Price
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Thriller, Horror
A young ambitious actor loses his grip on reality as he pursues the breakout role of his career.
Green Light
This campaign raised $15,170 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
52 supporters | followers
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A young ambitious actor loses his grip on reality as he pursues the breakout role of his career.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
After years of struggling to find work as an actor, Price, a mid-twenties Black man, finally has a chance at a breakout role in a feature film. He lands a role in a psychological thriller hailed by a once accomplished Indie Los Angeles film director, Steinbeck. Price is determined to earn admiration and respect as a professional actor. At first, Price gives it his all in his performance as a violent, deranged man named Dennis who wants to find answers to his sister’s murder. Meanwhile, Steinbeck praises his white co-star Ian’s less-than-stellar performance.
On the film shoot day, Steinbeck threatens to replace Price if he doesn’t deliver the right performance. Emboldened by this threat, Price goes through increasingly disturbing physical and emotional transformations to become like his character, Dennis. The more Price punishes himself, the more he loses his grip on reality. His descent into madness inevitably leads to summoning Dennis. Dennis lures Price to a horrific fate, seducing Price to succumb to his vile desires to achieve fame.
I can’t make this grand statement about how the horror genre saved my life, but it changed my perspective. Agree to disagree; fear is one of the main emotions we function on, along with happiness, sadness, surprise, etc. We’re driven by fear specifically because we’re afraid of things we don’t understand–mainly each other. But horror is the only piece of media and art that shows you what you are afraid of and why.
That monster that jumped out of the basement is a motif of grief or separation. That army of zombies is a metaphor for how we treat people that don’t look like us or have different beliefs. That’s why it’s such an effective medium. I love this genre because it lets you hold a mirror up to the world, and instead of people getting upset, they say you have a point. There’s a chorus of films that give you some insight into the human condition by scaring them, and my aim is for PRICE to be in that same category.
When Christian Yosef, the writer of PRICE, and I first came together to develop a film, the idea behind it was simple–make something spooky, but it also has to say something. It didn’t take long for us to find what we wanted to say. So little content in film and television speaks to young black males' psychology and mental health and the intersection of their art. Why is that? If it takes you too long to answer, all the more reason to help a film like Price be brought to the big screen.
PRICE is ultimately about how terrifying it is to be a creator of color. Your authentic experiences are not considered authentic in some creative spaces. And the transition to morph that experience into something considered palatable can do irreparable damage to one’s psychology and overall health. The sad truth is that Price loses himself and many others like him.
I aim for all artists and filmmakers, specifically those disenfranchised, to leave this film and firmly believe they are good enough in any room. And that their experiences and voices are needed.
We are young creatives and filmmakers from underrepresented communities. More than often, we are told that our stories, our art, and our performances need to be better for mainstream audiences. We internalize this and inflict this trauma upon ourselves to work even harder.
With passion comes the pressure we put on ourselves to be perfect. Internally, this chase for perfection becomes obsessive and disruptive to our mental health. We want to urge the audience to care for themselves in every aspect of their lives. We encourage kindness and grace for ourselves in the best and worst times.
But more than anything, Price speaks to our humanity and insecurities about pursuing our passions. Our passion as a film crew is telling stories that would resonate with audiences. Like Price, we are emerging filmmakers with a burning fire to make something meaningful.
We are seeking contributions to help with the production costs of filming Price. Our goal is $15,000. The costs include compensation for our artists and crew, locations, food, Production Design, Equipment Rentals for our Camera Department, and transportation.
Pre-Production: July-August
Location Scouting, Securing Cast, and Crew
Production Timeline: September-October
Four Weeks of Principal Photography
Post-Production Timeline: November-December
Film Scoring, Film Editing, Sound Design, Color Grading, Poster Design, Film Distribution
We hope the film can reach new heights in domestic and international film festivals. We aim to reach a broader audience to create more avenues for diverse representation. We appreciate any contribution and support in sharing Price with the world. If you cannot contribute now, please share our story with anyone you know. Thank you!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Location Rentals
Costs $4,000
We are filming in various locations including a movie theater and apartment
Camera Gear Rentals
Costs $3,000
To create the gritty and unsettling world of Price, we plan to use a variety of camera accessories and equipment for Grip and Electric.
Production Design
Costs $3,000
We plan to build a production set and a house of mirrors from scratch. Contributions will help with the costs of construction materials.
