2019 (shorts) Program Guide

Just Before You Leave

Director/Producer/Cinematographer/Editor: Ryan Kimball
Production Company: RSK Studio
Production Assistant: Trayc Patchin
Music: Spencer Fox – No Passenger Studio
Cast: Charles Williams; Craig Diehl; Carson Diehl
Crew: Trayc Patchin; Nathan Berkley; Corey Palkowski; Will Kulkarni; Ken Baker; Dan Fencl; Charles Di Renzo; Alice Hackel
Synopsis: A man struggles with issues of self-inclusion and societal judgment.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced in Wisconsin by a longtime resident.

Newton meets Adam and Eve

Director/Producer/Writer: Roger Bindl
Synopsis: What if Isaac Newton had a conversation with Adam and Eve? What might they say or ask of each other? Listen and watch as the apple falls and the questions rise... what is reality, and what is illusion from what we read and hear?
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by Wisconsin resident.

Truth - Episode Two

Director/Writer: Avery Rost
Producer: Carter Coziahr; James Wesner
Audio Engineer and Composer: Mike Williams
Cast: Carter Biese; Jordan Biese; Scott Biese
Synopsis: Truth Episode Two covers the story of Carter Biese, an amateur motocross racer from Appleton, Wisconsin with hopes of going pro in the near future.
Wisconsin Connection: Director and subject are from Wisconsin.

Bella

Director/Writer: AnaElise Beckman
Assistant Director: Emma Wathen; Ian Parks
Producer: Emma Wathen; Samira Mian
Cinematographer: Jason Quist
Assistant Camera/Gaffer: Corey Millikin
Drone Operator: Jerry Miao
Grip: Tyler DeRaedt; Bowdin Bentz
Production Designer: Kate Feldt; Brittany Glassberg
Editor: Nathaniel Underwood; Tyler DeRaedt
Sound Mixer/Sound Designer: Casey Long
Boom Operator: Kait Fyfe
Production Assistant: Patrick Bonazza; Sophie Reeves; Violet Wang
Non-production Assistant: Chelle Yaaj; Yuni He; Aaron Klinger; Jenna Brudos
Cast: Ryan Johnson; Nevaeh Weismer; Becky Borys
Synopsis: "Bella" displays the trauma Jack faces after losing his seven-year-old daughter. Five years after losing Bella, Jack embarks on a journey to the place he and Bella were last together. Throughout his journey, he is haunted by his memories of her, which he begins to confuse with his reality.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by current Wisconsin residents.

Supernatural - Rändi Fay - Official Music Video

Director/Producer: Jocelyne Berumen
Producer: Jocelyne Berumen
Writer: Jocelyne Berumen; Rändi Fay
Cast: Azure Hall; Timothy Perkins; Rändi Fay
Crew Members: Kenton Barber; Edgar Berumen; Blake Mclellan; Vanessa Alvarez; Oscar Leon
Synopsis: Music Video Directed by Jocelyne Berumen. This video combines Rändi Fay's dreamy vocals, Timothy Perkins' unique bass sounds, and Azure Hall's incredible dancing to depict the beauty of seduction when falling in love.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by current Wisconsin residents.

Financial Aid

Director/Writer: Nicolas Jacques; Nacho Martin
Producer: Nicolas Jacques
Cast: Nicolas Jacques, Nacho Martin, Adan Martinez
Synopsis: Three college students decide to make money for tuition fees by taking it back from their university bookstore.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by a Green Bay Native in the Fox Valley Area.

I Will Rise

Director/Producer: Steven Heil
Starring: Franki Moscato
Synopsis: Franki Moscato is disheartened by the way she observes people treating each other, so she makes it her mission to inspire others to "Be Kind."
Wisconsin Connection: Wisconsin resident.

Life with Dan

Director/Cinematographer/Editor: Len Borruso
Producer: Len Borruso; Joanna Kosowsky Dane
Music: Tad Neuhaus; Loren Dempster
Synopsis: An experimental film profile of Dan Davies, a star of Nollywood Cinema. Nollywood emanates from West Africa and is the 2nd largest film market in the world. Dan drops science on acting and life in general while taking us on a tour of his favorite watering holes in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by Wisconsin resident.

