The Making of Dual Mania: Filmmaking Chicago Style

“We were dealing with the elements of Chicago.”

Indie filmmaking in Chicago looks nothing like the Hollywood machine. It requires a specific kind of grit to get scenes shot in the biting Midwest cold.

“I wanted someone who could embody the character's duality.”

Casting choices can make or break the chemistry of a psychological thriller. Joseph Strickland took a huge risk on fresh faces to keep the tension feeling authentic.

“Music is the heartbeat of the film.”

Movie soundtracks shouldn't just be background noise. Cat Ellington treats every song as a layer of the character's subconscious mind.

Shooting on a shoestring budget forces you to be clever with shadows. The dark corners of those Chicago streets became their own characters in Dual Mania.