Cast and Crew Meals
Costs $3,500
Ten-twelve-hour filming days can be stressful for our crew. We want to make sure our team is well-fed and nourished!
Crew Compensation
Costs $1,500
Nothing would be complete without our talented artists and film composers!
Share this update!
About This Team
Byron Mason II- Director
Byron Mason II is a third-year graduate student earning his MFA in film and television production from the University of Southern California. Originally from Chicago, Byron was a lighting technician intern at Cinespace Studios for season 9 of NBC’s Chicago Fire. He crewed full-time on various pilots and independent films shortly after. Before his film career, Byron worked in editorial, digital media, and marketing as an undergrad at DePaul University, gaining experience from companies such as Weber Shandwick and Marvel Entertainment. After graduating from DePauw, Byron became a reporting fellow at News21, a national reporting initiative housed at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. He developed and produced a virtual documentary about juvenile justice and incarceration there. Recently, Byron developed a film called Cycle for the Frieze Fellowship, a program designed by the Ghetto Film School, Frieze Los Angeles, and Deutsche Bank. Cycle premiered at the 2023 Frieze Arts Festival in February, and currently, Byron is developing an advanced capstone film project through USC for production in late fall 2023.
Christian Yosef- Writer
Christian Yosef is an aspiring filmmaker who hails from the DMV. In middle school, Christian dreamed of being a filmmaker after watching films by Spike Lee, Guillermo del Toro, and Steven Spielberg. Christian's love of movies grew even more as time went on, as he focused on film studies as an undergrad before enrolling at the USC School of Cinematic Arts for grad school. Christian is captivated by stories about race, class structures, and character-driven pieces. Character-driven films such as Birdman, Taxi Driver, and There Will Be Blood are some of the movies that influenced the making of Price.
Chirsten Ellis- Producer
Chirsten Ellis’ passion for storytelling began on an ordinary day in a 4th-grade classroom on Chicago’s Southside. A typical spelling assignment turned into her first thirty-eight-page adventure short story. That experience transformed how she wanted to see herself and others represented in film and television. Thus, her curiosity for potent cinematic storytelling led her to the University of Southern California. As an English Literature major, she took as many film classes as possible through the USC School of Cinematic Arts. After graduation, Chirsten worked in Special Education at a local bilingual elementary school in Texas. Teaching virtually inspired her to create a short documentary highlighting the challenges of teaching Special Education during a global pandemic. Her commitment to championing untold stories continued as a first-year graduate student. During her first semester, Chirsten mentored African American high school senior boys in film production and writing through the Angel City Links Achievers Mentoring Program. In her second year, Chirsten volunteered through the award-winning nonprofit Ghetto Film School. Both rewarding volunteer experiences deepened her efforts to elevate stories from underrepresented communities.
Bita Arefnia- Producer
Bita Arefnia is a Persian actress and filmmaker from Austria. She earned a BFA in Acting for Film at the New York Film Academy. She’s currently enrolled in USC's MFA program for Film and TV productions. She has starred, written, and produced several short films and performed and worked backstage at live theater shows produced by the Group Rep Theatre. Bita is a multifaceted artist who loves creating art of all forms. Her goal is to tell more stories that represent people from the Middle East in a positive light in front and behind the camera. She is very excited to be part of the PRICE family and bring this story to life!
Franco Vidal- First Assistant Director
Franco Vidal is an award-winning, proud Peruvian writer and director based in Los Angeles. He earned his BA in film production at California State University, Northridge, where he wrote and directed his musical thesis, "Hot Latin Nights at the Granada!" ARRI awarded the film the Franz Wieser Grant, premiered at The Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater, and screened at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. Franco has served as an intern at Michael Showalter’s developing company, Semi-Formal Productions, and as a Hollywood Foreign Press Association fellow. He is pursuing his MFA in Film Production at USC's School of Cinematic Arts as the recipient of the George Lucas Family Foundation scholarship. Along with working on his projects, he works as an assistant director and takes pride in his work as an AD. With a deep love for pulpy genre films and his Latino identity, his work often reflects one of those loves, if not combined.
Caileigh Gold- Cinematographer
Caileigh Gold is a filmmaker from Virginia Beach, Virginia, pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. Before USC, Caileigh attended Old Dominion University, where she was the Secretary of the ODU Film Club. The ODU Film Club allowed Caileigh to attend the Cannes Film Festival in 2018 and 2019 with short films created in conjunction with the club. While at USC, Caileigh received the Annenberg Fellowship for her final school year. She also serves as the Trojan Society of Cinematographers President, USC’s first cinematography club. Caileigh is extremely passionate about cinematography and is looking forward to being the cinematographer on several advanced projects at USC this year, including Price.
