Barking Dogs Seldom Bite was a final project created by Joshua for his video production class. For this assignment, he was tasked with producing a two-minute video of any genre or style. Instead of creating a simple video, Joshua decided to challenge himself by making something more ambitious—a short film. This decision meant he needed to put in extra planning, creativity, and effort to bring his vision to life. Although he only had a week to prepare and a weekend to shoot and edit, he embraced the challenge and set to work.
One late night, Joshua crafted the script that would eventually become Barking Dogs Seldom Bite, a story he was excited to share. Once the script was complete, he began collaborating with a talented cast, including Mercedes Kish as Miranda and Renee Parent as Emily. Working with his cast was both rewarding and challenging, as this was Joshua’s first experience directing a short film. There were moments of confusion and frustration along the way, but Joshua pushed through, determined to create a finished product he could be proud of.
In the end, his hard work paid off. Barking Dogs Seldom Bite became a short film he was proud to present as his final project. The experience of writing, directing, and completing his own film was both a personal achievement and a major learning opportunity, giving him valuable insights into the creative process and the world of film production.
The story of Barking Dogs Seldom Bite follows Miranda and Emily, two best friends whose relationship is on the rocks. They find themselves caught up in a situation far beyond what they can handle. As they reconnect and attempt to work through their issues, they reflect on the events that led to “the night” that changed their lives forever. Through flashbacks and conversations, they uncover the turning points that have tested their friendship in ways they never expected.
"Barking Dogs Seldom Bite was my final project and I am very happy with how it turned out. I feel like with every project there're certain things you wish you could tighten up and fix... but, with that being said I am still very happy with the outcome..."
Given that Emily kills Miranda at the end, the saying "Barking dogs seldom bite" takes on a darker, ironic twist in the story. Typically, this phrase implies that those who make threats or seem aggressive aren’t truly dangerous. In this case, however, the saying serves to mislead and build tension, suggesting that despite all the conflict, nothing truly violent will happen between the two friends. Throughout the story, the audience is led to believe that their intense arguments are merely "barking"—heated words without real consequences. But this expectation is shattered in the tragic ending, when Emily ultimately "bites" by killing Miranda. This outcome twists the original meaning of the phrase, revealing that sometimes, the threat isn’t empty, and even close friends can cross boundaries they once seemed incapable of crossing.