Low Self Esteem

Director/Writer: Mikeal Burgin
Producer: Mikeal Burgin; Bradley Cerny; Nathaniel K. Wilson
Cast: Amy Radloff
Synopsis: Ellie is caught in the middle of an ongoing tryst with a man who is already committed to another woman. Suffering from a poor opinion of herself already, Ellie decides to end the relationship on the advice of her counselor. Unfortunately, Ellie may have misunderstood exactly what "ending it" truly means.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by current residents.

The Artist

Director/Producer/Writer: Craig Knitt
Cast: Craig Knitt; Darla Laclaire
Synopsis: A seasoned artist briefly struggles with bad creative block.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by Wisconsin native.
Screenings: 2018 Weyauwega Film Festival

Elemental

Director: Elizabeth Wadium
Dancer/Choreographer: Solomon Roller
Cinematographer: Elizabeth Wadium; Aaron Granat
Composer: Aaron Granat
Synopsis: Elemental is a reframing of the natural world through movement and a reframing of movement through novel environments. Madison, WI based hip-hop dancer Solomon Roller interprets beautiful Wisconsin nature through dance, a form of expression he has been developing and refining for over a decade. The original soundtrack features audio samples taken on location and molded into a composition that evokes the geography and sharpens the emotional undertones of Solomon's movements. Through cinema, Elemental explores the versatile power of hip-hop to channel and illustrate the natural environment.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced in Wisconsin by past and current residents.

They Call Me George

Director/Producer/Writer/Voice Actor: Devin Dugan
Associate Producer: Todd Chamberlain
Cinematographer: Jake Kelley
Sound Editor: Janna Frank
Music: Angie Ngo; Jared Jarecki
Casting Director: Gina Dugan
Cast: Angie Ngo; Ben Wetzel; Brady Cripe; Cambria Eduad; Ed Jun Kim; Emily Reese Castro; Jacob Jarecki; Justin Castillo; Kelsey Redmond; Mendy Losh; Shirleen Flores; Thomas Whittam
Synopsis: A dollar bill dreams of finding someone to keep him forever and give him a home.
A short film that follows the exploits of a dollar bill from his beginnings as a tree in the forest and all through his journeys and adventures that life takes him on as he yearns to find someone willing to keep him and give him a permanent home.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by past Green Bay resident

Pepie Legend

Director/Producer/Writer: Stewart Jay Koski
Synopsis: Full-time folklorist and book author Chad Lewis reveals a 150-year-old legend that continues to resurface in modern day. In an attempt to solve the puzzle of this long-sought legend a $50,000 reward has been offered for indisputable proof of this Midwest lake monster. Filmed entirely on location.
Wisconsin Connection: Filmed in Wisconsin.

Death 2 Mulli - Music Video

Director/Producer: Maxwell Hauser
Writer: Brian Kohr
Cinematographer: Brandon Bjorkman
Camera Operator: Kenton Barber
Grips: Sierra Ehlert; Brett Lowry; Stephen Knoll; Charles Rosio; David DeMille
Cast: Brian Kohr; Mark Dexter; Carrie Counihan; Rick Thomas; Daniel Heup
Synopsis: An artist will fight for their dreams. Even if it is life or death. This music video was created to convey the uneasiness and self doubt within an artist that never feels good enough and the courage one must find in themselves to never give up on their dreams.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by current Appleton resident.

The OP 2

Director/Writer: Michael Allen Weber
Producer: Ross Bigley
Cast: Michael Allen Weber; Maureen Chobanoff; James Fletcher; James Jonas; Colleen DuVall; Molly Langhenry; Julia Hren; Howard Goldstein; Kevin Croak; Charlie Hosale
Synopsis: Detective finds the answers of his lost years.
Written, produced and directed by lead actor, Michael Weber this next chapter takes place right after the last installment.
The Op, a homage to Dashiell Hammett's The Continental Op, finds out that the life he's been living is a lie. A secret past, a secret family and what did happen back in Spain? It's a race against time for The Op as he puts together the broken pieces of his past, and avoiding the bullet waiting for him.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by Wisconsin residents.

Attack of the Llama Men

Director/Writer: Chance Smith
Producer: Samuel Murphy; Joshua Hedge
Cast: Aaron Cornelio
Synopsis: Recent college graduate Ryan hates his job, his friends, and his life. With no sleep and no hope, he crawls into a dryer in search of something more. But the Llama Men have other plans...
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by Wisconsin residents.

