DUSK

written and directed by Stephen Belber

based on his play ‘DUSK RINGS A BELL’

produced with Bedlam Films

At the end of the summer of 1999 two lonely teenagers, MOLLY and RAY, lurch their way to the lifeguard stand on a quiet Delaware beach, where they connect hearts, share a kiss, and and find themselves in love for just a moment…

26 years later they collide again, but time, loss, experience and life have changed them in ways they can’t even articulate…

DUSK is a love story; its context is redemption: Can two people who once had a profound connection, find each other through the fog of time.

Inspired by Belber’s work on The Laramie Project, in which he conducted multiple interviews with the perpetrators of Matthew Shepard’s death, DUSK inserts a contemporary, criminal justice “twist” to the conventional love story: how redeemable is someone who has partaken in a crime that is, grisly, brutal, and undeniably homophobic? How “lovable” is he then?

It’s a question we must ask ourselves about almost every crime out there, from sexual assault to insider trading, to murder, to insurrection:

How do we treat those who have betrayed trust, decency and fundamental morality, once they’ve paid their price?

Produced by Olivia Wingate/Wingate Media and Simon Egan/Bedlam Films.

Director Casting - Julie Schubert

Stephen Belber's Most recently, Stephen’s original show THE MADNESS, starring Oscar Winner Colman Domingo premiered November 2024 on Netflix worldwide, and was one of the top shows in over 40 countries, remaining in the top 10 for several weeks, and ultimately becoming the most-streamed show of the fall. As a follow-up, he is currently writing a limited series based on the Karen Read saga for Hulu with Emmy Rossum (SHAMELESS on Showtime, MYSTIC RIVER).starring and Warren Littlefield (FARGO, HANDMAIDS TALE, DOPESICK) producing. 

He has written/directed numerous features including MANAGEMENT which starred Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn, and MATCH with starred Patrick Stewart. 

His film THE OG starred Jeffery Wright, who won the award for Best Actor in a US Feature Film.

Stephen’s latest film, WHAT WE DO NEXT stars Corey Stoll and Karen Pittman  The film. Stephen is a prolific playwright, whose work has been put up around the world, and in many cases adapted for the screen, including THE LARAMIE PROJECT for HBO. 

Stephen has worked on numerous studio films (including "Dallas Buyers Club"), and developed movies with Will Smith, Todd Phillips, Bennett Miller, Jay Roach, George Tillman, Greg Mottola, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Anthony Mackie, Sam Rockwell, David Gordon Green, and others.

His play TAPE was made into a film starring Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke and directed by Richard Linklater. It has been translated and performed in 20 languages around the world since then.TAPE, is about to hit the stage in The West End in the first quarter of 2026, with Rachel Weinstein and OlympusTheatricals producing, and with a AAA cast, which is yet to be announced.