Beat is a student run, written, and produced short film telling the story of Sal and Iris, two high school students with a penchant for dancing who dream of winning their high school talent show. When a self-proclaimed “nice guy” gets in the way, Sal and Iris must band together to give him the attention he deserves.

The narrative lesson in Beat serves as an important element in the film’s final message. Writer/Director Inhye Lee noticed a strong trend in typical media that glorified and validated the “nice guy,” the typical shy, nervous boy who yearns for a girl from afar. The reality of this trope is that “nice guys” can often be a creepy reminder of men who think they deserve something in return for their unearned adoration. Beat aims to flip this cliché on its head, putting the power in the hands of the women.

In addition, Beat is a wonderful example of how student film sets can operate at the high caliber of industry films. With access to three exceptionally high-quality cameras from the RED sequence- the Red One, the Red Epic, and the Red Scarlet- as well as the newly-released MoVI M10 stabilizer, Director of Photography Misha Tsirtsan was able to capture in great detail the intricacies of Beat’s most exciting scene: a full-on dance sequence.

With a truly unique story, new and exciting filming techniques, and an outstanding cast & crew, Beat has evolved into a highly successful feminist tale. Our ultimate goal is to enter Beat into a number of film festivals in the Chicago area and across the U.S.

For more information and fun links to our unofficial soundtrack, please check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BEATthemovie