She Remembers

Director: Bill Moede
Producer: Chris Rogers; Dotty Junst
Writer: Bill Moede; Sarah Nolte
Synopsis: Biography - short film about Maria Hinton who worked to teach and preserve the Oneida Language. interviews with Maria, Cliff Abbot and others tell the story of Maria Hinton's work in writing the Oneida Language dictionary and the importance of how preserving the language is vital to preserving the culture.
Wisconsin Connection: Director and cast are from Wisconsin.
Screenings: Flyway Film Festival

Every Moment

Director/Writer: Francisco C. Torres
Producer: Francisco C. Torres; Nella Citino
Cast: Saskia Den Boon; Jim Stauffer
Synopsis: Could we ever make the moments count?
Wisconsin Connection: Produced in Wisconsin by current residents.

Blind Space

Director/Writer: Caleb Jablonicky
Producer: Victoria Droese
Cast: Noah Gospodarek; Truett Uhlenbrauck
Synopsis: Allen lives in a virtual world that never changes—until a boy disrupts his world and forces him to consider what it would take to help another in need.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by a current Wisconsin resident and native.

Shut-Eye

Director/Producer/Writer/ Cinematographer: Mike O’Reilly
Cast: Ryan Sean O’Reilly; Angela Campbell
Synopsis: A night-shifter wants nothing more than to get some sleep. Simple enough, right?
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by current Wisconsin resident.

Gridiron

Director/Producer/Cinematographer/Editor: Joseph Sliker; Joseph Wilinski
Production Designer: Joseph Sliker; Joseph Wilinski; Logan Bradley
Production Assistant: Anthony Marino
Writer: Dan Waldkirch;
Digital Effects/Animator/VFX Supervisor: Logan Bradley
Sound Editor: Dan Waldkirch
Cast: Jake Daniels; Maddie McLennon; Dan McLennon; Kevin Hogan
Synopsis: A high school football player prepares for the state championship. A young girl makes an unexpected move. The game is on and victory demands sacrifice.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by past and present Wisconsin residents.

Follow the Roses

Director/Writer: Jen Steele
Executive Producer: Will Nathan; Mona Fastvold
Producer: Jen Steele; Alex Bach
Co-Producer: Nicole Kuklewicz
Associate Producer: Christene Barberich; Edeline Chen; Marya Spence; McCabe Walsh;
Production Coordinator: Stephanie Steele
Cinematographer: R. Aaron Webster
Editor: Ben Sozanski
Music: Jesse Marchant
Costume Designer: Tessa Matthias
Cast: Mason Matthias; Olivia Cooke; Mary Lynn Kewitz; Raye Levine; Ruby Kewitz
Synopsis: Follow the Roses is set in rural Wisconsin in 1994 and follows two young girls the day after their father robs the bar across the street from their apartment. The narrative carries the viewer through the minds of both a savvy child and a restless young mother.
In a sleepy Wisconsin town, at the heart of summer, we follow 'Bruce', an intuitive and independent young girl, and her sister 'Ruby' as they move through their day. While on their simple adventures and unbeknownst to them, their father is being arrested. Soon, their mother, 'Angie', a charismatic woman with a jagged emotional landscape attempts to assume control of the situation.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by past and current Wisconsin residents.
Screenings: 2019 Beloit International Film Festival

Nighthawked Again - The Dirty Martinis Official Music Video

Director/Producer/Writer: Jocelyne Berumen
Cast: Dan Hogan; Nathaniel Smith; Trent Sinclair; Nicole; Michelle; Cyd Angel; Verda;
Crew Members: Kenton Barber; Edgar Berumen; Oscar Leon; Skyla Oliveri; Alexia Castro; Valerie Estrada; Priscilla Van Den Elzen
Synopsis: A guy gets too drunk at the bar, and goes home with a woman he thinks is pretty.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by current Wisconsin residents.

Laura

Director/Producer/Writer: Maya Castronovo
Synopsis: A young girl recreates memories she has with her friend, Laura, who has committed suicide.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by a longtime Wisconsin resident.

Fraser Syndrome & Me

Director: Kyle Anne Grendys
Synopsis: A documentary about a rare recessive gene disorder called Fraser Syndrome by a filmmaker living with.
Filmmaker Kyle Anne Grendys, is only the 75th person to be born with the rare, recessive gene disorder called Fraser Syndrome. Having always felt alone in the world, she sets out on a journey to find her community and finally meets others just like her.
Wisconsin Connection: Senior film project for UW-Milwaukee.

