We are dedicated to telling a story that uses accurate American Sign Language as the primary source of dialogue- we are hiring an interpreter who is deaf to help! We are also committed to hiring on a range of POC and LGBTQAI+ folks to work both on screen as well as behind the scenes.

Cherry takes place within our current time- during the COVID 19 Pandemic. The film is set at a diner that follows all of the COVID guidelines that are expected of restaraunts: everyone must wear a mask upon entering the establishment, everyone must stay 6-feet apart from one another, etc. 

The story follows a young woman who is deaf named Laura; someone who not only suffers from extreme anxiety but also suffers from a learning disability called dysgraphia. She struggles to understand what people are saying because masks hide peoples' lips and hinder her from understanding what anyone speaking to her says- hence her need to rely heavily on her cellphone and her hearing friend Dave. Due to her anxiety, dysgraphia, and her dying phone battery, Laura struggles to order a simple piece of cherry pie for herself.

While Cherry was written during and inspired by the COVID pandemic, it was also inspired by how people who are deaf must be struggling since everyone's wearing masks- everyone already seems to be struggling with understanding one another with these masks, how is this struggle different for folks who are deaf?

I am incredibly passionate about this project because while sign language in films is growing (in films such as Baby Driver, A Quiet Place, and The Shape of Water), and there isn't a whole lot of media that shows learning disabilities such as dysgraphia. I have been consulting with my sister who is also a Special Education teacher (she's the one who initially suggested I have Laura struggle with dysgraphia) and have been conducting thorough research about the learning disability to ensure that the portrayal is as accurate as possible - I am very passionate about making sure there is accuracy in my film! While this is a student film that is being completed for a grade for a class, this is a story that I am absolutely in love with - and not just because I'm the writer ha ha.

In regards to shooting during the COVID pandemic, the plan is to esentially keep the talent and the crew in seperate areas while on set in order to ensure everyone's safety. There is a certain guideline that filmmakers must follow where the cast and crew is kept in different sections that is all taped off. All the crew members will be wearing masks, sanitizing their equipment, and staying the required 6-feet apart from others, and the talent who are not wearing masks will be kept in a seperate area a safe distance from everyone else.

Currently my team and I are in the process of hiring actors and an American Sign Language interpretor, but I will update the page as soon as final decisions have been made; I have been in contact with several interested and talented professional actors and actresses and am in contact with a couple of different professional American Sign Language interpretors. I am really excited and hopeful for this film and, especially as someone who wants to get into directing, am incredibly excited to work on this film. I am planning on shooting during the week of April 5th. there is a wonderful diner set that is being built within one of the buildings of my school that this short film will be taking place at, though scheduing has been a bit of an issue since so many other projects are taking place at this set as well.

Once the film is completed and edited, I will be submitting it to the Denver Silent Film Festival as well as Sundance. My professors and classmates will also have a screening of the film before any final submissions are done, but I am confident in my team and know that we can make a great film!