and get divorced false accusations fly. It's horrible. I retired 10 years early as my many disabilities were so painful I couldn't work in that amount of pain anymore. Anyhoo regret, horrible and beautiful memories were wrecking me. Then I learned after person after person kept doing bad things to me that I don't have to care about anyone's opinion but my own. I do what I believe is the right thing in every circumstance. I can live with that. Don't concern yourself with the incorrect opinion others have of you and you will be lots happier.

[@tomh343]

I'm showing this to the homies.

[@ssaquiettraveler]

So many excellent moments in this. The flop of the clothes on the table. The panning shot where she gets dressed. The breath on the glass door. I love the coloring of the room mixed with the back lighting of the actors. Really well done. What a lovely surprise it was to realize who this was directed by. I'm so glad to see your talents being given the space to flourish. I look forward to whatever full length features you'll inevitably do

[@thrillsekr2606]

I adored this! I loved all of the little hints to what’s going on throughout. The No Exit thing got me cause of its most famous concept: hell is other people. You could leave this room at any point, but people don’t, despite all the pain. I guess in the end, Jason realized there was an exit after all. Leaving Sarah to wait for the next unlucky customer. All in all, this ruled. It inspires me to try and create something of my own one day, so thank you so much.

[@jtfrederick1652]

That's the great thing about movies/cinema. Can tell infinite stories in a short time

[@jakeharmon542]

It's so weird to see Austin without an iron mark on his face. In all seriousness, an AMAZING performance and short film!

[@finnromy6304]

Incredible film. So simple yet so powerful. The price of giving in to temptation when you know it's wrong...every man should see this...I'm sure glad I did

[@THENikoBellic]

That is awesome Fiona, plus Austin Amelio is a great actor along with Gigi. This reminds me of The Twilight Zone with all its other worldly type of feel! very nice!

[@StephanieRoestel]

Very well made, especially the colorization! also loved the 'No Exit' touch

[@rapauli]

This is great.. thank you. It could be a series, could continue... wow.. Really excellent.

[@films_123]

Very good. All round. Both actors leave a lasting impression. Casting was perfect. Clever use of music.

[@jon_r_gilbert]

Great short film recommended to me from TT. My daughter is a short film director. Will have to share this one with her. Great job all!

[@sutlive22]

This was good! I like this style of storytelling.

[@themarekch]

Totally agree 👍

[@tylinb.8358]

This was amazing and well scripted! I was engaged and left wanting more. It kind of reminded me of Death Parade a little which is also a good anime. I especially love the significance of the newspaper to the story. Super clean

[@jonathanrichman5603]

I made the exact same comparison!

[@paulspice4717]

Effing Ace! Great short film. Please make more.

[@UnoShawnUno]

So much story and emotion told in such a short time. Need a full-length film from director fifi

[@kimharris7962]

Love it! Everything! The actors are great, the set, costumes. Perfect!

[@sbaker3426]

Dwight from TWD! Great actor. This was a perfect short flick🎉

[@JamesSutherlin-DORA]

Definitely want a full length version of this with these two actors keeping their roles.

[@bradfordpatterson8770]

Great job Fiona. Clearly you are a story teller. I am looking forward to see more of your work, next time on the big screen.😊

[@theodery2712]

You have to know this is a take of Satre's play " no exit" ( hence the book). with its famous quote " Hell is other people". Check out that book and appreciate this short.

[@afitz6389]

Very good and captivating for 15min...well done, bravo👏

[@kooale]

Nice! All involved were just great!

[@lalita1127]

Congrats Fiona! This was so well done. I need a full series about Sarah and the laundromat

[@thevimonsterinyourcloset]

I ADORE this!!! So well done, well acted...all of it. 10/10 would watch a full length feature or series!

[@PhoenixEditsRT]

Congrats Fiona! This is Amzing!!!

