Among Project Involve’s key components each year is the production of a slate of exciting, innovative short films created by Project Involve Fellows in collaboration with one another. And once again, the production of these films culminated in a special showcase screening at the ArcLight Cinemas in Culver City during the 2017 LA Film Festival. This year, a total of seven films were made by this an amazingly talented group (which, if you want to learn more, click here). Here’s what they were:
GREAT AGAIN
Writer: Aeden Keffelew Producer: Valerie Castillo Martinez Director: Christopher de las Alas Cinematographer: Andrea Gonzalez Mereles No one knows when his or her lucky day will come, but everyone’s hoping it’s today. Hope and despair, sanity and insanity ensue when a homeless man wins the lotto.
THE STATION
Writer: Jimmy Mosqueda Producer: Carolyn Mao Director: Daniel Foerste Cinematographer: Kazmo Kida At a bus station on Christmas Eve, an emotionally closed-off man is visited by a stranger and must figure out the terms of his relationship with his estranged brother.
SUITABLE
Writer: Rochee Jeffrey Producer: Ashley Chrisman Director: Thembi Banks Cinematographer: Dennis Zanatta A tomboy comes into her own when she decides not to wear a dress to prom.
THIS LITTLE LIGHT
Writer: Ebony Gilbert Producer: Kady Kamakate Director: Esteban Arango Cinematographer: Farhad Ahmed Dehlvi A desperate mother is determined to help her daughter deal with schizophrenia—an issue not commonly addressed in the Black community.
EMERGENCY
Writer: Kristen Davila Producer: Joenique Rose Director: Carey Williams Cinematographer: Jomo Fray A group of non-white guys are afraid to call the police when they need them.
EVE
Writer: Diana Ly Producer: Marion Brooks Director: Brittany “B.Monét” Fennell Cinematographer: Kalilah Robinson Set in a dystopian future, biblical Eve has a dream that changes the trajectory of life as we know it.
THE MUD
Medium: Stop motion clay animation Writer/Director/Animator: Brandon Lake Producers: Valerie Martinez, Carolyn Mao A dancing man of clay tries to escape his identity, only to later realize its true beauty. So congratulations to all of this year’s wonderful and creative Project Involve Fellows! You can find out more about project involve here. You can also check out the other programs from Film Independent here.
The 2017 LA Film Festival took place June 14—22, headquartered at the ArcLight Cinemas Culver City, with additional screenings at ArcLight Hollywood, ArcLight Santa Monica, LACMA and The Theatre at Ace Hotel. Catch more of our coverage on the blog and our YouTube channel. Not a Member of Film Independent yet? Become one today.
