THE STORY: BREAKING VAL is a gritty drama about Valarie (Lindy Star Taylor) and Tom (Buddy Hyde) who have been married for four years. They seem to be a happy blue collar couple to the outside world. The reality, however, is very different. Tom is an abusive and brutally obsessed husband. Valarie has tolerated the beatings and abuse in a misguided assumption that she can rehabilitate her husband from his evil ways. But when Tom finds out that his wife has been taking comfort in another man, David (Jeremy Nikolow), his focus intensifies as he attempts to break Val.

BACKSTORY: Originally conceived and produced with in a two month period while in the editing another project (Mama's Boys). The project was to be a five minute submission for an online film festival. Festival requirements were a five minute max length, theme of "darkness", and to visually show a glass of red wine. After the contest version was complete and submitted the "director's cut" was produced and is the end result is available today.

PRODUCTION NOTES: Shot on location at 386 Studios, and The Brooklyn Cafe - Port Orange, Florida. Prop chair was constructed by Mike & Joops two days pre-shoot. Exhaustive month long search for the right chair was fruitless. The stain was still drying as camera rolled. The special effects (break away chair arm, blood squirter, glass) were also done in-house as well as the FX make up. Lindy Taylor was physically taped to the chair for most of the 28 hours of shooting.




PRODUCTION CREDITS
Director: Joops Fragale . Michael Long
Producer: Michael Long . Joops Fragale
Executive Producer: Tony Ionno . Nicole Long . Eric Freudenthal
Sound Design: Tony Ionno
Director of Photography: Michael Long
Music: Joops Fragale
Editor: Tony Ionno . Joops Fragale
Screenplay: Joops Fragale