CK Pahlow

Brothers' Nest

feature-length black-comedy/thriller
credits additional material, script editor, associate producer
released 2018 — watch on iTunes, Google Play, or DVD

Two brothers go to extreme and deadly lengths to protect their inheritance from being signed away before it's too late.

"This could (and should) be the sleeper hit of [SXSW]."
— David Fear, RollingStone

“Razor-sharp, darkly funny and tense.”
— RogerEbert.com

Play It Safe

feature-length drama/comedy
credits co-writer, producer, director
released 2015 — watch online

When 26-year-old Jamie's band breaks up, he's left with no money, no career, and no girlfriend. Now he teaches piano at a soul-destroying music school. Will he take a risk and follow his dreams? Or will he surrender to his new-found unhappiness and play it safe?

"This new film will resonate with every struggling musician you know."
— TheMusic.com.au

“First time director Chris Pahlow is a talent to watch...”
— Sharon Hurst, Cinephilia.net.au

The Trouble With Unicorns* 

half-hour TV comedy/drama
credits creator, writer, producer, writer
script sample september 2020 download pilot script

Could it actually be possible to have your cake and eat it too?  A couple in their early-30s begin their first non-monogamous adventure, only to find that open relationships aren’t always as liberating as you might think.

Script competition finalist, Austin Film Festival 2019.
Screen Australia Development Funding 2019.

Sorry to Call

half-hour audio comedy/drama
credits creator, writer, producer, director (all with Michael Jones)
script sample august 2020 download pilot script

A comedy/drama podcast about the phone calls no one wants to make, and no one wants to take. Each episode features a new character facing a similar challenge. Something’s gone seriously wrong and they need to pick up the phone and deal with it... But things aren’t always as they seem, and there’s a big difference between small talk and real talk.

The Girls

feature-length drama/thriller
credits screenplay by (with Lis Collins and Clayton Jacobson)
director Clayton Jacobson
script sample march 2018 — email me to request script

One impulsive act leaves 11-year-old Elsie’s stepfather Frank seriously injured and trapped under the wreckage of his car. After years of being kept in isolation by her domineering and narcissistic mother, Elsie decides to keep the accident a secret in order to learn all she can about the outside world and the men who routinely abandon her.

Overthinking

half-hour TV comedy/drama
credits creator, writer (with Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall)
script sample january 2018 download pilot script

Logic is neat. Life is messy... An absurd half-hour comedy spec written in collaboration with comedian Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall. Overthinking follows an an up-and-coming logician who moves halfway around the world to work with his hero at a prestigious university, only to find that the philosophy department's been shuttered, his dream job no longer exists, and his idol is quite possibly insane. 

Fergus Moondrops

feature-length action/comedy
credits co-writer (with Darcy Prendergast)
director Darcy Prendergast

Part-time-Dad-full-time-hitman Sock finds himself with a lot of plate-spinning to do when the highest stakes job of his career inadvertently becomes a daddy-daughter “holiday” on the Gold Coast. With his daughter, two grandmothers, two rival gangs, and the cops all wanting answers — it’s going to be tough to keep everyone happy.

Distant Runners

feature-length comedy/thriller
credits screenplay by (with Clayton Jacobson; story by David Michôd)
director Clayton Jacobson

19-year-old Chris has 6 hours to help his manipulative cousin Mickey find $1,200 for a deranged ex-cop or Mickey’s toast. They embark on an increasingly bizarre & dangerous journey involving stolen cars, stoner chicks, and Chinese food. Will they find the money and save Mickey’s skin? And, more importantly, will their friendship survive the night?