Hatchling Studios’ “The Toll,” a mock-umentary exposing the false mask of bravado worn by a bony blue troll that lives under a bridge, will screened twice during South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, on March 11 and March 15, with writer-director Zack Pike and producer Marc Dole on hand to answer questions.

“The Toll” is a computer-animated mock-umentary featuring a troll unburdening himself with comments on work, life and love that range from somewhat inappropriate to outrageously delusional. “Everything in ‘The Toll’ is about façades,” says Pike in a press release. “I think it’s resonating with audiences because deep down, we all know what it’s like to try to wear a mask, and to wish the mask was real. That, and it’s really funny.”

Dole, founder of Hatchling Studios in Portsmouth, says in the press release that the short film was created as “a calling card” for the studio and that it’s brought commercial work with Charmin, Reebok, PCConnection, NASCAR, Prudential Securities and Fisher-Price, development deals with major networks, and an animated pilot at MTV. Hatchling is in the process of developing a feature film based on “The Toll” and a TV series.