The Global Search for Education: Behind the Screams - Jordyn Diew on Don’t Hang Up!!

Posted By C. M. Rubin on Apr 5, 2024

This month, audiences can screen Don’t Hang Up!! on the Planet Classroom Network. The film is curated for the Planet Classroom Network by KIDS FIRST! Film Festival.

Don’t Hang Up!!, directed by Jordyn Diew, is a gripping short film depicting a girl’s unsettling day at home, haunted by mysterious sounds.

Diew masterfully blends jump scares with continuous tension, keeping viewers on edge. Unique directorial choices build suspense, leading to a surprising and humorous finale. A must-watch for thriller enthusiasts.

The Global Search for Education is pleased to welcome Jordyn Diew.

Jordyn, what inspired the concept of Don’t Hang Up!! and how did you develop it into a short film?

I remember seeing a video of someone making fun of how many people are receiving the “car extended warranty” calls, and I decided to turn this into a short film where someone gets haunted by this caller, using a “Scream” inspired vibe for the film.

Can you discuss your approach to building suspense and creating tension throughout the film?

I didn’t have a pre-written script, so I kind of made everything up as I went. I knew what the ending was going to be, so that’s why I decided to add a toy car as a suspense item to lead up to the ending. I also found the mask I wore in my granny’s room, and thought it would be perfect to use.

How did you decide on the unique directorial choices, such as camera angles, to enhance the sense of unease?

I didn’t really have a specific idea for the angles that I was trying to use; I just knew that I wanted this video to look more professional than my others. The scene where the car is found in the closet was a scene in particular that I knew should have multiple angles to add to the creepy vibe.

The ending of Don’t Hang Up!! is surprising and humorous. What was your intention behind this unexpected twist, and how do you think it adds to the overall impact of the film?

The ending makes the movie not as scary as the viewer thinks it will be. It turns the genre from thriller to comedy, which was what I wanted to happen, given I’m not a big fan of scary movies myself. From past conversations, I knew other people also got the car extended warranty calls, so I knew that the ending would be both funny and relatable.

Thank you Jordyn!