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TRAILER

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ABOUT

After the death of her estranged mother, Danica, a cutthroat Hollywood producer, develops a "cinematic dissociative disorder," and starts finding herself inside of the movie pitches she hears at work. With the help of Jesse, her wise-beyond-their-years teen, Danica must learn that the only way past grief is through it.

Employing hidden movie homages and an underlying critique of the current media and cultural landscape, Controlling the Narrative is smart, funny, magical realism with a message. It expertly weaves together tropes and visual styles from various genres including action-adventure, family dramedy, and even video games. By stretching the boundaries of these often prescribed categories, it invites audiences to stretch the boundaries of their own imaginations.

TEAM

Arianna Ortiz (Danica Stone)

Arianna Ortiz (Danica Stone)

Born and raised in Texas to a Peruvian father and an Irish-American mother, Arianna Ortiz discovered a passion for performing at a young age. She credits her mother with allowing her to explore these interests fully, which led to her training as an actor at the California Institute of the Arts. ​Since then, she's had a dynamic career as a performer that includes work in professional theater, television, film and radio. You may recognize her from television series such as This Is Us, Parenthood,

Asia Brown (Assistant Camera)

Asia Brown (Assistant Camera)

Asonhi Skyheart (Aerobics Extra 1)

Asonhi Skyheart (Aerobics Extra 1)

Caitlin Callahan (Gaffer)

Caitlin Callahan (Gaffer)

Cambria Tingley (Assistant Director)

Cambria Tingley (Assistant Director)

Camrin Sanchez (Key Grip, Gaffer)

Camrin Sanchez (Key Grip, Gaffer)

Chad Parsons (Pitcher One)

Chad Parsons (Pitcher One)

Chad Parsons is an improv-comedian-about -town, part of the illustrious team for Tunnel, and has performed around the country including the Del Close Marathon (NYC), Out Of Bounds Comedy Fest (Austin, TX) and the Vancouver Intl. Improv Festival (Vancouver, BC).

Bear D'Angelo (Jesse Stone)

Bear D'Angelo (Jesse Stone)

Bear D'Angelo is a New York City based Actor, Writer and Creator. Born and raised in Pacific Grove California, Bear moved to New York to complete conservatory training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC). Bear D'Angelo is an actor, best known for the films Marry Me (2022) and Holy Night (2019).

Dana Murphy (Producer)

Dana Murphy (Producer)

Dana studied film at Portland State University and has worked on various projects, including feature films, short films, live streams, and commercials. As a woman in the film industry, Dana is excited about working with diverse groups of people and getting involved in the community at large to make a better, more equitable experience for everyone involved. When she is not on set, Dana is passionate about all things comedy and is very involved in the Portland improv and sketch community.

Dylan Reiff (Psychologist)

Dylan Reiff (Psychologist)

Dylan Reiff began his improv career at the Annoyance Theater in Chicago after moving there to create experimental theater and study with the Neo-Futurists in the late 00’s. Since Chicago, he's studied with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, The Liberators. Dylan co-founded Kickstand Comedy in 2014, where he is now the artistic director, and has performed at Bridgetown Comedy Fest, Bumbershoot, Del Close Marathon, Out of Bounds Comedy Fest, and MONDO at Vancouver International Improv Fest.

Ellena Rosenthal (Art Assistant)

Ellena Rosenthal (Art Assistant)

Emery Thanathiti (Waiting Room Extra 2)

Emery Thanathiti (Waiting Room Extra 2)

Emilia Quinton (Assistant Two, Set Photographer)

Emilia Quinton (Assistant Two, Set Photographer)

Emilia Quinton is a multi-media artist and performer based in Portland, Oregon. She's worked on critically acclaimed documentaries and short films, as well as a plethora of advertising and art projects. Her camera work is featured in projects such as Looking for Leia, and Our Trails Too. She really likes dogs and chocolate.

Eva Moss (Writer/Director)

Eva Moss (Writer/Director)

Eva worked for a decade on multi-award-winning and Emmy-nominated social issue PBS documentaries. She creative directed the Witness to Guantanamo project, which was nominated twice by the American Bar Association for its Silver Gavel Awards. Most recently, she directed two narrative shorts, commercials, and produced a short film and two web series.

Fran Bittakis (Costume Designer)

Fran Bittakis (Costume Designer)

Fran is the Founder + Creative Director of JOOP JOOP, a radical creative agency bringing diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) with a social justice framework to commercial/film/tv production, creative and commercial photo shoots, music video production, consultation and representing multidisciplinary Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Womxn, LGBTQIA2S+, Non-Binary creatives and their accomplices that are for hire.

gH Bio photo_edited_edited

gH Bio photo_edited_edited

Génesis Henriquez is an Afro-Latine editor and writer. Originally from Brooklyn, by way of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, Henriquez is now based in Los Angeles and has worked on a variety of both long and short form content.

