The Hourglass

Psychological Horror / Supernatural Thriller

The Photography Artist Presents

I · The Film

Nothing was left to them.
Not even where they found it.

They came to a remote lakehouse expecting something. They found something else instead. It didn't stay where they found it, and they didn't stay either.

One turn of the hourglass starts a challenge. Every challenge has a punishment.

The Hourglass official poster: a figure in a lit window framed by an hourglass, with the red title and credits — Official poster

Runtime: 5 minutes
Shot: October 17, 2026
Filmed in one day!
Location: A mysterious lakehouse

Scrabble tiles spelling THE HOURGLASS on a board — The Hourglass

A yellow sign on a tree: Private road, use at own risk, watch for pedestrians — The way in

An antique hourglass on top of a red cast-iron wood stove — Keeping time

A red canoe tied to a weathered wooden dock on dark water — The dock

A wide lake ringed by autumn forest — The lake

A handwritten note reading Just Living the Dream under a red marker, beside red stains — The note

The lakehouse

The front of a weathered white lakehouse with dormer windows, half hidden by overgrown plants — The front door

A wood-panelled living room with a red stove against a stone chimney — The living room

The bow of a canoe pointed at a far shoreline of autumn trees — From the water

II · Cast & Crew

The talent that made it happen.

Brenda Sherwood — Brenda SherwoodDirector

Ali Al-Rikabi — Ali Al-RikabiLead actor · as Ali

Elia Press — Elia PressActor · as EliaCamera Operator

Raymond McNeil — Raymond McNeilActor · as RaymondProduction Manager

Jason Carson — Jason CarsonActor · as JasonDigital Producer

Jane Simpson — Jane SimpsonActor · as JaneHair & Makeup Artist

Anastasiia Pavlenko — Anastasiia PavlenkoActor · as Anastasiia

Glen Ford — Glen FordActor · as Glen

Maggie Broda — Maggie BrodaArt Director

Charles Tremblay — Charles TremblayLead Grip

Nic Nemesis — Nic NemesisProduction Sound MixerBoom Operator

Mark Benesh — Mark BeneshPost Audio Mix

III · Behind the Scenes

Evidence from the shoot.

What began as a team of strangers ended as a group of friends.

The lake seen from the deck on a sunny morning — Call timeThe view from the deck before anyone was scared of it

The only cast member who never missed a mark — Set dogThe only cast member who never missed a mark

Location scout, off-road edition — Morning breakLocation scout, off-road edition

Raymond, thumbs up from the motor pool — Crew transportRaymond, thumbs up from the motor pool

Safety first. Fun a very close second. — Helmet checkSafety first. Fun a very close second.

Craft services, script notes and too much coffee — Base campCraft services, script notes and too much coffee

Crew quarters. Nobody got much sleep. — Lights outCrew quarters. Nobody got much sleep.

Cast and crew rehearsing in a leaf-covered clearing in the woods — RehearsalWalking it through before the camera rolls

Jason Carson in a maroon sweater and grey jacket, eyes closed while getting his makeup done — Makeup chairJason in the makeup chair. Eyes closed, full trust.

Rolling in the living room. Mind the elbow. — Interior takeRolling in the living room. Mind the elbow.

Focus pulled. Hair approved. — Video villageFocus pulled. Hair approved.

The real star of the show — Prop checkThe real star of the show

Lighting gear on the deck as the sky turns pink over the lake — Setting upSoftboxes out, sun going down

A crew member adjusting a light stand by the dock at dusk — Lighting the dockRigging lights at the water before dark

Two crew members smiling by the lake under a bright pink sunset — Golden hourMaggie and her daughter. The sky did its own colour grading.

Living room set with a guitar player by the wood stove and an actor on the couch — Fireside takeGuitar out, fire on, camera rolling

A crew member filming with a phone beside the stove while an actor plays guitar — B-rollEvery angle counts, even the phone ones

Three cast members in a lamp-lit living room with a guitar — Night interiorsAli, Jason and Anastasiia. Lamp light and a long night ahead.

Lights, tripods and a very patient forest — The night setLights, tripods and a very patient forest

Cast and crew lit in the front yard facing the lakehouse at night — Night exteriorEveryone watching the front door. Nobody wants to go first.

Charles, Elia and Brenda. Scene 3.5, take one, pose included. — Clapper loaderCharles, Elia and Brenda. Scene 3.5, take one, pose included.

Waiting for "action." Mostly patiently. — Down at the dockWaiting for "action." Mostly patiently.

Jane. Fake blood, real smile. — Makeup checkJane. Fake blood, real smile.

An actor with fake blood on her forehead in the woods at dusk — Fresh woundJane. Makeup did not hold back.

Fake blood splattered across a wall — Set dressingArt department was very proud of this

One last look before the wrap — That's a wrapOne last look before the wrap