Watch ‘1, 2, 3, All Eyes on Me’ – Emil Gallardo’s gripping short film. A tense, thought-provoking story that keeps you hooked. #ShortFilm
🎬 1, 2, 3, All Eyes on Me — Short Film by Emil Gallardo
A 15‑minute gut‑punch of a drama short film, 1, 2, 3, All Eyes on Me takes you inside an elementary school classroom on the day everything changes. Written and directed by Emil Gallardo and co‑written by Derek Ho, this award‑winning short doesn’t rely on graphic violence — instead, it builds unbearable tension through sound, perspective, and the quiet heroism of a teacher trying to protect her students.
🧭 Overview
- Genre: Short · Drama
- Director/Writer: Emil Gallardo (co‑writer Derek Ho)
- Starring: Farelle Walker as Ms. Leena, Blanca Ordaz, Armand Muñoz, and a talented young cast
- Runtime: ~15 minutes
- Production: Waterlight Films
- Accolades: 17 wins & 2 nominations, including the 2020 Latinx Short Film Competition (HBO Max) and Oscar‑qualifying festival runs
Premise: When a crisis suddenly engulfs an elementary school campus, Ms. Leena — a caring, quick‑thinking art teacher — must keep her 4th‑grade class safe as danger closes in.
Videos: Trailers or Teasers
🛠️ Defining the Film’s “Tools”
Instead of literal tools, here’s what Gallardo uses to make the story hit hard:
- Single‑location tension: The camera rarely leaves the classroom, keeping you trapped with the characters.
- Sound design as storytelling: Sirens, alarms, muffled chaos — your imagination fills in the rest.
- Child POV authenticity: Dialogue and reactions from the kids feel unscripted and real.
- Minimalist visuals: No gore, no sensationalism — just the emotional weight of the moment.
- Symbolic cues: Spray‑painted X’s on doors become chilling markers of what’s to come.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
Pros
- 🎯 Emotional realism: Captures the fear, confusion, and small acts of courage in a lockdown.
- 🕒 Tight pacing: Every second counts; no filler.
- 🎭 Strong performances: Farelle Walker anchors the film with warmth and resolve.
- 🎧 Immersive audio: Soundscape pulls you into the scene without showing violence.
Cons
- ⏳ Short runtime: Leaves some viewers wishing for a longer exploration of aftermath.
- 🌀 Open ending: Fades to black without resolution — powerful for some, frustrating for others.
🌟 Key Features
- Lockdown drill vs. real threat: Blurs the line between routine safety measures and actual danger.
- Teacher as protagonist: Focuses on an educator’s split‑second decisions under pressure.
- Social commentary: Raises awareness about the reality of school shootings without exploiting trauma.
- Award‑winning craft: Recognized for direction, acting, and its socially conscious storytelling.
🎯 Use Cases & Applications
- Education & training: Spark discussions in teacher prep or safety workshops.
- Advocacy: Screen at community events to raise awareness about school safety.
- Film studies: Analyze for tension‑building, sound design, and short‑form narrative structure.
- Social media conversation starter: Clips have gone viral for their emotional impact.
👥 Who Is It For?
- Educators & parents: To reflect on preparedness and empathy in crisis.
- Students of film: To study minimalist yet impactful storytelling.
- Advocates & policymakers: To humanize statistics about school violence.
- General audiences: Anyone ready for a gripping, thought‑provoking 15 minutes.
💰 Pricing / How to Watch
While there’s no “pricing plan” in the SaaS sense, you can:
- Stream: Available via HBO Max featurette and select festival platforms.
- Festivals: Occasionally screens at special events or safety awareness programs.
- Educational licenses: Contact Waterlight Films for institutional use.
🔍 Find More & Support
- 🎥 IMDb page with cast & crew
- 📖 EverybodyWiki production details
- ▶️ HBO Max featurette on making the film
- 💬 Follow Emil Gallardo’s updates via Waterlight Films’ channels for future projects.
If you’d like, I can also draft a discussion guide with key questions and themes so you can use 1, 2, 3, All Eyes on Me in a classroom, workshop, or community screening — emoji‑friendly and ready to print. Would you like me to prepare that?
