A Columbus native who grew up in Brown County finds himself in the spotlight as his 13-minute short film is set to be shown at the virtual, Indianapolis-based Indy Shorts International Film Festival presented by Heartland Film at noon Saturday.
Twenty-six-year-old Alex Zorn directed “Bird of Paradise,” shot and completed the film last year in Chicago where he lives.
“It is very exciting, and by some metrics, this is the best (festival) we’ve gotten into so far,” Zorn said. “And it’s extra special just because while growing up in Indiana, I was very aware of Heartland. So this is kind of a full-circle moment for me.”
The film, for which father and Columbus resident Torence Johnson served as a financial backer and one of the executive producers, deals with a young, male, geriatric nurse who falls in love with his same-sex, elderly patient. Zorn acknowledged that he’s heard of such real-life scenarios from those in the home health field.
“It is definitely out there, though some people may not be aware of it,” he said.
Johnson mentioned that this represents his son’s best work, “and the production values here are very good. Plus, visually, it’s just beautiful.”
Some of the most personal reaction he has received came from Seattle high school students who caught the movie at a festival there. They ultimately met with Zorn afterward to talk about the relationship he depicted.
“There are conversations like that — ones I never imagined I would have — that this film has stirred,” Zorn said.
He is a graduate of Brown County High School, Indiana University, and DePaul University in Chicago. He acknowledged that his project takes the road less traveled — seemingly understandable for a young man passionate about social justice and equality.
“It does take a few risks,” Zorn said. “But it was something that I was interested in doing to establish myself as someone who is taking himself seriously as a filmmaker and someone who wanted to cover particularly difficult topics.
“So those were risks that I was happy to take. And I think in some ways the topics included have become even more relevant than when I made it a year ago.”
He hopes that, if people see the film, they come away with ample food for thought, though his perspective may be nontraditional.
“I hope that people are willing to go along on the journey as we balance along the line of what’s appropriate and what isn’t appropriate,” Zorn said. “And I hope that they can consider a relationship — a relationship for its merits — that maybe they never would have otherwise considered.”
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Go to heartlandfilm.org and click on the Indy Shorts tab. Tickets are $7 per film or $50 for all 18 programs. "Bird of Paradise" plays initially at noon Saturday.
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