← Selected work

Narrative · 2018–2021

Mabel

Writer · Director · Executive Producer

An older shopkeeper stands behind the counter of a small general store.

The film

An intimate short film inside the Mabelville world, where quiet day-to-day trauma, memory and the small rituals of an older shopkeeper's life carry more weight than the stories that become public.

The approach

James's writing and direction use a patient observational rhythm, natural performance and tactile location detail to keep the story behind closed doors, letting Mabel's private life emerge through the small situations that stay with a person as they move through the world.

Mabel is complete and available to watch, with cast, crew and festival links below.

Project details

Release: 2018–2021
Category: Narrative
Tags: Narrative Harrison Mendel DP Award-winning Okanagan

About the film

A quiet story from the Mabelville world.

Mabel follows an older shopkeeper through the small routines and private memories that shape her days behind the counter.

James wrote and directed the short, with Harrison Mendel as director of photography and Noah M. Dorsey producing and editing.

James received Best Directing (Short) at the Calgary Independent Film Festival and Best Male Directing in Short at the Toronto Independent Festival of CIFT in 2022.

Watch Public YouTube link IMDb title Mabel IMDb credits Full credits FilmFreeway Mabel project page Awards Calgary Indie Film Awards Awards Toronto Independent Festival of CIFT Festival SHORT to the Point

Recognition

Best Directing (Short) - Calgary Independent Film Festival, 2022
Best Male Directing in Short - Toronto Independent Festival of CIFT, 2022
Best Actor in Short - Toronto Independent Festival of CIFT, 2022
Selected - SHORT to the Point International Film Festival, Bucharest, Romania
Selected - Canada Independent Film Festival, Montreal
Selected - Okanagan Screen Awards, 2024

Best Directing (Short) — Calgary Independent Film Festival, 2022
Best Male Directing in Short — Toronto Independent Festival of CIFT, 2022
Best Actor in Short — Toronto Independent Festival of CIFT, 2022
Selected — SHORT to the Point International Film Festival, Bucharest, Romania
Selected — Canada Independent Film Festival, Montreal
Selected — Okanagan Screen Awards, 2024

Additional credits

Written & Directed by: James Alton
Producer / Editor: Noah M. Dorsey
Executive Producer: James Alton
Executive Producer: Noah M. Dorsey
Director of Photography: Harrison Mendel
Cast: Phillip Wagner
Cast: Corky McMechan
Original Score: Bobby Jeffery
Casting Director: Angela Quinn
Sound Design: Lainie Dixon
Boom Operator: Ben Bennett
Grip / Still Photographer: Chris Ziprick

Behind the scenes

From the production.

Finished frames and behind-the-scenes photographs from the shoot.

A dim bedroom with a bed, wooden dresser and bedside lamp. — A bed and wooden dresser sit in the dim bedroom.

An older woman stands beside a kitchen table set with food. — An older woman stands beside the kitchen table.

A small-town street sits beneath steep winter mountains. — The small-town street lies beneath the winter mountains.

An older man and woman speak across a shop counter. — An older man and woman talk across the counter.

A typewriter, lamp and framed photographs sit on a small desk. — A typewriter and framed photographs rest on the desk.

An older woman walks toward the porch of a small house. — An older woman approaches the front porch.