"Teasing John Malkovich" opens with Academy Award nominated actor John Malkovich reading a script to a piece he's about to perform. He becomes so frustrated with the poorly written dialogue that he calls his agent to complain about the part. After a tense and occasionally humorous back and forth with his agent, Malkovich confronts the film's director on stage as they're setting up for the first shot. It's at this point that the Malkovich and the audience are clued in to what this film is supposed to be about, it's a "sports tease," a short film that airs right before a big sporting event to get the audience excited for the game. The irony being that if the audience at home sees the "tease" then they've already decided to tune in for the game. Once Malkovich realizes that, he delivers a riveting performance as only he can.

Finding the New England Conservatory theater was the key to making this entire production work. It had many of the different venues we were looking for out scenes, a classic orchestral theater with a balcony, a backstage terrace, and cluttered yet intimate corridors. Once the location was selected, all the other elements of the production design and art direction fell into place. A baby grand piano was brought in as a prop for a key scene, as well as various other instruments like a xylophone, bongos, harps, etc.

Perhaps the most unique element of this film was the subtle production equipment, lights, cameras, and cables that were left in sight of our actual cameras to give the theater the appearance of an actual film shoot taking place.

The AFC Championship game is one of the most watched sporting events in the United States every year, attracting roughly 50 million views, which is second only to the Super Bowl. Huge television events like that call for a special opening film, or "tease," that sets the viewers up for what they're about to watch. In this past AFC Championship game, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, possibly the most dominant team in the past 17 years with 5 Super Bowl victories was facing off against Blake Bortles of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had never even reached the Super Bowl once. This was a classic David versus Goliath matchup that called for a dramatic film to set the stage.