Stephanie Bell- Production Designer
Stephanie Bell is an award-winning filmmaker and photographer in Los Angeles, CA. As a director, Stephanie uses her eye for cinematography and production design to tell colorful, authentic, and immersive stories to inspire and empower communities of color. She is an alumna of Loyola Marymount University, where she received her B.A. in Journalism. Los Angeles Docs have recognized various films her contribution, Rome Indie Film Festival, Independent Shorts Awards, and the St. Louis Filmmaker Showcase, among other festivals. Stephanie is pursuing her MFA in Film and TV Production at USC, emphasizing Directing and Cinematography.
Tola Omilana-Sound Designer
Hailing from Palm Desert, California, Tola Omilana is the son of Nigerian immigrants, the eldest of three children, a Black man, a rambler, and a poet turned filmmaker. At Harvard College, Tola studied biomedical engineering with a minor in non-fiction videography. Though he originally planned to attend medical school, his exposure to diverse cultures and artistic communities sparked a fascination with the power of cinema. Driven by a desire to explore the spiritual relationship between humans and their histories, Tola chose to pursue screenwriting shortly after graduating. After years of penning short films, he completed his first feature screenplay in 2021 with UCLA TFT and now attends USC SCA for his MFA. As seen in his previous films ALISTAIR, ÀDÍTÚ, and ROSEMAN, Tola’s unique style blends dramatic writing and documentary techniques to construct evocative slices of ordinary life. With PRICE, Tola desires to collaborate with talented filmmakers and continue to stretch his artistry. Beyond filmmaking, Tola finds inspiration in autobiographical literature, cathartic music, and communities of practice.
Jehan Patterson-Sound Designer
Jehan Patterson was born in Chicago to a Chicago Public School English teacher and a bank advisor. His interest in cinema and the arts sparked early with his exposure to the perennial classic Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing. His cinematic journey began with a 7-year-old (at the time) Smart Phone and friends from school as the actors. Patterson attended Clark Atlanta University, a historically black university in Atlanta, Georgia. At the university, Jehan Patterson explored his love of the arts, working in the theater and film worlds. Patterson would go on to meet mentor figures at the university, including best-selling MacMillian author Daniel Black, and a long-time film teacher at the school, known for being the first film teacher of director Spike Lee, Dr. Herb Eichelberger. He graduated from Clark Atlanta University Magna Cum Laude with a 3.78 cumulative grade point average. Patterson also was awarded the Dean's List each of the eight semesters he’d been in school. Jehan Patterson began attending his Master’s of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California directly after obtaining his graduate degree and moved to Los Angeles in the fall of 2022. He exceeded his studies, earning a cumulative 4.0 Grade Point Average in the first year of his MFA program.
Sierra Z- Editor
Sierra Z is passionate about breaking traditional genre boundaries and hopes to work as an editor, writer, and DEI college professor one day. With a background in English and specialization in Afrofuturism, Afrofantasy, and speculative fiction, Sierra draws from a strong understanding of story, innovation, and structure while editing. In Spring 2023, Sierra was a pilot co-editor for the short television show Sketch as part of the SCA capstone class CTPR 486: Straight to Series: Production of Episodic TV Drama. That semester, Sierra also wrote an Afrofantasy television pilot and taught a section of first-years as a TA for CTCS 150: Visions of Diversity in the Cinematic Arts. Sierra loves stories that challenge an audience’s understanding of reality, time, and existence and is thrilled to be able to support Price as an editor.
Emma Reisenauer- Editor
Emma is in her last semester of the USC School of Cinematic Arts graduate program. She grew up in Seattle, Washington, where she got an associate's Degree in Marine Biology while still in high school. She earned her bachelor's degree in Communication studies and Anthrozoology (studying human-animal interactions) at Carroll College in Helena, MT., and spent several years living in Colorado. Her two favorite animals are dogs and whales (specifically the orca), and she was inspired to apply to film school after filming and editing a documentary on a good friend training a Mustang. She is a huge nerd who loves science fiction/fantasy and would spend all her time playing DnD if she could (Hello Bees!). Instead, she hangs out with her friends on a weekly podcast, talking about all things pop culture, which is a close second. Her favorite author is Neil Gaiman, and she aspires to be an editor/director.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
After years of struggling to find work as an actor, Price, a mid-twenties Black man, finally has a chance at a breakout role in a feature film. He lands a role in a psychological thriller hailed by a once accomplished Indie Los Angeles film director, Steinbeck. Price is determined to earn admiration and respect as a professional actor. At first, Price gives it his all in his performance as a violent, deranged man named Dennis who wants to find answers to his sister’s murder. Meanwhile, Steinbeck praises his white co-star Ian’s less-than-stellar performance.
