THE DOG: A RAPIDLY CONDENSED GUIDE TO TREADING WATER

This short film follows an insurance underwriter recounting his career in an attempt to affirm his life choices.

“The storyline of a travelling body parts insurance salesman originated from conversations with a reporter who once created a news story about the profession. This job was incredible to me. Car, home, life insurance—all of those things have their purpose, but preparing to lose a specific part of yourself, like an arm, a leg, or an ear, is totally different. It feels as though our attempts to prepare for the worst are now removing us from truly experiencing life. This is what Hugh and I tried to explore in this story: the dichotomy of simultaneously trying to save oneself and annexing oneself from enduring life.”

Michael Makaroff - Director

Director: Michael Makaroff

Writers: Hugh Allen & Michael Makaroff

Cinematographers: Jasper Sassaman & Cam Macarthur

Underwriter Kevin Mcnulty

Nicole Sprout Kamantha Naidoo

The Artist Ryan Trieus

The Pianist Stephen Bishop

Pianist Wife Jaye Pearl

Dentist Doug Crockett

Receptionist Lori Fortune

Executive Producer: B Joel Cran Co Producer: Charlie Gudgeon 1st AC: Dylan Hollingsworth Costume/Wardrobe: Leta CW Make-Up Artist: Brianna Margerison Art Director/Set Dec: Olivia Vanderwal 1st AD: Daniel Kwon 2nd AD: Ella Privet Writing Adviser: Christopher Driscoll Key Grip: Pedro Siqueira Production Assistants: Jon Makaroff, Donovan Asp, Hadyn Tretheway, Emily Wypkema, Megan Switzer Photographer: Maggie Manson-Blair Craft/Catering: Allandra Richmond Editor: Michael Makaroff Visual Effects Artist: Lyndon Clazie Composer: Tegan Wahlgren Graphic Designer: Emily Kors & Kyla Schnellert Colourist: Jasper Sassaman Audio Engineer: Daniel Taggart Sound Design: Carlos Merino

Special Thanks to Lot 2 Villages Phoenix bar Doctor Tyler Crowe’s Office Karen Elgersma