All the World (Or Just a Highway) Is a Stage in Comedy Short 'Vacations'

Valiant Pictures director Danny Corey once drove on a lone desert highway when he spied a construction worker holding a caution sign with no construction in sight. The puzzling happenstance lived in his brain rent-free until some years later when he directed 'Vacations': a dance-happy short celebrating the finer things in life, even if they’re stuck in your own imagination.

VACATIONS from Danny Corey on Vimeo.

In 'Vacations', Corey introduces the viewer to a construction crossing guard isolated in quite literally the middle of nowhere; the harbinger of activity somewhere off-camera. A combination of dull surroundings and a wistful desire to be anywhere else , possess him to make the street his stage in a peculiarly unhinged dance routine. However, the mini vacation doesn’t last long as he’s brought back to reality once duty calls. 

Notes Corey: “I love the work I get to do day in and day out, but the reason I got into filmmaking in the first place was to tell my own stories. Vacations came about at a time when both my home and work life were in major transition and embarking on a creative project with friends felt like the only way to process these changes and enjoy some creative autonomy. I'm so thankful to all my creative partners on this project. Without them and without their guidance and talent, the world (and Vacations) would be a little less bright.”

Corey met the affable star of the show during a birthing class he took with his partner anticipating their first child, as you do. After checking his Instagram and spying a fortuitous post of him dancing to 'Last Christmas', the goofy-yet-enchanting routine stuck as surely as the original construction worker. Fast forward to 'Vacations' and Danny immediately knew who he would cast.

In addition to the film, the director put his mixologist pastime to use and created the custom cocktail (called, of course, 'Vacations') featured in the final scene to celebrate the short’s tropical spirit. Viewers can whip up their own escape to imbibe alongside the film - shaken, not stirred.

Danny Corey is a director and cinematographer working and living in Los Angeles. His impressive resume boasts projects for companies such as Snickers, Busch Light, History Channel, CarMax - including their star-studded Clio Sports-winning “Call Your Shots” campaign - and Mountain Dew, among many others. Other accolades include an Anthem Award, American Advertising Award, and numerous Telly Awards. His previous film Las Vegas Bender won Best Documentary at Portland Short Fest and Best Cinematography at Oregon Short Film Festival, and was selected for the LA Shorts and Santa Fe International Film Festival.