Just A Drill (2019) is a gripping drama short film by Julianne Donelle. This powerful cinematic experience explores the emotional turmoil and personal growth of its characters during a high-stress drill simulation. Discover the compelling storytelling and exceptional talent in this must-watch short film.
🛡️ Just A Drill (2019) — Drama Short Film by Julianne Donelle
A taut, nerve‑wracking 10‑minute drama, Just A Drill 2019 short film takes the all‑too‑familiar ritual of an active shooter drill and turns it into a slow‑burn nightmare. Written and directed by Julianne Donelle, and produced through Women in Film, the short asks a chilling question: When the line between practice and reality blurs, what choices will you make?
In an underfunded elementary school, an overworked teacher is determined to follow every rule during an active shooter drill.
The Setup: The principal’s voice crackles over the intercom — “This is just a drill.” The teacher locks the door, dims the lights, and huddles her students into a corner.
The Shift: Footsteps echo in the hallway. A shadow passes the door. The teacher’s eyes flicker — is this still a drill?
The Dilemma: She must decide whether to break protocol to protect her students or stick to the rules she’s been told will keep them safe.
The Question: In a world where drills are routine, how do you know when it’s real?
🛠️ Creative “Tools” & Style
Suspense through ambiguity: The audience is never told outright if the threat is real — we feel the teacher’s uncertainty in real time.
Minimalist setting: A single classroom becomes a pressure cooker.
Sound design as menace: Muffled voices, distant thuds, and the hum of fluorescent lights build dread.
Character‑driven tension: The camera stays close to the teacher’s face, capturing every flicker of doubt and fear.
Personal roots: Donelle, a former educator, drew on her own experience participating in active shooter drills.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
Pros
🎯 Immediate stakes: No warm‑up — you’re in the tension from the first frame.
🎭 Authentic emotion: Grounded in lived experience, avoiding melodrama.
🎥 Tight craft: Every shot and sound serves the suspense.
💬 Social relevance: Speaks to the unsettling normalization of school shooting preparedness.
Cons
⏳ Short runtime: Leaves you wanting more about the teacher’s life beyond the drill.
🌀 Emotional intensity: The realism may be triggering for some viewers.
🌟 Themes & Resonance
Preparedness vs. reality: The paradox of practicing for horror.
Leadership under pressure: The impossible choices educators face.
Systemic failure: How drills reflect a society tolerating a problem rather than solving it.
👥 Who Is It For?
Educators & parents: Those grappling with the reality of school safety.
Social issue advocates: Viewers seeking art that sparks conversation.
Short film fans: Lovers of compact, high‑tension storytelling.
💡 Humanized Takeaway
Just A Drill isn’t about a shooting — it’s about the psychological toll of living in a world where such drills are necessary. Donelle’s film captures the creeping unease of a “normal” that should never be normal, and the quiet heroism of teachers who must make split‑second decisions with lives on the line.
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