When Steven Schloss introduced a dreidel to highschool for present and inform at age 10, he anticipated his classmates to assume it was cool.

“As an alternative I discovered that I used to be the child who celebrated the completely different vacation, and only a few knew the sport,” says Schloss, a Boston-based filmmaker who says the expertise helped encourage his Hannuhah-themed horror quick “Gimme.”

He wrote the movie, which lately gained Finest Horror Quick at Filmquest and was an official choice of the Dances with Movies horror program, with producer Aidan Payne. It tells the story of a younger lady named Lev (Taylor Pezza) and her grandfather Papa Alan (Paul Kandarian) as they address the lack of the lady’s mom round Hannukah. A mysterious dreidel looks like a approach to join together with her, however issues go badly.

Schloss can be an govt producer of the New England based mostly manufacturing firm Sizzling Brick Leisure. His earlier shorts “Katie’s Pores and skin” and “Author’s Block” have earned him a status for skillfully made, uncompromising horror.

“Gimme” has already been picked up by Screambox for distribution in December 2026 — simply in time for subsequent Hannukah.

We talked with Steve Schloss in regards to the viewers for Jewish horror, not settling for the simple model of “Gimme,” and the way in the event you do the factor you’re keen on, you’ll by no means work a day in your life.

Steven Schloss on Making ‘Gimme’

MovieMaker: How did you turn into a filmmaker?

Steven Schloss: The million greenback query. Honestly, I feel the need and skillset of being a filmmaker has all the time been inside me, ready. Once I was little I might beg my dad to take me to Blockbuster just a few occasions per week. Generally simply to browse the horror aisle to take a look at the VHS cowl artwork of the flicks I wasn’t allowed to observe, but. Rising up I used to be extra serious about staying inside getting misplaced in video video games, motion figures and my evolving VHS/DVD assortment than enjoying outdoors with different youngsters.

Except it was aggressive paintball, my first obsession previous to filmmaking that scratched my itch for artistic downside fixing and collaboration. Lecture rooms have been powerful for me, except it was artwork class. Once I picked up my first mini DV video digicam in highschool, it felt so pure with the entire run and gun facet of it. Lastly I discovered one thing in my schooling to chase. Considerably by default, since I actually did suck in school. That keenness led me to Boston College the place I studied movie and TV, ultimately interning with Richard N. Gladstein the producer of Pulp Fiction, Cider Home Guidelines and The Bourne Identification to call just a few. I’ve been utilizing movie as a medium to share tales since 2010 and most lately I’m leaning extra into the realm of horror.

MovieMaker: The place did the concept for “Gimme” originate?

Steven Schloss: Once I was 10 I introduced a dreidel to highschool for present and inform. I used to be anticipating the category to at the very least know what it was and touch upon how cool it was however as an alternative I discovered that I used to be the child who celebrated the completely different vacation and only a few knew the sport. I craved a Hanukkah horror film after I was rising up as the vacation was enormously overshadowed by Christmas. I grew up in a non-religious, but culturally Jewish household, and I’ve seen much less pleasure in our identification these days, particularly as antisemitism rises within the U.S. That’s one of many causes I made “Gimme,” a movie rooted in Jewish tradition that anybody can relate to. It’s the film I want I used to be in a position to watch throughout Hanukkah at 14.

MovieMaker: Are you shocked there isn’t extra Jewish-themed horror?

Steven Schloss: Sure. When Eli Roth’s 2023 Thanksgiving was introduced it felt to me just like the world simply passed over Hanukkah. That’s after I began to develop this concept. I couldn’t assist however ask why: Why isn’t there a carousel of Hanukkah films on Shudder or Screambox like there may be for Christmas? Will we not deserve it? Are there not sufficient metrics behind the idea to promote studios on?

I wished to be the one to vary that by making one thing daring, unforgettable and true to the themes of Hanukkah. A sinister dreidel that brings a household nearer collectively via horror match the invoice.

MovieMaker: What was the most important problem you confronted in making this movie?

Steven Schloss: Telling the precise story to characterize the themes of tradition, ritual and household
traditions round Hanukkah. “Gimme” went via two rounds of manufacturing. On the primary spherical, the top held no advantage. For me it was both reshoot the third act or let the mission die, and I couldn’t be happier with my choice to reshoot with the encouragement of fellow collaborators.

MovieMaker: I do know you debated — spoiler alert — whether or not to have a baby character be harmed on this movie… why did you make the choice you probably did?

Steven Schloss: Sure, spoiler alert. I prefer to see the factor I don’t wish to see in horror. That’s a part of my attraction to the style — it’s not protected. Thematically the story is a few dying household custom so it’s solely becoming that it ends with a feminine first born little one. If I have been to save lots of the character it will be out of sensitivity and really feel just like the 2015 movie Krampus. This was the place I actually wished to be completely different whereas nonetheless feeling acquainted in different areas.

MovieMaker: You are also a contract cinematographer – how do you stability that with directing movies?

Steven Schloss: Sure, that’s my livelihood and primary funnel into elevating sufficient cash to make my very own films. It’s plenty of vibrant completely happy stuff so my escape is evidently within the darkness. Balancing is simple, I make my very own schedule and since I’m not with a studio whereas I’m producing my movies there is no such thing as a deadline, so I actually take my time with issues. It’s additionally good with the ability to nonetheless work in the identical medium for my primary job and keenness.

MovieMaker: What’s subsequent?

Steven Schloss: I hope to see “Gimme” evolve right into a function and imagine the world would eat it up with a plate of Latkes and a aspect of apple sauce. Maintain the bitter cream, please.

Principal picture: The dreidel in “Gimme,” designed by Jordan J. Estrada.