In the Wee hours Congratulates Dan Hertzog
Former ad agency producer and longtime filmmaker Dan Hertzog has written and directed an award-winning mystery short with an eye toward series television. The haunting tale, entitled Domino Springs, has just won Best Mystery Short of the Year at the 6th Annual Independent Shorts Awards in Los Angeles. A working commercial director/dp specializing in visual storytelling, natural dialogue, and subtle humor, Hertzog has established himself as “a versatile and talented filmmaker” and made “a significant mark in the industry with his unique storytelling and impeccable cinematography.” – Short Films Matter
Hertzog says, “Hands down the single best experience as a writer/director – so far!” when describing how a lean and mighty band of 40 cast and crew spent one week in Southern California shooting the proof-of-concept piece.
Domino Springs tells the story of Erich Murphy, a troubled mechanic who ropes his best friend Bryan Spencer into helping him in what becomes a nightmarish task. On their way back to San Diego from Bryan’s bachelor party in Reno, the two stumble into some Friday night trouble in Big Pine and race their way across the Mojave Desert to dispose of the body of small-town waitress Andrea Reyes. As they enter the town of Domino Springs, things take a curious turn. What they encounter is far more than expected as they ultimately fight each other to survive the penance for their actions.
The short screenplay had already garnered attention, recognized at the July-August 2021 Reale Film Festival with an Honorable Mention, selected as a Finalist over 1,000 other competitors in the NYC International Screenplay Awards, and awarded the best unproduced short script at the Hong Kong Indie Film Festival in February 2022. The completed short film went on to win Best American Film at the January-February 2024 Reale Film Festival and then Best Short at the Hong Kong Indie Film Festival in February 2024. Since then, Domino Springs has accumulated over 48 wins and still counting.
Hertzog is next set to pitch Domino Springs as a one-hour mystery series based on its concept of the Bermuda Triangle in the Mojave Desert. The series jumps backward in time to peel back the intricate layers of relationships with the melting pot of characters who have happened upon Domino Springs. While Mother Nature lures folks to Domino Springs to be exterminated in reaction to man’s westward expansion, visitors are challenged by the resident ghosts to come to terms with their checkered pasts. Over time, clues are uncovered that trace the mysterious string of deaths over the years back to their origin – the greed of one evil man.
In addition to shooting and directing upcoming brand campaigns, Hertzog is eager to continue his ventures in more narrative work with the coming-of-age thriller Au Pair Girl through his production banner, In the Wee hours. For more information about the company, their commercial work, and other narrative projects in development, please visit intheweehours.com.
