Fresh Paint
After buying a new set of paints, a young artist's mind and body begin to change unnaturally.
Her friend must stop her from becoming consumed by her own art.
Horror’s a tricky genre… one that requires an element of surprise. Scary tropes are a fun in-joke. But after a while, classic boogeymen lose the “jump” to their scare. Because if you already know what’s gonna happen, what was once chilling becomes… a bore. To be stand out, new horror requires unique premises. Fresh blood, if you will.
Or fresh PAINT - in the case of Oz Bish's eerie short tale.
Meet Jaida, 21 – a young artist for whom painting is her world. Her apartment’s chock full of testimony to her creative drive: canvases, abstract paintings, and supplies laid out just-so on the floor. The rest of the apartment? Ignored. Because who has time to do dishes or dust, when completion of one’s next artistic masterpiece calls?
Shortly after Fresh opens, Jaida finds her process interrupted by a knock on the door. Opening it, she finds a package – a set of new acrylic paints.
She hadn’t ordered them, but when you’re a starving (and obsessed) artist, why look a gift pigment in the mouth? Jaida opens a tube of white paint, and…
….instantly her consciousness seems to shift. Almost into a trance.
When Jaida comes to, she finds she’s got a guest – friend Tammy. One look at Jaida’s state, and Tammy grows concerned.
Jaida seems a little TOO fascinated with her new set of paints. And TOO out of touch with all else. After Jaida accidentally mistakes paint water for coffee and gulps some down, Tammy finds herself musing: maybe Jaida should step away from the art and get some air.
Taking her own advice, Tammy departs.
And comes back the next day to find Jaida diving even deeper into her art. Literally, even - because now patterns of paint cover Jaida’s arms and legs. Is it body safe? Who knows? And when Tammy tries to clean Jaida up, she finds the stuff doesn't "want" to come off.
Tammy scrubs a little harder. When she pulls away, the patterns aren’t even smudged. She takes a step back. Jaida smirks.
JAIDA
Do you get it now? Don’t you see
how wonderful this paint is?
TAMMY
Jaida, no. Whatever... this is isn’t good for you.
JAIDA
It is me.
Jaida picks up her brush and goes back to painting.
"It is me"?!? WTF? The paint patterns are disturbing. But what’s mentally happening could be even worse….
What exactly is this paint that seems to be absorbing Jaida mind, body and soul? And perhaps more insidiously: is it the art or the artist who’s at fault?
A surreal 8 pager with touches of Twilight Zone, Fresh Paint’s also an easy shoot. Just two actresses needed. And a ton of body safe paint, too!