Fools (Short Film) — CFA Institute

FOOLS
Short Film

Project Type: Short Film
Project Status: Pre-Production
Director: Lucas Evans
Producer: Andrew Edwards
Director of Photography: Carlotta Walser
Production Designer: Olivia Schroeder

LOGLINE

When George finally gets the chance to be a stoic knight and protect his whimsical town, it seems that all anyone can think about is love.

SYNOPSIS

Fools is a small and sweet story about George, a boy who dreams of being a stoic knight, discovering what love means set in the whimsical backdrop of the town Harglewood, a mythical town said to have the most endless harvests in the realm.

Fools begins when two knights discover Harglewood, sent on a “wild goose chase” to discover the mystical town, to be their king’s new royal gardens. Brothers George and Wren overhear them during a late night game of chess in the woods. The knights plan to return to the small town in two days, and take the town.

The following morning, they stand watching a play in the field, put on by the girl Wren is in love with, Delia. The play depicts the town’s fable of the Blooming Knight, a tree knight who protects the ancient town. Wren believes finding this Blooming Knight will save the town, and impress Delia. George doesn’t understand Wren’s love and thinks the Blooming Knight is no more than a fairytale. George aims to take this as an opportunity to be a knight, and use force to protect the town.

At their disagreement the boys split, George aims to get a sword from Bricken, the blacksmith he apprentices for, and Wren aims to find the Blooming Knight. Wren instead stumbles upon Gremlock, a forest gremlin as old as the forest. Wren gets George and Gremlock tells the boys he can help if they have a true knight’s sword.

Gremlock convinces Bricken, who is madly in love with the brother’s mother, to make him a sword, grafted from all the gifts Bricken forged for the boy’s mother.

After a night of talking with the brothers, Gremlock enchants the sword and sends the boys off to face the knights in the morning.

With a hefty slice of the sword, one of the knights turns into a goose. At this the other knight decides he has thus completed his goosechase, returning to his kingdom.

MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT

Fools is about love, the film explores how while it may seem that love turns people into fools, it is these same lovestruck fools that make all the difference. Life is about important decisions, decisions that can change every aspect about your life, and as I grow up I have begun to notice that the one constant variable in all of this difficult decision making is love. I believe many people share this misconception that love is about two people, but I think love is so much more than that, something that is explored in films.

George believes that he is above love, he wants to be a stoic strong knight like the ones he’s read in the tales of old, but no one is above love. Just as Wren is desperately in love with Delia, George is desperately in love with becoming a knight, just as I am endlessly in love with filmmaking. Realizing that love is about more than relationships and also about your dreams is so important, and more so, not seeing love as a taboo, foolish thing, means everything.

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Meet The Filmmakers

Andrew Edwards

Producer

Being born in Tokyo, Japan, and raised throughout East Asia and Europe, Andrew Edwards has developed a diverse background, which often brings a different perspective to the table. Now a senior film producer at the Savannah College of Art and Design, he has garnered a network of talented film creatives. His short film credits include Eyes Without a Face, Chasing Bread, Street Birds, Christmas Spirit, and many more. When producing Fools, Andrew aims to target an audience of fantasy viewers as well as execute the detailed vision he and his director have.
Lucas Evans

Director

Lucas Evans, born in Providence, Rhode Island, aims to bring the whimsy and satire of his imagination into every project. With his last film, Christmas Spirit, a heartwarming tale of childhood, submitted to festivals, Lucas has honed his writing and directing craft. As the writer and director of Fools, Lucas works to pay homage to the fantasy films he grew up with by creating a real, tangible film. Lucas has always been inspired by the love and emotions around him and aims to imbue those emotions into Fools, to create a heartwarming narrative with fun and snappy dialogue.
Carlotta Walser

Director of Photography

Carlotta Walser is a German cinematographer from Berlin currently studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Her work is driven by a fascination with natural light and its ability to shape emotion, texture, and atmosphere. She approaches every film as an opportunity to craft a unique visual language, using composition, movement, and meticulous pre-production research to reveal the inner lives of her characters.
Most recently, she worked as B-camera operator on the documentary [Her frequency - Women of Color Shaping Sound Design], winner of the Best Documentary award at LGBTQ+ Toronto & Los Angeles Film Festival,.
On "FOOLS” she reflects:
"This project has challenged me creatively from the very beginning. Researching and shaping its visual language has encouraged me to think beyond my usual approach. I'm drawn to the balance between realism and imagination, and to finding ways of expressing that visually through the camera, as we've chosen to exclude visual effects."
Olivia Schroeder

Production Designer

Bringing stories to life visually has always been Olivia Schroeder’s passion. As an only child growing up in the countryside of Florida, she had many hours to fill. With the encouragement of her creative parents, Olivia developed a deep appreciation for the artistic process. Her fascination with production design began with a trip to Broadway, where she was inspired by the immersive environments that bring stories to life. Now a senior in Production Design and Art Direction at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Olivia has dedicated countless hours collaborating on student film productions. These experiences have strengthened her ability to problem-solve and communicate effectively. She believes any skill can be learned with practice. This mindset drives her to embrace new challenges and expand her abilities. Specializing in fictional prop fabrication, Olivia aspires to create original pieces that enrich storytelling through thoughtful design.