Mike Messier has won Best Actor, Ultra Short Category in Alternative Film Festival Summer 2020 edition for his performance in The Never Was, a piece Mike also wrote, filmed and Directed, edited by Zoe Morgan. Mike says, “This is very exciting and further proof that Actors must always generate their own projects.  Thanks to Jenell Diegor, ALTFF’s Festival Director and her whole team of associates behind this great festival.” Here is the short film The Never Was.

The short was filmed outside the YMCA on Post Road in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, which has since closed. As Mike heard an ambulance pulling by, he pulled out his phone and spontaneously filmed The Never Was in his car. There was no script written; the piece is off the cuff. About a year later, after relocating to Jacksonville, Florida, Mike put out a call for an editor for the short piece and Ms. Morgan ended up as the editor, doing a great job. As a case study in what editing can do to benefit a project, here is the raw footage of The Never Was.