Dead Languages

Reflecting upon their lives on an otherworldly beach, two estranged friends find that old wounds may never heal.

Written and Directed by
Nickolas Duarte

CAST
The Man in Charcoal: Jordi Vilasuso
The Man in Blue: Clint James
A Young Woman in Turquoise: Venezia Cruz
A Little Child: Faruq Ade
A Tattooed Stranger: Andrew Frenkel
A Couple Who Defy Pain: Rhoda Pell, Geoffrey Gould

Production Company: Crown Chimp
Director of Photography: Pierluigi Malavasi
Production Designer & Wardrobe: Sonia Campbell
Line Producer: Margoth Barrera

Producers: Nickolas Duarte, Margoth Barrera, Sonia Campbell
Location Audio: Manuel Lopez Cano
Hair and Make up: Sonia Campbell
1st AC: Sean Frisoli
2nd AC: Spencer Chase
Production Assistants: James Cornett, Jennifer Leon, Jennifer Pawlowski, Michael Gibson

Editor: Nickolas Duarte
Composer: Frank Dillon
VFX Artist: Graham Hughes
Colorist: Oscar Rivera
Supervising Sound Editor/Re-recording Mixer – Craig Logiudice
Sound Design and FX Edit: Ashley Simmons
Sound Design and FX Edit: Michael Clark

Special Thanks: Brittany Duarte, Frank Armendarez

This story began as a way to explore the question: How do you remedy contradictory elements within yourself? I’m sure I’m not alone in the feeling of internal conflict. Competing morals. Personality traits that don’t seem to align. Actions not matching thoughts and vice versa. Life values that can’t quite sync up.

Through writing and developing the story of these two men, that question answered itself and became the primary theme:

Radical acceptance. Or, more precisely, this is a story about the treacherous path towards acceptance.

Things are what they are. Relationships will run their course. People will have their lives. You will get hurt and you will hurt. You will not always make sense to yourself. Things cannot always be repaired.

Every relationship (internal and external) is a world. This is the story of one of those worlds ending. Accept it with a smile and don’t make too much of things. There is great relief and comfort, and even joy, in acceptance.