On the film shoot day, Steinbeck threatens to replace Price if he doesn’t deliver the right performance. Emboldened by this threat, Price goes through increasingly disturbing physical and emotional transformations to become like his character, Dennis. The more Price punishes himself, the more he loses his grip on reality. His descent into madness inevitably leads to summoning Dennis. Dennis lures Price to a horrific fate, seducing Price to succumb to his vile desires to achieve fame.
I can’t make this grand statement about how the horror genre saved my life, but it changed my perspective. Agree to disagree; fear is one of the main emotions we function on, along with happiness, sadness, surprise, etc. We’re driven by fear specifically because we’re afraid of things we don’t understand–mainly each other. But horror is the only piece of media and art that shows you what you are afraid of and why.
That monster that jumped out of the basement is a motif of grief or separation. That army of zombies is a metaphor for how we treat people that don’t look like us or have different beliefs. That’s why it’s such an effective medium. I love this genre because it lets you hold a mirror up to the world, and instead of people getting upset, they say you have a point. There’s a chorus of films that give you some insight into the human condition by scaring them, and my aim is for PRICE to be in that same category.
When Christian Yosef, the writer of PRICE, and I first came together to develop a film, the idea behind it was simple–make something spooky, but it also has to say something. It didn’t take long for us to find what we wanted to say. So little content in film and television speaks to young black males' psychology and mental health and the intersection of their art. Why is that? If it takes you too long to answer, all the more reason to help a film like Price be brought to the big screen.
PRICE is ultimately about how terrifying it is to be a creator of color. Your authentic experiences are not considered authentic in some creative spaces. And the transition to morph that experience into something considered palatable can do irreparable damage to one’s psychology and overall health. The sad truth is that Price loses himself and many others like him.
I aim for all artists and filmmakers, specifically those disenfranchised, to leave this film and firmly believe they are good enough in any room. And that their experiences and voices are needed.
We are young creatives and filmmakers from underrepresented communities. More than often, we are told that our stories, our art, and our performances need to be better for mainstream audiences. We internalize this and inflict this trauma upon ourselves to work even harder.
With passion comes the pressure we put on ourselves to be perfect. Internally, this chase for perfection becomes obsessive and disruptive to our mental health. We want to urge the audience to care for themselves in every aspect of their lives. We encourage kindness and grace for ourselves in the best and worst times.
But more than anything, Price speaks to our humanity and insecurities about pursuing our passions. Our passion as a film crew is telling stories that would resonate with audiences. Like Price, we are emerging filmmakers with a burning fire to make something meaningful.
We are seeking contributions to help with the production costs of filming Price. Our goal is $15,000. The costs include compensation for our artists and crew, locations, food, Production Design, Equipment Rentals for our Camera Department, and transportation.
Pre-Production: July-August
Location Scouting, Securing Cast, and Crew
Production Timeline: September-October
Four Weeks of Principal Photography
Post-Production Timeline: November-December
Film Scoring, Film Editing, Sound Design, Color Grading, Poster Design, Film Distribution
We hope the film can reach new heights in domestic and international film festivals. We aim to reach a broader audience to create more avenues for diverse representation. We appreciate any contribution and support in sharing Price with the world. If you cannot contribute now, please share our story with anyone you know. Thank you!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Location Rentals
Costs $4,000
We are filming in various locations including a movie theater and apartment
Camera Gear Rentals
Costs $3,000
To create the gritty and unsettling world of Price, we plan to use a variety of camera accessories and equipment for Grip and Electric.
Production Design
Costs $3,000
We plan to build a production set and a house of mirrors from scratch. Contributions will help with the costs of construction materials.
Cast and Crew Meals
Costs $3,500
Ten-twelve-hour filming days can be stressful for our crew. We want to make sure our team is well-fed and nourished!
