Comedy horror short TOOTH, a “nightmare that falls from the teeth” and interview with director Jillian Corsie

Here is a funny horror comedy short film to watch titled Tooth! In the film “Fed of decades of suffering due to the forced refinement of modern beauty standards, one tooth takes matters into its own hands.”

The film was directed by Jillian Lanes and was shared in collaboration with FilmQuest Film Festival. Below we’ve included an interview with Corsie discussing the project and the inspiration behind it.

Without spoilers, tell us what your film is about, its characters and its themes. Is this a proof of concept or a standalone story?

TOOTH is a short film about a vengeful tooth driven into rebellion by unrealistic beauty standards and years of abuse. Fed up with the relentless pressure to conform to social ideals, he takes matters into his own hands, launching a full-scale attack.

The film sheds light on the harmful effects of unrealistic beauty standards on individuals’ self-perception and self-esteem. While TOOTH is ultimately a comedy, it serves as a poignant commentary on the pervasive influence of social expectations on body image and personal identity.

What was the inspiration for your film? How did the idea come to you?

In the summer of 2020, my parents decided to move out of my childhood home after 34 years, forcing my mother to dump what seemed like all of her belongings on me… including all of my baby teeth. That’s right, my teeth. She had kept all the teeth that had fallen out (or been knocked out) from her head.

Obviously I didn’t know what to do with said teeth. They were a part of me after all, but I couldn’t display them on my cloak. So I put them in my medicine cabinet where they stayed for a year. Every night I brushed my teeth and stared at that jar of teeth (so meta).

Now, I’m someone who regularly has classic “tooth falling out” nightmares. So one night, I look at my teeth and think… what would happen if I brushed my teeth… and they all fell out? I asked this question to a writer friend of mine. His response: “Well, they would come to life and kill you, obviously.” Naturally.

Tell us about yourself. What is your background? How long have you been a director?

I’m a director, editor, and film festival programmer based in Los Angeles. I’ve been making films since I first got my hands on my dad’s VHS camcorder at the age of 5.

What inspires you to work in genre cinema and tell these types of stories?

When I was a child, I loved horror and science fiction. Every Sunday night there was a new episode of The X-Files with my dad. I anticipated the summers that brought a new M. Night Shyamalan film. TOOTH is my first genre film but in a way it feels like the project I’ve wanted to make since those days.

Although I have only made documentaries so far, TOOTH explores similar themes of body issues that run through my other films. In an image-conscious society, women persecute their bodies to achieve physical perfection. But much of the injection, starvation, plucking, extraction and bleaching can wreak havoc on our physical and emotional health.

What if our bodies just said “you know what? Fuck it, I’m out.” So TOOTH. TOOTH had such a wonderful film festival that it inspired me to make another horror film. I’m currently writing a coming-of-age horror feature film called LAMB. I can’t wait to dive into the depths of the genre horror.

What was your favorite part of the filmmaking process for this project?

My favorite part of the filmmaking process was definitely working with my friends. Collaborating with people you trust and enjoy being with is invaluable. TOOTH was particularly special because it allowed us to indulge in the absurdity of the concept.

We laughed out loud making puppets out of my teeth and inventing a toothpaste tube that hilariously squirted toothpaste into my actress’s eyes. The fun we had made the whole experience incredibly enjoyable and memorable.

What are you most proud of about this film?

I’m really proud of myself for… finding myself (so soap opera sound!). Initially, I gravitated towards documentary filmmaking because it seemed more accessible. TOOTH challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and explore new creative territory.

Making this film was a testament to my growth as a filmmaker and my newfound confidence in my abilities. I feel like I’m right where I need to be, doing work that would make my 8-year-old self proud.

What was the most challenging moment or experience you had while making your film?

We shot TOOTH in January 2021, during Omicrom’s Covid wave. My actress, Janine, was battling cancer, so protecting her was my top priority. I was quarantined for two weeks before filming and required everyone to get vaccinated and test negative for COVID before coming to set.

But on the morning of the third day I tested positive for COVID. Suddenly, this magical movie seemed like a disaster. When I called Janine and her wife to tell them, I couldn’t get the words out. I handed the phone to my mother to give her the news I was too ashamed to admit through thinly veiled sobs. “We need to reschedule,” I thought. I had financed the film from my savings account and the costs included the flight of several crew members.

It would take a year to save enough to bring everyone back here. Not to mention, Janine had postponed her double knee replacement for this shoot! I felt convicted on so many levels. Then, a ray of hope emerged when my producer and good friend, Vincent DeLuca, told me that the crew had come up with a plan for us to finish on the last day.

We would finish filming with me quarantined in a closet and directing the action on a monitor via Zoom. Fortunately, Janine felt well in the end: she never contracted Covid from the set. And we finished our filming.

If so, how did your film change or differ from the original concept during pre-production, production, and/or post-production? How has it changed the way you approach future projects?

The arrival of Covid on set taught me the importance of adaptability and resilience in cinema. Moving forward, I will always prepare to the best of my ability knowing that unexpected obstacles may arise. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I learned to trust my ability to solve problems and remain flexible in finding solutions. I will bring this adaptability to future sets.

Who were some of your collaborators and actors in the film? How did you start working together?

A large handful of my crew are friends from college. Katie Gault, my writer. Monique Dias, my set designer. Jared Potter, my VFX artist. I’m editing a feature film for my producer Vinny. And all my post-production people come from my days working at boutique post houses. My incredible composer Sherri Chung composed my latest project. These are my longtime collaborators and I can’t wait to have them in my new film!

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received as a filmmaker and what would you like to say to new filmmakers?

Failure is just part of it. I fail all the time. There is no such thing as perfection. If you never try, you will never fail, but you will never succeed either. As a filmmaker, it can be disheartening to invest years and significant financial resources into a project only to face numerous rejections from grants and film festivals. However, with every setback, I learn, grow, and my work improves.

The experience also offers the opportunity to meet new friends and contacts, who can contribute to my future plans. Instead of seeing each project in isolation, I see it as a building block, and seeing the growth in my films is impressive.

If I won an Oscar at 19…where would I go next? For me failure is a sign of courage; to have the courage to move forward or to have the courage to go further in your work. I hope to continue to fail all my life. Because failure means growth and I don’t want to stay stagnant.

What are your plans for your career and what do you hope this film does for that? What kinds of stories would you like to tell moving forward?

I’m currently juggling several projects, but the one I’m most excited about is “LAMB,” my coming-of-age horror film currently in development. Despite its disturbing and somewhat…unconventional nature, “LAMB” delves into themes of grief and identity.

Even though I have a passion for genre films, deep down I love telling stories that touch people’s hearts. I look forward to creating stories that blend elements of genre storytelling with touching and heartfelt narratives. “LAMB” will explore the depths of the human experience within the framework of a thrilling horror tale.

I am eager to continue pushing boundaries and creating films that not only entertain but also leave a lasting impact on viewers, touching their hearts in unexpected ways.

What’s your next project and when can we expect to see it?

I am currently developing my horror feature film LAMB. I have two documentaries coming this year that I wrote and edited: Desert Angel and Body Electric.

Where can we find more of your work and where can interested people contact you?

Website: JillianCorsie.com Instagram: @jcorsie Tiktok: @Salute_Your_Shorts

Bonus question no. 1: What is your favorite movie of all time?

Jurassic Park

Bonus question no. 2: What is the film that most inspired you to become a director and/or had the greatest influence on your work?

Dear Zachary gave me the belief that I could do it. The Sixth Sense made me want to make films like M. Night.

Enjoy the movie!