Hoan Alone

Director/Producer: Aaron Johnson
Music: Lawton Hall
Cast: Aaron Johnson; David Zeleznikar; John T. Litchford; Mary VanHaute; Dr. Tony Thrasher
Synopsis: Milwaukee’s Daniel Hoan Memorial Bridge is the crown over Summerfest and has become one of city’s most recognizable landmarks. But it’s also a popular site for suicides. This animated documentary explores the issues of the bridge and suicide through three intimate interviews. Follow animator, Aaron Johnson, as he shares the stories of Dave, John, and Mary.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by native Wisconsin resident.
Screenings: Milwaukee Short Film Festival Milwaukee (September 2018); The Impact DOCS Awards (July 2018); Sioux City International Film Festival (September 2018); Big Water Film Festival (November 2018); Chagrin Documentary Film Festival (October 2018); Strasburg Film Festival (November 2018); Twin Cities Film Fest (October 2018); Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (October 2018); Awareness Film Festival (September 2018); Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center (September 2018); St. Louis International Film Festival (November 2018); AnimaSyros International Animation Festival (September 2018); Eau Claire World Film Festival (October 2018); East Lansing Film Festival (November 2018); Weyauwega International Film Festival (November 2018); Independent Shorts Awards (October 2018); Independent Shorts Awards (October 2018); CutOut Fest (November 2018); Independent Film Night at the Newtown Theatre (November 2018); Green Bay Film Festival (March 2019); Lift-Off Sessions (December 2018); God Country Family Christian Film Festival (December 2018); Life Screenings International Film Festival (November 2018); Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee (December 2018); City of South Milwaukee (March 2018); Inshort Film Festival (December 2018); Beloit International Film Festival (February 2019); Fargo Film Festival (March 2019); Waukesha County Suicide Prevention Initiative Meeting (March 2019); First City Film Festival (March 2019); First Friday Film Festival (February 2019); Door County Short Film Festival (February 2019); Political Edge Film Festival (February 2019)

Time to Remember

Director/Writer: Brian Michael
Producer: Jaymi Michael
Cast: Elora Riley; Toussaint Morrision
Synopsis: Harry tries to give his girlfriend a surprise trip of a lifetime. Things don't go according to Harry's plans.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by past Wisconsin resident.
Screenings: 2018 Z-fest Film Festival

Ascension

Director/Producer/Writer/Editor: Andrew Natvig
Cinematographer: Sean McDowell
Second Camera/Production Sound: Jens Rhude
Music: Steven Pitzl
Sound Design: Aaron Natvig
Voice Actor: Joe Love
Cast: Kurtis Krauss; Laura Landfair; Parker Griggin; Ellie Griffin; Alexandra Peseri; Bruce Lauber; Greg Griffin; Carol Griffin
Synopsis: A man journeys out West for his 10th wedding anniversary.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by Wisconsin resident.

Run Rabbit

Director/Writer: Bowdie Bentz
Producer: Corey Milikin
Cinematographer: Jonah Koplin
Cast: Ana Beckman
Synopsis: A woman lives in the woods hunting animals and making art out of them. Some bad luck forces her to adjust; more bad luck forces her out.
Wisconsin Connection: Went to school at UW Madison, current resident.

Spear Myself A Sturgeon

Director/Editor: Chuck Golueke
Producer: Eric J. Anderson; Chuck Golueke
Writer/Music: Eric J. Anderson
Cast: Eric J. Anderson; Barb Henley; Anita Anderson; Chuck Golueke; Luke (the warden’s dog)
Synopsis: Spear Myself A Sturgeon is a musical parody video short about one man's struggle with his obsession of sturgeon fishing and his yearning for the affections of his wife.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by current Wisconsin resident.

I’m Taking You Home

Director: Jim De Koch
Synopsis: Through a series of flashbacks, singer songwriter filmmaker Jim De Koch recounts key moments that would shape the destiny of his mother’s life.
I'm Taking You Home honors the life of a woman who lived through The Great Depression, the death of her father at age 10, WWII, marriage, three children, old age, and succumbing to death at 92.
Wisconsin Connection: Directed by current Wisconsin resident.

