Insomnia by Britton May

May 22, 2024

Horror movies have long held a special place in the heart of Britton May, who acted in, wrote, and directed the short film Insomnia, a horror film about a 15 year old girl named Kate, who gets left home alone for a week while her parents are gone for their anniversary. When she can’t sleep on the first night due to her insomnia, and what she thinks are auditory and visual hallucinations which she blames on her lack of sleep, her descent into madness begins.

But what goes on behind the scenes to bring this spine-tingling tale to life? Lets peel back the curtain to unravel the making of Insomnia.

Every great horror film begins with a compelling story, one that grips the audience from the very first second. Britton May delves into the depths of human fear, weaving together intricate plots filled with suspense, mystery, and horror. Kate’s fears and vulnerabilities are pretty laid out for the audience, her fears and the entities terrorizing her are pretty obvious to the viewer, but there's something to be said about the underlying tones of her decaying mental health that we can see throughout the film.

Once the script was finalized, the search for the perfect cast began. May’s search began with her friends Ella and Lake and other friends, but when they were more interested in filming, behind the scenes, and smaller characters. After some back and fourth and failure to find someone to play Kate, May decided to take it upon herself to be the main actress.

The setting of a horror film is just as important as the characters themselves. May and her crew utilized the green screen room in her school's computer and filming lab, where other multimedia projects like the school news broadcast are filmed.

At the helm of it all is the director, Britton May, whose vision guides every aspect of the film. She worked closely with other crew members to ensure that the story is brought to life in a way that is both compelling and terrifying. Through her leadership and creativity, she transformed the script into a visceral experience.

Behind every thrilling moment on screen was a team of dedicated friends and a director who poured her heart and soul into crafting a masterpiece of horror. So the next time you find yourself on the edge of your seat, remember the countless hours of hard work and dedication that went into creating the nightmare unfolding before your eyes.

The world of crafting horror and films in general is a complex process to explore the depth of human emotion, fear, and imagination, every aspect of the filmmaking process was crafted to elicit an emotional response from the audience. Behind the psychological horror lies a team of individuals who strive to create special viewing experiences for horror lovers.