Behind the scenes of ‘Fatefully Undone’

After the curtain fell on the Utah Film Festival in 2023, Kayden Corbett and Leon Clayton, inspired by the event, embarked on a journey to create a film of their own for the festival. What began as occasional phone calls and in-person meetings transformed into a collaborative effort to conceive a narrative that was intense, thought-provoking, and intricately plotted.

The initial spark came from Leon’s idea of a man with a shovel wandering in a rainstorm, eventually entering a house with a random wife on a couch. The duo delved into the details, asking questions about the characters and the story. As they pieced together the sinister elements, a thrilling and darkly humorous narrative emerged.

“After a while, we had a good understanding of what to start within the story itself and the how’s and why’s” said Corbett. “As we started piecing the sinister details and characters together, a crazy, evil, thriller with a hint of humor began to emerge.”

Selecting the right location was crucial, and they envisioned a creepy, haunting vibe for the cabin that served as the film’s backdrop. The team, composed of friends in the film world, worked collaboratively to bring the characters to life. Nine months of scriptwriting, collaboration, and creativity culminated in a fantastic draft that laid the foundation for their production.

“Of course, we found out quickly that we would have to change and adapt to some things as we continued forward. Knowing that there are always bumps in the road. We continued and created a short film we could all be proud of.”

The excitement, laughter, and fun during the production became the highlight for Corbett and Clayton. Working with a dedicated team of friends and witnessing their ideas and characters come to life was a gratifying experience. The synergy among the crew and actors elevated the film beyond their expectations.

However, the production journey wasn’t without its challenges. The most significant hurdle came when the lead actress fell ill a day before filming began. Faced with the dilemma of finding an immediate replacement, the only person they could think of was Amber Siglin Corbett—Kayden’s mother. Despite not having acted for some time, Amber stepped up, going over every detail from character to wardrobe.

Reflecting on the entire process, Corbett expressed no regrets, considering the experience a great one. For aspiring individuals entering the production space, the advice from the filmmakers is to join a film community, collaborate, and learn from the production workspace. They emphasize the importance of calling on friends from these experiences when ready for one’s own production.

As for their future projects, audiences can follow Kayden Corbett and Leon Clayton on YouTube (Leon Clayton and Umzifilms) and Instagram (Kayden_Corbett and Leonclaytonphotography) for updates.

“Fatefully Undone,” is a story about Daniel, who returns home to find his life utterly destroyed. Starring Amber Siglin Corbett, Derek Ritchie, Josh Gibson, and Eric Jara, the film is an official selection of the Utah International Film Festival.