Getting Through

Director: Maximillian Olmsted; Jordan Johnson
2nd Unit Director: T.C. De Witt
Producer: Maximillian Olmsted
Executive Producers: T.C. De Witt; Chad Halvorsen
Writer: Maximillian Olmsted; Jordan Johnson; James O’Connell
Cinematographer/Visual FX: Jordan Johnson
2nd Unit Cinematographer: Candace Lauren Ostler
Editor: Aaron Williams
Assistant Editor: Andrew Christofil; Maximillian Olmsted
Original Score: Eric Momou; James O’Connell
Sound Design: James O’Connell
Cast: Maximillian Olmsted; James O’Connell
Grips: Andrew Christofil; Luke Kolarsky
Gaffer: Andrew Christofil
Production Sound: Luke Kolarsky
Hair and Makeup: Candace Lauren Ostler
Synopsis: "Getting Through" a short produced by Top Hat Balloon in association with Redacted Media is a drama about two cousins working through the death of a loved one.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced in Madison, Wisconsin by local residents.
Screenings: 48-Hour Film Project Best of Madison Awards 2018

Hood

Director: Jordan Hiller; Dan Davies
Production Management Team: TopVu Media
Writer: Dan Davies
Cinematographer: Ryan Startz
Editor: Ryan Startz; Jordan Hiller
Cast: Dan Davies; Melonie Gartner; Aaron Yonda; Brad Knight; Jason Stephens; Chef Ace Champion
Synopsis: Fr. Tim O'Hood and Sr. Patrice Maria Gonzales are tasked to raise money for their charity in order to prove its viability and usefulness. With the help of a brilliant yet homeless Army veteran they have to find a way to raise $150,000 to keep their charity and church afloat.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by current resident.

Butterflies

Director: Brian A. Hollendyke
Assistant Director: Craig Olson
Producer: Alex Contreras; Bryan Royston; Nathan Levy
Writer: Karla S. Bryant; Susan Rathke; Brian A. Hollendyke; Craig Olson
Cinematographer: Jeff Blankenship
1st Assistant Camera/Continuity/Wardrobe: Susan Rathke
2nd Assistant Camera/DIT: Bryan Royston
Editor: Robert Chantigian
Gaffer: David Naida
Music: Nathan Levy
Sound Mixer: Jordan Gamble
Makeup Artist/Hair Stylist: Bridget Doxtater
Script Supervisor: Kelly Lajter
Cast: Katie Revae; Deanna Kujawa; Melonie Gartner; Jerri Burkart; Edric C. Johnson; Bryan Royston
Caterers: Alex Contreras; Jessica Contreras
Synopsis: Follow the rules, and no one gets hurt.
Wisconsin Connection: Directed by current Wisconsin resident.
Screenings: 48 Hour Film Project Premiere Screenings

I’m Transgender

Director/Producer/Writer: Carmen Vincent
Cast: Sawyer Patrick
Synopsis: Sawyer transitioned only eight months ago, yet he has so much to share to shed light on what it means to be transgender.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by a current Wisconsin resident.

Welcome Home

Director/Producer/Executive Producer/Writer/Cinematographer/Special Effects: Nick Volkers
Camera Operator: Carl Jenson
Main Title Animation: Krista Lindwall
Cast: Nick Volkers; Carl Jenson; Marybeth Volkers
Synopsis: After his Mom leaves town, Kane finds out what she has been hiding from him for years, his twin brother. A short film about a brother who takes revenge on his twin to finally be accepted into the family and to finally feel at home.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by current Wisconsin resident.

Family Medicine

Director/Producer/Writer/Editor: Joe Kraemer
Assistant Director: Chung-Wei Huang
Production Assistant: Danielle Gibson
Cinematographer: Shahin Izadi
1st Assistant Camera: Christian Strevy
2nd Assistant Camera: Bethany Michalski
Production Design: Julie St. John
Key Grip: Jena Richardson; Devin McBay
Gaffer: Christian Strevy
Sound Mixer: Andrew Capino
Sound Designer/Musical Score: John Avarese
Cast: Vanessa Kinzey; Marla Aaron Wapner; John Brennan; Mary Suib
Synopsis: It is Dr. Susan Hardy's first day on the job at her father's rustic small town family practice after taking over when a heart attack forces him into early retirement. Susan is determined to make the best of what she sees as a bad situation until her loquacious assistant, Betsy, and an unruly first patient cause everything to spiral out of control. Things only get worse when her father arrives to meddle in her affairs.
Wisconsin Connection: Produced by Wisconsin native.