[@pierpaolopiccoli]

I’m so grateful to have worked with this amazing crew to turn our vision into reality. Cheers and onto the next project!

[@GrantusM]

Gigi McQuarie was good in this. Why is this her only credit?

[@taylormullen2815]

This was really fucking good. The concept is incredibly original. I have so many questions. Like who does she represent? Is she a ferryman, or someone just doing what they're told? Did Jason actually do what the paper said? What draws people to the book on the seat? And, what brings people to this mythological laundromat? Great job done by the actors, especially the leading man. The sound design is fabulous! I'd love to see a full feature film with this plot.

[@jackmack4181]

I imagine she’s like Anubis or someone who’s related to the old man death. It’s her job to “clean” the souls and have them reveal their true nature, like how Anubis would measure one’s life against a feather She’s clearly not death for she doesn’t carry souls, no, she stays in that room awaiting people to come in and have their souls be laid bare, with them coming to the conclusion if they are ready to depart.

[@isaacmchugh917]

@@jackmack4181that's what I was thinking loosely she seems to be someone that makes you confront what u did . If u don't u can't leave but if u do u still have consequences but ur free to leave

[@67woozy]

Purgatory is a Catholic concept. It doesn’t exist. Judgement is final. There’s no amount of prayer or repentance that can absolve you of your earthly sins ounce you’ve been judged.

[@jackmack4181]

@@67woozy you sir…are an asshole

[@BonzuPtheThird]

Congratulations with this film Fiona. I am really happy to see you being able to go further into this type of career for yourself, and finding your own style. As well as being able to work with these great people. I can’t wait to see what else you can come up with.

[@kalebhendron7163]

Almost Iike a twighlight zone episode, Loved it!

[@archaicbro]

Was waiting for this to get released in a place I can watch!!!! Congrats everyone!!!

[@blahblah9036]

This was so cool! And like, so weird, in a really good way. Good job, Fiona and Pier!

[@bleepbloop2436]

THIS RULES!

[@hdewey18]

This was amazing! From the set design, color choices, lighting, costumes, and the acting it was great from start to finish!!!! This would be an amazing anthology series, following Sarah and her job at the laundromat!

[@reneehansen8529]

Outstanding! Very Twilight Zone-y. Amelio and McQuarrie are amazing together. Bravo!

[@christophergyorffy9519]

Well done! I agree with others, would love to see this as a series surrounding the laundrymat or some larger series of stories of a similar vein. Twilight zone, Goosebumps, Are you afraid of the dark style. Can't wait to see what you come up with next 😄

[@rjp457]

Well hot dang Fiona that was great. Big props to you and the team!

[@Doomsword0]

this is so well done! love the overall theme, and the way the tension builds is awesome

[@RicPendragon]

Great work! I'll be having paranoid nightmares for weeks now! Wonder if the Jason thought he took the easy way out by leaving...or was he remorseful and wanted to face the fate he deserved?

[@FionaNova]

Just depends on how you view Jason in your own eyes, because we'll never have a clear answer from him! Love that!

[@RicPendragon]

My college film classes are telling me to over analyse every single shot and piece of dialogue...but I try not to do that anymore 😅😅

[@i_so_late]

the dialogue would imply it's the latter, but that's just me

[@shep4516]

Oh wow! This is so good!! I'm so glad I finally got to see it. You all did such a great job.

[@noelwiggins7167]

This NEEDS to be a feature film or TV show!

[@THENikoBellic]

A whole anthology series would be great with this concept of mind-fuckery lol

[@sabineblabbelkopf7759]

Would love a movie version of this!

[@batwomanbeyond7901]

That was so good!! I want to see more! The camera shots were beautiful, the emotion was raw and so good, the staging was perfect... 10/10

[@ujustdiealready7402]

I dont know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. Loved the pacing and story. Very well done.

[@bananafone251]

love catching small details every rewatch!! thanks fiona and pier for posting (and creating!!) 💕

[@wakkowarner8810]

I loved the droning music you used. It really added to the mood of this film. Did you create the music for this movie or did you use something that was already made?

