The Dark Action
Summary
The Dark Action is a 2023 narrative short film directed and shot by Dustin James Leighton, showcasing his cinematic approach to storytelling and visual craft. The project exemplifies his dual expertise as a director and director of photography, blending dramatic tension, dramatic lighting, and purposeful composition to support the story’s emotional stakes.
The story: It's the Greed-Is-Good 1980s and a wrongful death case looks like murder. When the police discover a federal bank examiner dead on a deserted city street on Christmas Eve 1983, there’s no evidence, no leads and no suspects. To find answers, street-smart lawyer Connor J. Devlin, enlists the help of Sloane Monae, a former college volleyball player and an ex-cop turned private detective.
Stills
Credits
Producer: The Artist’s Den, Inc
Director/Director of Photography: Dustin James Leighton
Writer: Landon J Napoleon
Sound Mix: Abbott Miller/ AMP Studios AZ
Cast: Kaiser Johnson as Connor J. Devlin. Emily Tipton as Sloane Monae. Mitch Morrison as Federal Bank Examiner. Ty Williams as Driver.
Director’s Statement
"'The Dark Action' began as a book written by my friend Landon J Napoleon. Landon is the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of fiction and nonfiction books including his debut novel 'ZigZag,' which was adapted into a feature film (Franchise Pictures) starring John Leguizamo, Oliver Platt, and Wesley Snipes. His latest novel, 'The Dark Action,' is the second installment in the Devlin legal series.
Inspired by the novel, Landon wrote a 2 minute script, which became the micro short film, 'The Dark Action.' I then took-on the roles of Director, Director of Photography, art department, sound design, and editor, and created the film. It was a huge undertaking with limited resources, but well worth the effort."
Author’s Bio
Landon J Napoleon is the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of fiction and nonfiction books including his debut novel ZigZag, which was adapted into a feature film (Franchise Pictures) starring John Leguizamo, Oliver Platt, and Wesley Snipes. His latest novel The Dark Action is the second installment in the Devlin legal series.
He is a previous Barnes & Noble “Discover Great New Writers” finalist and a Kirkus Reviews “Best of 2021” recipient, and his nonfiction biography Burning Shield: The Jason Schechterle Story was an “Arizona Republic Recommends” selection. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in creative writing from University of Glasgow in Scotland. He lives in Arizona.