Crew Compensation
Costs $1,500
Nothing would be complete without our talented artists and film composers!
Share this update!
About This Team
Byron Mason II- Director
Byron Mason II is a third-year graduate student earning his MFA in film and television production from the University of Southern California. Originally from Chicago, Byron was a lighting technician intern at Cinespace Studios for season 9 of NBC’s Chicago Fire. He crewed full-time on various pilots and independent films shortly after. Before his film career, Byron worked in editorial, digital media, and marketing as an undergrad at DePaul University, gaining experience from companies such as Weber Shandwick and Marvel Entertainment. After graduating from DePauw, Byron became a reporting fellow at News21, a national reporting initiative housed at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. He developed and produced a virtual documentary about juvenile justice and incarceration there. Recently, Byron developed a film called Cycle for the Frieze Fellowship, a program designed by the Ghetto Film School, Frieze Los Angeles, and Deutsche Bank. Cycle premiered at the 2023 Frieze Arts Festival in February, and currently, Byron is developing an advanced capstone film project through USC for production in late fall 2023.
Christian Yosef- Writer
Christian Yosef is an aspiring filmmaker who hails from the DMV. In middle school, Christian dreamed of being a filmmaker after watching films by Spike Lee, Guillermo del Toro, and Steven Spielberg. Christian's love of movies grew even more as time went on, as he focused on film studies as an undergrad before enrolling at the USC School of Cinematic Arts for grad school. Christian is captivated by stories about race, class structures, and character-driven pieces. Character-driven films such as Birdman, Taxi Driver, and There Will Be Blood are some of the movies that influenced the making of Price.
Chirsten Ellis- Producer
Chirsten Ellis’ passion for storytelling began on an ordinary day in a 4th-grade classroom on Chicago’s Southside. A typical spelling assignment turned into her first thirty-eight-page adventure short story. That experience transformed how she wanted to see herself and others represented in film and television. Thus, her curiosity for potent cinematic storytelling led her to the University of Southern California. As an English Literature major, she took as many film classes as possible through the USC School of Cinematic Arts. After graduation, Chirsten worked in Special Education at a local bilingual elementary school in Texas. Teaching virtually inspired her to create a short documentary highlighting the challenges of teaching Special Education during a global pandemic. Her commitment to championing untold stories continued as a first-year graduate student. During her first semester, Chirsten mentored African American high school senior boys in film production and writing through the Angel City Links Achievers Mentoring Program. In her second year, Chirsten volunteered through the award-winning nonprofit Ghetto Film School. Both rewarding volunteer experiences deepened her efforts to elevate stories from underrepresented communities.
Bita Arefnia- Producer
Bita Arefnia is a Persian actress and filmmaker from Austria. She earned a BFA in Acting for Film at the New York Film Academy. She’s currently enrolled in USC's MFA program for Film and TV productions. She has starred, written, and produced several short films and performed and worked backstage at live theater shows produced by the Group Rep Theatre. Bita is a multifaceted artist who loves creating art of all forms. Her goal is to tell more stories that represent people from the Middle East in a positive light in front and behind the camera. She is very excited to be part of the PRICE family and bring this story to life!
Franco Vidal- First Assistant Director
Franco Vidal is an award-winning, proud Peruvian writer and director based in Los Angeles. He earned his BA in film production at California State University, Northridge, where he wrote and directed his musical thesis, "Hot Latin Nights at the Granada!" ARRI awarded the film the Franz Wieser Grant, premiered at The Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater, and screened at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. Franco has served as an intern at Michael Showalter’s developing company, Semi-Formal Productions, and as a Hollywood Foreign Press Association fellow. He is pursuing his MFA in Film Production at USC's School of Cinematic Arts as the recipient of the George Lucas Family Foundation scholarship. Along with working on his projects, he works as an assistant director and takes pride in his work as an AD. With a deep love for pulpy genre films and his Latino identity, his work often reflects one of those loves, if not combined.
Caileigh Gold- Cinematographer
Caileigh Gold is a filmmaker from Virginia Beach, Virginia, pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. Before USC, Caileigh attended Old Dominion University, where she was the Secretary of the ODU Film Club. The ODU Film Club allowed Caileigh to attend the Cannes Film Festival in 2018 and 2019 with short films created in conjunction with the club. While at USC, Caileigh received the Annenberg Fellowship for her final school year. She also serves as the Trojan Society of Cinematographers President, USC’s first cinematography club. Caileigh is extremely passionate about cinematography and is looking forward to being the cinematographer on several advanced projects at USC this year, including Price.
