Sinister Magazine had the pleasure of interviewing Kally Hall, a talented filmmaker and musician currently in her senior year at NYU. In 2023, she was awarded the prestigious Collaborative Arts Grant for her latest musical short film, Darkstar, a captivating horror music video that delves into the darker side of fame. The story follows a young woman who strikes a deal with Fame, only to discover that the glamorous life she dreamed of is far from what she expected. Kally shared her creative process, inspirations, and vision for Darkstar and beyond.

The Inspiration Behind Darkstar

Kally Hall drew inspiration for Darkstar from Ti West’s film Pearl, particularly Mia Goth’s portrayal of a woman driven by an insatiable need for fame to fill the emotional void in her life. Kally sought to channel this complex emotional need into her song and explore fame as a character in the music video. By creating the antagonist, Mx. Fame, she was able to represent fame’s intensity and the rise and fall that often accompanies it, ultimately conveying how fame can consume and tear people apart.

Challenges and Triumphs on Set

Darkstar marked a significant milestone for Kally as her most ambitious project to date, involving a cast and crew of sixteen on its busiest day. The experience of managing such a large team while staying true to her creative vision was both challenging and exhilarating. She’s incredibly proud of the result and grateful for the lessons learned during the process.

Crafting the Visual Aesthetic

For Kally, music and visuals are deeply intertwined. She doesn’t become attached to a song unless she has a clear visual connection to it. In Darkstar, the focus was on creating distinct visual aesthetics for the protagonist, Mia, and the antagonist, Mx. Fame. The color blue became a key element in marking the transition into Mx. Fame’s surreal world, helping to visually separate reality from the character’s fame-driven dimension.

Collaboration and Trust

Collaboration played a vital role in bringing Darkstar to life. Many of Kally’s collaborators are close friends, which created a strong foundation of trust and understanding. Clear communication and extensive pre-visualization ensured that everyone worked towards a unified vision, even as the project evolved during production.

Darkstar as Part of a Larger Vision

Darkstar is a cornerstone of Kally’s long-term creative goal: to create a visual EP or even a visual album. The music video exemplifies her ambition to use both film and music as powerful storytelling tools, weaving together her love for cinema and the horror genre.

Connecting with Fans Through Cinema

Kally hopes viewers of Darkstar can feel her deep love for the horror genre and cinema as a whole. Inspired by many films, the music video pays homage to the rich language of cinema, creating a connection with fans of the genre and storytellers alike.

Follow Kally’s Journey

Darkstar is now available on YouTube and Spotify. Stay updated on Kally’s work by following her on Instagram (@kallyisart), Spotify (Kally), and YouTube (@kallyhall).