Longmeadow filmmaker Scott Kittredge‘s most recent short film, Terminal Conversation, which was shot on location in Springfield’s former Basketball Hall of Fame, is being screened at the Northamption Independent Film Festival, which opens today and runs through November 12.
Kittredge was recently interviewed for an article at newenglandfilm.com, in anticipation of the film’s October 8 screening at the New England Film and Video Festival in Brookline. Just prior to that, it was screened at the Connecticut Film Festival.
Terminal Conversation is a sweet film. At 17 minutes, it doesn’t have the chance to dive as deeply into the issues as I may have liked, but it slams into them aggressively in the beginning at any rate. The opening shots show sullen-faced, Sox-hat-wearing Dave (Longmeadow native Douglas Dickerman) angrily packing his bags in a hotel room (apparently West Springfield’s Quality Inn), while an audio voice-over details an angst-ridden phone call between Dave and his wife (Penny Korff).
Dave is evidently some distance away, some grim, unforgiving place, from the looks of it—Springfield?—and his wife revealing an affair with his best friend. Ouch. The dialogue intelligently allows this information to unfold, so we can see how Dave is controlling his feelings even while his behavior in the phone call was less than dignified. We’re righteously on his side, and his wife sounds lame. But isn’t he going to fight for the marriage?
The film, which features original music by William Eagan, careful attention to the sound mixing, and very elegant opening credits by Steve Sherrin, also allows for quiet, stabilizing moments. A pleasant, cable-knit sweater-wearing stranger shows up in the airport waiting area seemingly just to comfort the poor fellow whose wife was cheating on him. With a magical glance, the stranger makes all the travelers and airline staff disappear for a few minutes. The suffering guy has a moment to cry. Which he does, convincingly. And this short piece ends on an upbeat note without solving all the problems it poses.
It’s also a kick to see how the vacant former Hall of Fame was transformed temporarily into an airport. The trees semi-visible through the window blinds in some shots didn’t help to suspend my disbelief, as any self-respecting airport does not have trees at the gate—at least certainly not big ones, like these. Also, a lack of seat backs on the benches was disconcerting. Sometimes people wait for long periods of time at airport gates, and dislike getting cozy with other people, as these benches would seem to encourage.
The colors, on the other hand, are entirely convincing. The patchy burgundy, dilapidated rugs fit right in (evidently many patches had to be filled prior to shooting), and the bright blue of the seats clashes nicely with the flooring.
Terminal Conversation, which is unrated but is not for kids, is showing on Sunday, November 12 along with several other shorts—including Kittredge’s earlier production, Snacks—starting at 3:15 pm at Northampton’s Academy of Music.
