The Right Vintage

Director - Trace Winter

Trace Winter is an independent short-film director from Scottsdale Arizona.
Known for building ambitious sets with his family and friends, his focus began in high school with characters and their environment. He has since transitioned to a more adaptive and varied approach as he ages - continuing to test, experiment and play with different ways to tell a story. At 29 years old, Trace has directed more than seven short films, three music videos, and worked on over 50 projects varying in multiple positions. Mr. Winter has collaborated with the Jerome International Music and Film Festival since 2015.

Filmography of Trace Winter

The Right Vintage • Sci-fi • 4 min • USA 2021 • 30 festivals
The World’s Greatest Tool • Satire • 3 min • USA 2016
As She Falls • Drama • 2 min • USA 2015
Vivere • Drama • 5 min • USA 2015
Bear People • Romance / Experiment • 1 min • USA 2014

Director Statement

Forget that Sonny is a criminal for a moment. The idea that this man dug himself into a hole and found a clever way out is what had me interested in the story. I wanted to know what he would do next.
There’s a certain old school effect, or a subtle nostalgia I like about it that I just can’t place my finger on, and I liked the short sweet and to the point manner of the script.

My father helped me build the set - we’ve made rotating and sliding sets in the past - nothing circular and nothing of this scale with wild-walls included.
For cinematography I went to my buddy Jason Ryan, we’ve been working together since 2015. We used anamorphic lenses and decorated the set walls with LED lights to keep things practical.

The projects I've worked on so far have shared similar patterns with the story. Being mostly interior, having only a few characters, narration, and what I call the yellow-light state - where we see the character in this sort of in-between moment of his or her life. The story had my name all over it from the start.
I like odd and surreal ideas, I like the idea of utilizing and pushing practical effects, and a lot of my inspiration comes from life, movies and especially music.
We had some close calls, but I knew we’d pull everything off. We had a lead actor call out a few days before the shoot and the anamorphic lenses did not arrive on time. Many people involved with post production lived out of the country or state, so it was interesting working this way. It was a pleasure working with everyone involved, I hope that everyone watching enjoys The Right Vintage, and that they want to see what Sonny’s next move is.

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