The Handbook

If you or someone you know was a missionary that knocked on strangers doors, you know the fear is real. My palms would sweat and my anxiety would go through the roof when I was a missionary in California, so this film resonated with me really well. I had a candid conversation with filmmaker Brandon Carraway, the creator of the horror-thriller “The Handbook,”  about the origins of the short film.

“The Handbook” draws its inspiration from Carraway’s missionary days with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The narrative stemmed from Carraway’s own adherence to the missionary handbook, emphasizing his inclination towards exact obedience. This obsession with following rules, a trait that Carraway candidly admits, became the driving force behind the film’s eerie plot.

“I would often bug my companions because of my pharisaical, letter-of-the-law observance of seemingly minor rules. After coming home, I wanted to make a film that captured my obsession with following the rules, so the idea for The Handbookwas born” said Carraway.

Carraway, a graduate of BYU’s film school, shared how “The Handbook” profoundly influenced his current filmmaking style. The project, crafted with friends from his time at BYU, left an indelible mark. Carraway expressed a desire to replicate the laid-back yet passionate atmosphere of the film’s production on future sets. 

“I feel like every time I write a story now or pull together a crew, I try to replicate the atmosphere and experience that was had on set for The Handbook. Beyond that, my wife (one of the producers) and I have been lucky enough to screen at a lot of festivals around the states and every time we get to attend and watch the film with a live audience, we learn from their reactions what’s working, what we should try and improve for the next project and things we’d like to never do again.”

The conversation delved into the significance of the mountain cabin, a haunting backdrop that amplified the film’s fear factor. Carraway revealed that the cabin was secured before the story itself, a unique approach in preproduction. The location was offered by Carraway’s wife’s friend, whose family was selling the cabin.

“I wrestled with finding a good story for a while – I kept coming up with ideas of people wandering into cabins in the mountains that made no sense, I would always scratch my head and ask, “Why would the protagonist go inside this house?” Then it hit me: “Who goes inside creepy houses all the time?” Missionaries.”

Sharing his favorite moments, Carraway highlighted working with the actors, particularly Josh Fish and Caleb Hafen, who brought their missionary experiences to life on screen. The camaraderie with the crew added to the overall enjoyment of the filmmaking process. However, not without challenges, Carraway pinpointed the climax fight scene as the most difficult part of the production. Actor Barta Heiner’s patience and the collaborative efforts of the team ultimately brought the scene to life, though Carraway humorously vowed to hire a stunt coordinator for future fight scenes.

‘The Handbook’ stars Caleb Hafen as Elder Hafen, Josh Fish as Elder Weber, Barta Heiner as Gresilda Falls and Jason Wixom as Tulip Falls. Brandon Carraway served as Director/Editor/Writer, Hannah Grace Carraway as Writer/Producer, Trevor Free as the Director of Photography, and the score was written by Kaden Hendron. 

For those curious about Carraway’s upcoming projects, he extended an invitation to follow his Instagram, @Trickedout7, and explore his YouTube channel, Waterslide Media. Residing and working in Provo, Utah, Carraway expressed eagerness to collaborate with fellow creatives. Additionally, the spotlight was shared with cinematographer Trevor Free, whose production company, Black Rabbit Monolith, promises a global visual spectacle. The audience was encouraged to reach out and explore Free’s work on his website: www.blackrabbitmonolith.com.

Now as I wrap up my conversation with Brandon I look back on how important it is for filmmakers to draw unique narratives from their personal experiences. I love telling the stories of filmmakers and look forward to whatever comes up next. See you on set.