Bar Exam is a contained psychological thriller about power, choice, and the illusion of control.
When Nia, a composed but quietly disillusioned bar owner, closes up for the night, she encounters Lucian, a charismatic stranger who claims to be waiting for a client. What begins as small talk turns into a dark game of confession and manipulation, a test of how far she’ll go to protect the people she loves.
As Lucian’s stories blur truth and fiction, Nia becomes trapped in a deadly moral exam involving her husband, a federal witness, and her sister Layla, the unknowing leverage. What follows is a tense, cerebral unraveling where every choice is a test, and passing may mean losing her soul.
Production begins in 2026
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Director
Written and directed by Flip Archie, a lifelong creative with more than ten years of experience in video production, directing, and visual storytelling. His career began in music and overlapped the early years of his filmmaking work, shaping a strong sense of rhythm, restraint, and psychological timing that continues to inform his approach.
Across commercial and branded projects, his work has generated over $1B in revenue for clients and accumulated more than 14 million views online. Intuitive and performance-driven, his filmmaking focuses on psychological pressure and what characters choose not to say. Bar Exam represents his first serious narrative statement and the formal expansion of his work into long-form cinema.
The bar is neutral ground. A place where people speak freely, tell stories, and reveal more than they intend. In Bar Exam, it functions as a confessional, a courtroom, and a mirror, reflecting the quiet negotiations people make with themselves.
Decisions are rarely presented as ultimatums. More often, they are framed, softened, and guided. Bar Exam examines how choice can feel voluntary while being subtly controlled by context, desire, and fear.
Stories are not just how people communicate. They are how people survive. The film explores how narrative becomes a tool, allowing characters to justify actions, rewrite memory, and live comfortably with uncomfortable truths.
PRODUCTION
Estimated Shoot Dates: Feb/Mar 2026
Director & Director of Photography: Flip Archie
Production Company: Innovizual Motion Pictures
Film Festival Submission: Yes
Anticipated Public Release: Fall 2027
Cinematography
The film blends grounded realism with psychological tension. Cooke S4/i lenses provide warmth and naturalism, while Kowa anamorphics compress space as pressure builds. Lighting is driven by practical sources, allowing shadows to deepen without losing intimacy. Shot on RED cinema in RAW, the image retains rich detail and controlled contrast as perception shifts.
Press materials will be made available closer to release.