Haley McCoy (Swing, Key Grip)

Haley McCoy (Swing, Key Grip)

James Clark (Edgar)

James Clark (Edgar)

James Clark is an actor, writer, director, and comedian. Best known for Language Arts, and television series Capitol Murder, and Combat Report.

Jen Tate (Producer)

Jen Tate (Producer)

After studying Creative Writing and Improvisation at Stanford University, Jen went on to write for CNET & Network for Good. She then studied Media & Education at San Francisco State, and worked at Sesame Street. She has served as Executive Director of the Portland Area Theatre Alliance, Producer of Oregon Documentary Camp, and Steward of her own documentary short, Karaoke People. In 2019, she co-founded Oregon Media Lab.

Kai Pacifico Eng (Production Sound)

Kai Pacifico Eng (Production Sound)

Kai Tillman (Production Sound)

Kai Tillman (Production Sound)

Kate Beacom (2nd Assistant Camera, Casting Assistant)

Kate Beacom (2nd Assistant Camera, Casting Assistant)

Kailey Rhodes (Amy)

Kailey Rhodes (Amy)

Actor, singer, dancer, yes-ander, Kailey Rhodes was recently seen in Rent at Artists Repertory Theatre, "slay[ing] it as the performance artist Maureen with her killer pipes and infectious energy." She also appeared in Teenage Dick, An Octoroon, and The Importance of Being Earnest,The Wolves, Sense and Sensibility, Urinetown, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Into the Woods, Ordinary Days, among other plays. Kailey was nominated for a Drammy for her work in Chicago.

Kimi Fey Powers (Brain Surgeon)

Kimi Fey Powers (Brain Surgeon)

Krystal Perez (Wardrobe Assistant)

Krystal Perez (Wardrobe Assistant)

Lux Jacques (Production Designer)

Lux Jacques (Production Designer)

Lux is a Creative Art Director and Production Designer living in Portland, OR. She is a seasoned creator with over 10 years of experience working as a creative professional providing Art Direction in the film industry, a freelance Illustrator/Storyboard Artist, Graphic Designer and Website Developer. Her free time consists of making sculptures, woodworking, painting and making music.

Marc Girouard (Giant Crow)

Marc Girouard (Giant Crow)

Marc Girouard is a designer, illustrator, and printmaker. His mouth-watering illustrations give away his strong food and beverage background. Marc studied art and printmaking at Ball State University, and now serves as board member and gallery manager for Flight 64, a local non-profit print studio. His artwork has been shown in such high-toned places as the Portland International Airport, Pioneer Square Mall, and a pizza parlor.

Mark Pettet (Waiting Room Extra 1)

Mark Pettet (Waiting Room Extra 1)

Obadiah Freeman (Garrett)

Obadiah Freeman (Garrett)

Obadiah Freeman is an actor from Seattle. He studied Cinema Arts and Science at Columbia College, Chicago and began working in the Seattle Film and TV production industry in 2014. Obadiah performs on stage as a company member at Seattle's longest running Improv theater Unexpected Productions. Best known for Shrill, The Parish, and Zombiegeddon. Obadiah also performs Hip-Hop music under the stage name "Fern The Freeman".

Rachel Mossey (Casting Director)

Rachel Mossey (Casting Director)

Rachel is a casting director and owner of Weeble Mountain casting. She specializes in casting through a social justice lens, both by increasing representation and by creating a more affirming casting process for talent. Her passions are creating more responsible media and supporting her local independent filmmaking community.

Rob Martinez (Director of Photography)

Rob Martinez (Director of Photography)

On a cold desert night in a small village in Northern Mexico… Roberto Antonio Carlos Delgado Enrique Iglesias Martinez is born. His family, on the run from a notorious drug cartel, flee to the United States. Shortly after, they join a traveling circus. His brother and sister excel at everything — juggling, trapeze, fire breathing, bearded lady-ing, but Rob could do none of these things.

Rosalie Hall (Elizabeth Stone)

Rosalie Hall (Elizabeth Stone)

Sam Deutsch (Hypnotist)

Sam Deutsch (Hypnotist)

Sammy Rios (Young Elizabeth Stone)

Sammy Rios (Young Elizabeth Stone)

Sammy Rios is an actor, musician, visual artist, and writer. She is best known for Make Me A Santa (2019), Half Sisters (2022) and Microaggressions (2019).

Saoirse (Snake)

Saoirse (Snake)

Ssssssssss.

