Special Delivery was screened at the Austin Film Festival (AFF) 2024. According to the jury award news release from AFF, the short romantic comedy from writer/director Emily Everhard won the Enderby Entertainment Fellowship Award.
The short romantic comedy features foley artist Sandy (Kate Owens, “The Other Black Girl” TV series), and the male adult star of the movie, Tad (Rob Kellogg, FBI (2018), Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (2022) and Uncoupled (2022).
In corresponding with the filmmaker about her film winning an award, she stated “Yes! It was the Enderby Entertainment Filmmaking Fellowship.” We also discussed the following about the film:
1) What is your reaction to having won this award during the festival? What is next from here after the award?
I’m so excited to have won the award! I had no idea I had to make a speech—in a room full of talented writers—but it was amazing to thank the staff of AFF and Enderby Entertainment for the opportunity.
2) What is next from here after the award?
Next up, I’m working on the feature screenplay inspired by my winning short film, SPECIAL DELIVERY, which I plan to direct. I’m also looking forward to sharing three new short films in 2025.
3) Can you tell us more about your film?
SPECIAL DELIVERY is a romantic comedy about a foley artist for pornography who falls in love with a pornstar during an ADR session. It follows a closed-off and no-nonsense female foley artist, Sandy, who wants to be considered a great artist. Sandy slowly opens herself up to Tad, a handsome and kind adult film star, when she learns that Tad also takes his work very seriously. The two see their X-rated flicks as more than just videos… but as cinematic films.
4) What was your inspiration for this script?
I was running sound on a lot of my film school friends’ films, and I’ve always been fascinated with foley artists. I wanted to write a love letter to the widely underrecognized art of sound, while exploring the rom-com genre. I challenged myself to write a very innocent love story in a very raunchy setting within a fictional heightened reality. SPECIAL DELIVERY was inspired by some of my favorite movies like NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, and EDWARD SCISSORHANDS.
5) Casting: Did you know these actors before working with them in this short? How did you cast them?
I performed in a NYC comedy show with a female lead, Kate Owens, back in 2019. Kate is an incredibly talented, trained clown. I wrote the role for her… without ever telling her. Luckily, when I asked if she’d be a part of the film – Kate said yes. Then, we collaborated to find the perfect Tad. After multiple rounds of chemistry reads, we still felt like we had not found the right actor. Thanks to the recommendation from our friend, the talented Camden Garcia, we found Rob Kellogg who became Tad. Kate and Rob’s onscreen chemistry is simultaneously sweet and electric; it’s a delight to watch.
6) Is there anything else you want to add?
To follow my work and keep up with where to see Special Delivery, follow me on Instagram @emilyeverhard and/or my website www.emilyeverhard.com
Everhard also stated, “We previously screened at Oscar-qualifying festivals, including Palm Springs, Hollyshorts, Nashville, Bendfilm, and more.” The World Premiere was at the Palm Springs Film Festival.
The next available screening at the festival is Thursday, October 30th, in Shorts Program 7—Anatomy of Love, which begins at 3:50 pm—5:46 pm at the Galaxy Theater, 6700 Middle Fiskville Rd.
Film details:
Director/Screenwriter: Emily Everhard
Producers: Caroline Moore, Kate Costanza
Cinematographer: Zach Cooper
Editor: Cole Wagner
Music: Kyle Ogren
Cast: Kate Owens, Rob Kellogg, Jess Potak
Running Time: 11 minutes
Source: Austin Film Festival, psfilmfest.org, emilyeverhard.com