'Undeletable' Tracks a Chaotic Voicemail for the Other Woman of a Deceased Father

      “Undeletable” centers on a grieving daughter named Emma (played by Sophia Di Martino, known for Loki) as she battles to record a voicemail for a stranger. She has just discovered that her father had been unfaithful to her mother for years, and after his death, Emma feels compelled to notify the other woman of his passing.

      The film is presented in black and white, consisting of a single seven-minute continuous shot. It depicts a real-life event.

      Benjamin Blaine, who co-wrote and co-directed the film with his brother, Chris Blaine, shares, “This captures the essence of the disastrous voicemail I left for my Dad’s lover the day after he died.”

      To enhance the emotional depth, the UK-based siblings filmed on the street where Benjamin made that pivotal call.

      “After nearly a decade away from that street, I always envisioned filming the scene there, pacing the same pavement and finishing outside the same unattractive church,” Benjamin reflects, remarking on its significance, including its connection to their earlier work. “This hill was where we filmed the last shot of our first film together as kids, where we portrayed two of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, with our mother stepping in at the end to clean up our mess.”

      The importance of the street extends further: “Sophia’s walk in the film led to the train station that linked my suburban life to London, and more recently, it was the route to the local pharmacy to collect Dad’s morphine. Returning felt like a pilgrimage, a chance to lay old ghosts to rest. While I hoped the emotional intensity of the return would energize Sophia, what surprised me most was how utterly normal it felt, revealing that the magic of her performance was entirely her own.”

      The film also serves as a journey through the Blaines’ cinematic history, reuniting them with Katie Bignell, founder of Festival Formula, who facilitated the film's connection with Indy Shorts—a festival named one of MovieMaker’s 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee and 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World. She has supported Indy Shorts since its inception as a branch of the Indianapolis Heartland Film Festival in 2018.

      We spoke with Benjamin Blaine about bringing “Undeletable” to fruition, collaborating with Sophia Di Martino, and their ongoing partnership with Bignell.

      MovieMaker: “Undeletable” features a continuous scene, a choice becoming more prevalent recently. Why was this approach the most effective for this narrative?

      Benjamin Blaine: We wanted the character and the audience to lack the option to delete anything—maintaining a continuous shot creates a building tension that perfectly suits this story. Emma is trapped in her situation with no way out, so edits were not permitted.

      The "oner" technique currently enjoys popularity, not just for intensifying tension but also for emphasizing that cinematic magic that has captivated audiences since film’s beginnings. This magic ensures that viewers remain fixed on the screen, or they might miss something.

      Interestingly, this technique allows for deeper contemplation for both characters and the audience. In a traditionally edited narrative, there is a constant pressure to speed up the pace, smooth over transitions, and arrive faster. The oner puts the audience’s anticipation on a tightrope, making it a fitting technique for this story.

      MovieMaker: What was the reasoning behind shooting “Undeletable” in black and white?

      Benjamin Blaine: We knew we wanted to frame it at 1.33:1 to confine Emma within her struggle. However, we finalized the black-and-white decision after reviewing the rushes with Sophia. This choice helped us push the imagery and audio effectively, enhancing contrast in a way that felt aesthetically pleasing without going overboard.

      More importantly, we aimed for the audience to connect deeply with Emma while also feeling the distance, similar to how the sound mirrors Susie’s perception of the voicemail. It’s not solely about Emma’s emotions, but also about what she envisions the other person’s feelings are. We wanted to position ourselves between both perspectives, evoking empathy for both sides.

      Benjamin Blaine on Filming Sophia Di Martino in ‘Undeletable’ in One Take on a Public Street

      MovieMaker: “Undeletable” was filmed on an actual street, likely with genuine traffic. Can you explain how you managed this? Did you block it off? What camera and sound equipment did you utilize?

      Benjamin Blaine: We filmed on a real street without controlling traffic or pedestrians; we didn't block anything. The sounds of construction came from builders really working nearby.

      We operated with a minimal crew: Chris used a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K on a DJI Ronin-S gimbal while I recorded sound with a Zoom H6N using a boom, personal mic, and audio from the phone. Two assistants, Martin and Lauren, helped guide us as we walked backwards, ensuring we avoided trees or on