TRUMPED - Short Film - Official Movie Website

Trumped is a short thriller written and directed by Michael Whitton. The film is focused around a demented scare game that the three desensitized players think is harmless and the random victims believe is real; but when an accident blurs the two, the players are forced to face a consequence that trumps all the rest.

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

I believe a person can grow up by choice or chance, the latter usually in the form of a tragedy.  Such is the case in Trumped: an accident sparked by an adolescent prank triggers a defining moment for the desensitized main character, Greg, when he realizes that what he's doing is hurting others and himself.  What he does with that realization separates the boy from the man—a turning point Greg comes to when his cohort Anthony grossly misinterprets the tragedy as an opportunity.

Robert McNamara, who was the Secretary of Defense under Kennedy and Johnson, once said "To do good you have to be willing to do evil."  I disagree.  "Have to" and "want to" are not the same.  Doing evil is a decision, which ultimately affects and defines your character.

Do you have to kill to know that you don't want to be a killer?  For some, the answer is in the action: get a gun, shoot a man, go to jail.  The action has a consequence.  And the consequence, one that could have been avoided, is what inspired me to write and direct Trumped.

So in this short film I hope you'll be able to see that it doesn't have to take a tragedy to change.  You can grow up by choice.  Nothing trumps the truth.

Michael Whitton
Los Angeles

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AT GUNPOINT EXIT STRATEGY THE HISTORY OF FIRE SUIT UP TRUMPED TV LOOKBOOK TRUMPED: A SHORT FILM	TRUMPED VIEW TRAILER VIEW PHOTOS AWARDS Ivy Film Festival Award Best Drama FirstGlance SOC & Philadelphia Award Best Short & Premiere Action/Cut SFC Award Best Short Semi-Finalist Aired on TBAE Network	Trumped is a short thriller written and directed by Michael Whitton. The film is focused around a demented scare game that the three desensitized players think is harmless and the random victims believe is real; but when an accident blurs the two, the players are forced to face a consequence that trumps all the rest. DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT I believe a person can grow up by choice or chance, the latter usually in the form of a tragedy. Such is the case in Trumped: an accident sparked by an adolescent prank triggers a defining moment for the desensitized main character, Greg, when he realizes that what he's doing is hurting others and himself. What he does with that realization separates the boy from the man—a turning point Greg comes to when his cohort Anthony grossly misinterprets the tragedy as an opportunity. Robert McNamara, who was the Secretary of Defense under Kennedy and Johnson, once said "To do good you have to be willing to do evil." I disagree. "Have to" and "want to" are not the same. Doing evil is a decision, which ultimately affects and defines your character. Do you have to kill to know that you don't want to be a killer? For some, the answer is in the action: get a gun, shoot a man, go to jail. The action has a consequence. And the consequence, one that could have been avoided, is what inspired me to write and direct Trumped. So in this short film I hope you'll be able to see that it doesn't have to take a tragedy to change. You can grow up by choice. Nothing trumps the truth. Michael Whitton Los Angeles # # #
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