Witchcraft Motion Picture Company to Adapt Rod Blackhurst’s Viral Short Film “Alone Time” Into a Feature

Witchcraft Motion Picture Company has set plans to adapt Rod Blackhurst’s viral short film “Alone Time” into a feature-length production, according to Deadline. The project is described as an expansion of the original story that first reached audiences online in 2012.

“Alone Time” was directed and produced by Blackhurst, with the screenplay written by David Ebeltoft. Blackhurst is also known for directing “Dolly,” and the new undertaking follows the earlier success of “Alone Time” as an internet breakout that later gained broader attention through viewership on major video platforms.

The short film debuted online in 2012 and has since amassed millions of views across both YouTube and Vimeo, Deadline reported. The feature adaptation is being positioned as a way to bring the existing concept to a longer format while building on the audience already established through the viral release.

Witchcraft Motion Picture Company’s role in developing the feature includes overseeing the planned transition from a short format to a feature, Deadline said. Specific production dates, casting, and release plans were not included in the report, leaving the timeline and scale of the project unclear.

The development also raises standard questions for entertainment projects moving from online distribution to feature production, including how rights and creative responsibilities from the original short will be carried into a new agreement structure for a larger budget film. However, the Deadline report did not detail any new writers, directors, or contractual arrangements beyond the identification of Blackhurst and Ebeltoft with the original work.

For creators and audiences, the project highlights how viral short films can function as proof of concept for studios considering longer narratives, particularly when those shorts have demonstrated sustained audience interest on widely used platforms. In this case, the “Alone Time” track record of multi-platform viewership is central to the adaptation’s rationale, as described by Deadline.

If the feature moves forward, the next steps will likely include formalizing production planning, confirming creative leadership and production roles, and setting distribution strategy. Until those items are announced, the public record remains focused on the planned adaptation itself and the connection to the original 2012 short and its creators.