Sara McClure (Nurse, Costume Supplier)

Sara McClure (Nurse, Costume Supplier)

Savannah Somerville (Hair & Makeup Artist)

Savannah Somerville (Hair & Makeup Artist)

Shelley McLendon (Pitcher Two)

Shelley McLendon (Pitcher Two)

Shelley McLendon’s a bit of a comedy legend here in Portland, making her name with the late, great improv group the Liberators, brilliant sketch comedy group the Aces, as well as being the brainiac behind such crowd-pleasing live action movie parodies as Road House: The Play, The Lost Boys Live, and Poltergeist Live. Plus, she’s the boss lady for one of the top comedy spots in town, the Siren Theater.

Starly Lou Riggs (Swing)

Starly Lou Riggs (Swing)

Theora Moench (Julia)

Theora Moench (Julia)

Theora Moench is an actress living in Seattle, Washington. She grew up on a small island in the Puget Sound near Seattle, Washington where she was born. Theora began performing at 4-years-old and has continued to enjoy acting in theater, improv, film, and commercials. She is best known for Inheritance, and Big Pink (both of which she also wrote), Laurelhurst, The Dead, and The Christmas Surprise.

Veronika Maza (Aerobics Teacher)

Veronika Maza (Aerobics Teacher)

William Tang (Assistant Camera)

William Tang (Assistant Camera)

Born in the Mariana Islands and later moved to the United States. Grew up in Oregon, in the city of Portland. William studied film at Portland State University and now works as an independent contractor for commercial, and indie film projects as a camera operator, assistant camera, gaffer or grip.

Controlling the Narrative is a female-driven, personal allegory illustrating what happens when we run away from our own grief. It is a creative exploration of my own complicated relationship to family, as a queer person, a filmmaker, and a parent. In the last few years, we have all been forced to face our shadows in isolation. This film opens up the conversation about how we turn toward each other again.

I am a co-founder of Catalyst Film Collective, a non-profit dedicated to supporting marginalized people in film. The community impact of this project encompasses both the production process and end product, as all my work does.  I believe this industry is uniquely positioned to transform global dialogue and culture, and that belief is a thread in all that I do.

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

BEHIND THE SCENES

95% of photos by Emilia Quinton & Cambria Tingley

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

Associate Producers
Eric Hofer • Jesse Thomas • Tirsh Hunter

Alex Luchini • Alexis Moran • Alicia J. Rose • Alicia Jo Rabins • Amadee Meyer • Andrea Kent • Anna Levitt • Arlene Sanford • Audrey Combs • Beau Blanchard • Bellamy Ford • Beth Littlehales • Bianca Kaprielian• Brittney Shepherd • Cambria Matlow •  Camille Carpenter • Catlin Converse • Char Serrano • Chris Adler • Chris Kovoor • Chris Pureka • Christian Henry • Christie Herring • Christina McKinney • Conor Powell • Crystal Covelle • Dana Murphy • Daniel Moss • Danielle Alkov • Dashal Moore • Dawn Jones Redstone • Devin Febbroriello • Donna Sinar • Drew Loura • Dylan Reiff • Elena Janis • Emily Ruff • Eric Moss • Erin Beery • Ero Gray • Eva Grayzel • Francesca Roveda • Gavin Brown • Hannah Portello-Swagel • Helen Dole • Ilene Moss • Ingrid Siss • Jackie Weissman • Jaime Holub • Jason Tackett • Jean Herbold • Jen Elkington • Jen Tate • Jennifer Moorman • Jeremy Moss • Jess Massey • Jesse Freidin • Joanie • Joanna Sokolowski • Joel Schoening • Johnny Symons • Justin Himes • Kalina Torino • Katherine D'Amato • Kathleen Banach • Katie Moss • Keaton Ray • Keith Harmon Snow • Kelly Stuart • Kelsey Peake • Kim Rolfs • Kimberly Fey Powers • Larisa Shlahet • Laurie Gilmer • Leah Wolchok • Lily Raff • Lily Holmes • Lindsey Dawson • Lisa Dazols • Lisa Rose • Luke Bogash • Lutz and Lisa • Mariana Somma • Maris Curran • Mark  Pettet • Marvin Moss • Mary Louise Zernicke • Matt Moss • Meg Napoli • Melissa Delzio • Mesh Flinders • Michael Brown • Michelle Lin • Misty Eddy • Molly Reichert • Monica Dailey • Nicklas Beaird • Nik Hassinger • Patti Kramer • Paul Glazier • Paul Pureka • Paula Bernstein Orkin • S. Leo Chiang • Sam Berliner • Sammy Lyon • Sarah Nairalez • Sarah Santner • Sarah Whelden • Sarah Zarate • Seth Brower • Shaleece Haas • Stephanie Hough • Stephanie Wells • Stuart Moss • Sue Gao • Tamsen Merrill • Tara Johnson-Medinger • The Creative Fund by BackerKit • Theora Moench • Theresa DeMarco • Tim Williams • Timothy Crall • West LaCount • Wil Kristin

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