This semester, there are six Production 4 (P4) films being created. One of these films, “More Than You Can Chew” is an upcoming P4 Horror short film directed by senior Michaelene Palermo.
The film follows main character Wren, played by Madyson Hearsh, as she tries to start up an oddity jewelry shop alongside her girlfriend, Harley, played by Zoie Sabreah.
Photo courtesy of @toothfilm Instagram
“Something, or someone, gets in her way and we get to see her own special way of overcoming those obstacles,” Palermo said. “It’s about girls being weird just for the sake of being weird and jewelry that is handcrafted with care…and a little bit of blood.”
The film was overseen by Palermo, who directed and co-produced. Maggie Frey co-produced, wrote and is the director of photography. Sydney Frencho is the film’s editor.
“We were joined by fellow classmates Bayli Clack and Emma Crumling from the B-side crew as our Assistant Director and Set Decorator, Anna Segar and Adam Barret from other P4 crews as Assistant Camera and Sound Mixing, and we also had help from [another] classmate, Thomas Tyndall, on sound as well,” Palermo said. “As we head into post, our sound team also is joined by former Point Park student Georgia Maranville.”
“More Than You Can Chew” had about 10 people overall assisting with production.
Besides fundraising on IndieGogo, an online crowdfunding service, the crew also held a flea market in Village Park in October.
“From the beginning of this project, we wanted it to become a place for not only us as a film to create, but to open up the floor for our friends and peers to have a space to create and share their work as well,” Palermo said. “We had five crazy cool vendors join us and we, as a film, had our own bake sale table.”
Palermo said due to the vendors and fundraising, all expenses for the film were able to be covered.
Despite a location being dropped and interruptions from bystanders, the film still made progress.
“Someone – totally not me – forgot to bring the chicken wings needed for a shot, so our crew had to eat chicken wings in a dark parking lot before a shoot,” Palermo said. “If you have a crew as solid as I feel ours is/was, it is easy to problem solve and persevere.”
You just have to be passionate about what you are doing, and at the end of the day you will make sure it gets done.”
Filming for “More Than You Can Chew” occurred over two weekends in October and wrapped on Oct. 20.
The film will be shown at the P4 showcase at PNC theater on April 24, 2025.
“This film felt like a lot more to us than a simple school project,” Palermo said. “We really tried our hardest to create a safe and fun environment for like minded filmmakers like us, so we got everyone we love involved and had a majority female crew, [which] is rare in the industry, and by doing this and creating a safe space for female filmmakers, we hope to kind of set a precedent or maybe just encourage women going into the film industry.”
For more behind the scenes, cast photoshoots and crew photos, follow “More Than You Can Chew” on Instagram @toothfilm.
