Affinity Scares At Austin Film Festival With Flora’s Place – A Short Film For Phantom Wines

MARE ISLAND, CA – Bogle Vineyards, the Clarksburg, California-based family owned and operated vintner, recently engaged Affinity Creative Group to produce a short film for their brand, Phantom Wine. Starting in 2020, award-winning and hauntingly delicious Phantom Wines launched an annual ghost story writing contest where Phantom fans and writing enthusiasts are encouraged to write and submit an original ghost story.

The 2020 winner, Derrolyn Anderson, wrote the winning short, “Flora’s Place,” a spine-chilling tale of a haunted tavern in California’s Gold Country. Affinity Creative worked with a Hollywood scriptwriter, Madeline Rooks, to adapt Anderson’s story into a true screenplay.

While well versed in producing cinematic product and lifestyle videos, “Flora’s Place” was Affinity’s first foray into narrative filmmaking. Directed and shot by cinematographer Trevor Hooper, with creative support from Digital Media Director Justin Witt, the team relied on adaptability and instinct to finalize the film. In true spooky season spirit, Affinity filmed the 15-minute short in three overnight sessions with a skeleton crew. Scrappy problem-solving was required to figure out how to safely blow up a light bulb and create practical effects, such as rigging sets to create the illusion of doors or other props that didn’t exist.

Like all project challenges encountered, the Affinity team met this one with excitement, energy, and enthusiasm. The short film premiered on Saturday, October 23rd, at Austin Film Festival to a standing ovation from attendees, followed by a short Q&A afterward.

Justin Witt remarked, “It was an absolute pleasure to be part of such a storied festival. The quality and creativity of all participants was astounding, and we were honored to be included in such good company. A huge congratulations and a big thank you to our client, host and festival sponsor, Bogle Vineyards!”