East Haven Teen Stars in New Halloween-Themed Short Film

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A new short film, shot entirely in Middletown and written and directed by a city native, is currently in post-production and closing in on its completion date as the filmmakers try and push it across the finish line.

The film, “No Costume, No Candy,” was written and directed by Keith Bearden and stars Kassidy Keirstead, 16, of Madison, and Sophia Speringo, 13, of East Haven, according to the Middletown Press.

The film, which is around 15 minutes long, is about two longtime friends who “go on their last night of Halloween trick or treating while in pursuit of a high school crush,” according to IMDb.com.

“We shot an amazing Halloween-themed short film in the town of Middletown, CT,” reads a post on the film’s Indiegogo page. “It's a sweet and funny tribute to the fun of Halloween, and the power of young women's friendship. Best of all, we did it with mostly local talent, young and old, who would otherwise never have had the chance to be in a professional film.”

Bearden decided to film in Middletown because it was the perfect fit for the small-town America feel of “No Costume, No Candy.”

“Middletown, Connecticut, is a classic New England town, and our Producer, the cast, and much of the crew were assembled from nearby,” according to a post on Indiegogo. “NO COSTUME NO CANDY retains the unique, hometown flavor that only a place like Middletown can provide. Our story takes place in small-town America, and our locations ensure that it feels real and authentic.”

During the filming, which was shot last fall, the crew ran into some issues dealing with the effects of Hurricane Matthew, which “did a number on our budget.”

The producer and crew chipped in to finish shooting. The filmmakers then launched the fundraising campaign on Indiegogo for assistance in the “post production process (original music, color correction, audio sweetening, digital prints) for this amazing little film.”

“No Costume, No Candy” is produced by Hello Stranger, a French production company, and it must be completed in February under the production contract, the Middletown Press reports.

Bearden, who also received a post-production grant from the Middletown Arts Commission, plans to enter the movie in film festivals, according to the Middletown Press.

Read more about the cast and filming in Middletown at the Middletown Press here.

Visit the film’s Indiegogo page here and on Facebook here.

Image via Shutterstock

Written by Vincent Salzo (Patch Staff)

(Editor's Note: This story first ran previously but here it is again in case you missed it.)