[@goodtime8547]

Thanks for the compliment! I was actually who wrote and recorded the score

[@notatroll4]

The first of many!

[@OneHellOfAMes]

This is amazing! It's so well done, you should be proud of yourself!

[@princeesss.......]

This is soo goooddd!!!! I hope that you soon make a movie/ show out of it, or a movie/show in general!!!!! You are sooo talented Fiona!! You and your team💕💕💕💕

[@abbeysquidd]

This is amazing!!!💜💜💜

[@infinitesky1495]

I'm so excited to finally see this! Love the direction and acting, it comes off great!

[@DooleyNotedYT]

Loved the specific color grading to give it that vintage tinge, along with the costume work. Strong lead acting from the Jason character. How long did this short take to shoot? Just that end sequence alone was great to see! So many short cuts, setups and lighting take downs needed for that extra punch at the end of energy.

[@corikarask448]

this was freaking amazing!! great work hope so see more in the future.

[@emergentform1188]

Wow very cool, and that Sarah is pretty easy on the eyes too, great choice.

[@lilblackduc7312]

It gave me "Tales From The Crypt" vibes. I liked it. Thanks...

[@LiztheARTEEST]

Wow this was really awesome! I love the build up and the way it became more and more uncanny. Cinematography/Acting/Storytelling 10/10 🤩

[@levik12]

I have lived in Malibu the past 8 months and haven’t seen a laundromat yet! Or maybe I should say that I hope to never see one as long as I live in Malibu!😬

[@lanceprzybyla7662]

I lived there in the 90's....the only place I could see one is up on point Dume in that plaza...

[@pumpupthevolume4775]

Not the laundermat demographic.

[@lanceprzybyla7662]

@@pumpupthevolume4775 ....huge hiding homeless when I was there...but true

[@Ally_K]

Okay this is actually sick! Massive kudos to everyone involved!

[@franken-pattern]

Loved it!🎉

[@codyvaughn4195]

This was surprisingly well-made, the only thing was it felt rushed due to the short run time. His transition from confused to total panic felt very forced.

[@wakkowarner8810]

@Emularis I like that he leaves but I’d also like to see what happens to somebody who decides to stay.

[@shanehuckeba9819]

Well I was captivated. Great job Fiona and to all the others who put their effort into this!

[@terryoquinn8199]

Great little short ! Like most shorts , I’ll have to watch it several times to catch everything in it . But the overall premise is great ! Thanks and take care .

[@doveandiamond]

Awesome! Great production

[@LtLoudPack]

I would definitely watch this as a series. It reminds me of the anime Death Parade.

[@gerardcousineau3478]

Very nice 👍❤. Very well done. Pro sounds, music, acting and clear lively images. I wasn't expecting this high quality.😊🎉❤

[@khatpandwa9701]

Interesting film full of suspense, enjoyed.

[@seesafar9912]

Good one! Excellent work. Thank you.

[@Jim-ub3bp]

The news preview, the two small non working clocks, the way Sarah moves her hand slightly to reveal her nametag, the bell at the door just after she is prepared for the next soul...GREAT!

[@richardn.ruprecht1972]

Very Good--worth watching!

[@LogueS7]

Very cool…enjoyed it

[@Tuakie]

Yooooo! I can't even describe how much I enjoyed this!!!! IT'S SO GOOD!!!!

[@truejukes4958]

Incredible! Great work Fiona and everyone involved

[@ChefMikeDoesStuff]

🔥🔥🔥

[@aryst0krat]

Chef Mike being the best imaginable hype man, here like second comment 😎👌

[@TheWannabeexpert]

Great work Fiona and Pier.

[@JohnAKlein-zs8oj]

Absolutely wonderful.the style,the set,the light,the cast,the story,the music.I will put this one in my short film GOLD file…