Stephanie Bell- Production Designer
Stephanie Bell is an award-winning filmmaker and photographer in Los Angeles, CA. As a director, Stephanie uses her eye for cinematography and production design to tell colorful, authentic, and immersive stories to inspire and empower communities of color. She is an alumna of Loyola Marymount University, where she received her B.A. in Journalism. Los Angeles Docs have recognized various films her contribution, Rome Indie Film Festival, Independent Shorts Awards, and the St. Louis Filmmaker Showcase, among other festivals. Stephanie is pursuing her MFA in Film and TV Production at USC, emphasizing Directing and Cinematography.
Tola Omilana-Sound Designer
Hailing from Palm Desert, California, Tola Omilana is the son of Nigerian immigrants, the eldest of three children, a Black man, a rambler, and a poet turned filmmaker. At Harvard College, Tola studied biomedical engineering with a minor in non-fiction videography. Though he originally planned to attend medical school, his exposure to diverse cultures and artistic communities sparked a fascination with the power of cinema. Driven by a desire to explore the spiritual relationship between humans and their histories, Tola chose to pursue screenwriting shortly after graduating. After years of penning short films, he completed his first feature screenplay in 2021 with UCLA TFT and now attends USC SCA for his MFA. As seen in his previous films ALISTAIR, ÀDÍTÚ, and ROSEMAN, Tola’s unique style blends dramatic writing and documentary techniques to construct evocative slices of ordinary life. With PRICE, Tola desires to collaborate with talented filmmakers and continue to stretch his artistry. Beyond filmmaking, Tola finds inspiration in autobiographical literature, cathartic music, and communities of practice.
Jehan Patterson-Sound Designer
Jehan Patterson was born in Chicago to a Chicago Public School English teacher and a bank advisor. His interest in cinema and the arts sparked early with his exposure to the perennial classic Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing. His cinematic journey began with a 7-year-old (at the time) Smart Phone and friends from school as the actors. Patterson attended Clark Atlanta University, a historically black university in Atlanta, Georgia. At the university, Jehan Patterson explored his love of the arts, working in the theater and film worlds. Patterson would go on to meet mentor figures at the university, including best-selling MacMillian author Daniel Black, and a long-time film teacher at the school, known for being the first film teacher of director Spike Lee, Dr. Herb Eichelberger. He graduated from Clark Atlanta University Magna Cum Laude with a 3.78 cumulative grade point average. Patterson also was awarded the Dean's List each of the eight semesters he’d been in school. Jehan Patterson began attending his Master’s of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California directly after obtaining his graduate degree and moved to Los Angeles in the fall of 2022. He exceeded his studies, earning a cumulative 4.0 Grade Point Average in the first year of his MFA program.
Sierra Z- Editor
Sierra Z is passionate about breaking traditional genre boundaries and hopes to work as an editor, writer, and DEI college professor one day. With a background in English and specialization in Afrofuturism, Afrofantasy, and speculative fiction, Sierra draws from a strong understanding of story, innovation, and structure while editing. In Spring 2023, Sierra was a pilot co-editor for the short television show Sketch as part of the SCA capstone class CTPR 486: Straight to Series: Production of Episodic TV Drama. That semester, Sierra also wrote an Afrofantasy television pilot and taught a section of first-years as a TA for CTCS 150: Visions of Diversity in the Cinematic Arts. Sierra loves stories that challenge an audience’s understanding of reality, time, and existence and is thrilled to be able to support Price as an editor.
Emma Reisenauer- Editor
Emma is in her last semester of the USC School of Cinematic Arts graduate program. She grew up in Seattle, Washington, where she got an associate's Degree in Marine Biology while still in high school. She earned her bachelor's degree in Communication studies and Anthrozoology (studying human-animal interactions) at Carroll College in Helena, MT., and spent several years living in Colorado. Her two favorite animals are dogs and whales (specifically the orca), and she was inspired to apply to film school after filming and editing a documentary on a good friend training a Mustang. She is a huge nerd who loves science fiction/fantasy and would spend all her time playing DnD if she could (Hello Bees!). Instead, she hangs out with her friends on a weekly podcast, talking about all things pop culture, which is a close second. Her favorite author is Neil Gaiman, and she aspires to be an editor/director.