The Final Fight
New York City, New York | Film Short
Thriller, LGBTQ
When a struggling Hollywood producer, Scott Cohen, returns to Brooklyn, he finds his elderly father trapped in a web of neglect, intimidation, and legal control. Racing against a guardianship filing, Scott must fight to save his father’s autonomy before the system silences him for good.
The Final Fight
New York City, New York | Film Short
Thriller, LGBTQ
3 Campaigns | New York, United States
6 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$360
Goal: $4,500 for post-production
When a struggling Hollywood producer, Scott Cohen, returns to Brooklyn, he finds his elderly father trapped in a web of neglect, intimidation, and legal control. Racing against a guardianship filing, Scott must fight to save his father’s autonomy before the system silences him for good.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Inspired by true events surrounding guardianship corruption and elder exploitation, as chronicled in the New York Times cover story, “The Fight of This Old Boxer’s Life Was With His Own Family,” The Final Fight exposes a hidden legal underworld where power and greed prey on the vulnerable. At its heart, the film asks a deeply personal question: What does justice cost when family is on the line? In this story, we learn about an estranged Hollywood executive who returns home after a desperate call from his aging father, he uncovers a corrupt guardianship scheme orchestrated by his father’s mob-connected in-laws and must risk everything to save the former Golden Gloves boxer who once taught him how to fight, while finding his way back to the father he thought he had lost long ago.
This is our THIRD CAMPAIGN, and thanks to the incredible support of our community, our first two campaigns were extremely successful, raising more than $20,000! Since our last campaign, we’ve reached a major milestone: we finished post-production! We also have exciting new assets to share, including our incredible official film poster and trailer.
We’re now raising funds for festival submissions, publicity, and an experienced film strategist to help us get The Final Fight in front of audiences, and industry professionals.
Our community has grown tremendously since our last campaign, and we hope you’ll continue this journey with us. Every contribution brings us one step closer to getting this story, and the issue behind it, seen and heard.
Below: Josh Davis and Tom Hair portraying Scott and Martin Cohen. Father and son on set of The Final Fight.
The Final Fight Film Poster:
Below: Todd J. Stein, Writer/Director of The Final Fight. The film is inspired by his father's story.
Below: Cast Members, Tom Hair, Josh Davis, Ellen B. Williams, and Adriana DeMeo in a powerful scene from the film. 
Below: Josh Davis on set of The Final Fight. 
Below: A pivotal scene with cast member's Tom Hair and Adriana DeMeo on set of The Final Fight.
Below: James Cicoone with Adriana DeMeo filming a scene in The Final Fight. 
Director of Photographer, Leland Krane frames a shot on set of The Final Fight.
The cast and crew working out a critical scene in The Final Fight.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Festival Submissions Fees
Costs $1,500
This $1,500 goes toward Film Festival submission fees. Help bring the film in front of those who can help create the path toward success.
The Final Fight Publicist
Costs $2,000
Help us fund the publicity campaign that will bring The Final Fight and its powerful story to audiences everywhere and build momentum!
Social Media Consultant
Costs $1,000
Help us fund and build a social media campaign that will bring The Final Fight to new audiences and build a community around the film.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Todd "TJ" Stein, Writer/Director
Todd “TJ” Stein brings more than 20 years of experience in entertainment, uniquely bridging the worlds of the arts and advocacy. A lifelong New Yorker, he attended the Professional Children’s School and P.S. 183 before earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Syracuse University. Following graduation, Stein worked in casting and development at major networks including Fox, ABC, and NBC.
As one of the Upper East Side’s most outspoken community defenders, Stein has operated at both the grassroots and legislative levels to advance meaningful protections for society’s most vulnerable. His reputation as a community-focused advocate led to two campaigns for local office, where he championed neighborhood rights and fought to ensure that the most marginalized voices were heard. His advocacy on behalf of individuals under guardianship has been featured in Spectrum News NY1’s In Focus with Cheryl Wills, The New York Post, and The New York Times.
A filmmaker, writer, and elder rights advocate, Stein is the creator of the true-story legal drama The Final Fight. Drawing directly from his advocacy work, within the U.S. guardianship system while blending storytelling with social impact. Stein has led an independent production strategy for the film, with the development of a proof-of-concept short to secure feature financing.
Marlene Schneider, Producer
Marlene Schneider brings decades of leadership, advocacy, and program strategy to The Final Fight. As a former Vice President at the National Council on Aging, she spent years championing equity, dignity, and access for vulnerable communities. Her work centered on building national partnerships, shaping policy initiatives, and elevating stories that often go unheard. Now stepping into film producing, Marlene is driven by a belief that storytelling can be a tool for justice. She brings her deep experience in community engagement, coalition building, and mission-driven project development to the film. The Final Fight aligns perfectly with her lifelong commitment to lifting up real people, real struggles, and real impact.
Leland Krane, Director of Photography
Leland Krane is a New York-based Director of Photography with over 100 credits in TV and film. His work has been featured in American Cinematographer, Indiewire, and The Wall Street Journal. Leland is a member of ICG Local 600 and serves on its AI Committee.
Some of Leland's more notable projects include "Chappelle’s Show," the theatrically released film"Under Hellgate Bridge," "Tunnelvison" and both shooting and Directing the top rated show "REDRUM," for ID. TV Camera operating credits include, Love LIfe, NSFW, Madam Secretary, Limitless, The Americans, The Get Down, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, SNL, The Deuce and others. He also serves as a 2nd unit Dp on some of these projects. Leland has worked in a wide array of formats and genres, from live events and concerts, promo's, music video's and spots to long form motion pictures and episodic television, sometimes directing commercial spots, promos, TV episodes. He has traveled extensively for projects in the US, North Africa, Europe and Australia. He holds both U.S. and Canadian citizenship. Specialties: Director/ Director of Photography/Camera operator.
Adrienne Stern, C.S.A. Casting Director
Adrienne Stern, C.S.A. is a seasoned Casting Director and ARTIOS WINNER whose films have premiered at Sundance, TIFF, Cannes, Tribeca, Berlin, SXSW, HIFF, Woodstock, Seattle, Venice and many other prominent film festivals, taking home first place prestigious awards that have led to distribution deals and launched actor’s careers. Some of her well known films include The Believer starring Ryan Gosling, ”Thirteen Conversations About One Thing” starring Matthew McConaughey, “Broken English” starring Parker Posey and Justin Theroux, “Joseph Pulitzer” starring Liev Schreiber, Sebastian Stan, Billy Magnussen, Lauren Ambrose, Rachel Brosnahan and Adam Driver as the Narrator.
Bruce Hall, Assistant Director
Bruce Edward Hall is a New York City-based 1st Assistant Director and Producer with more than 20 years of experience across films, TV, commercials, and music videos. His credits include Jackie, Mudbound, and The Wackness, with projects airing on CNN, History, Hallmark, AMC, Netflix, Hulu, and Discovery. Most recently, he completed Situation #64 with Hari Nef and Louisa Jacobson, and served as co-producer on Influenced, featuring Jill Kargman, David Krumholtz, Justin Bartha, Jason Biggs, and Jessica Capshaw.
Morgan Alexandra Neville, Editor
Morgan Alexandra Neville is a New York City–based film editor known for her strong sense of story, rhythm, and performance. With a career spanning independent film and television, she has worked on projects including Blue Jasmine, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Half Magic, iGilbert, Genius: Aretha, and Oh. What. Fun. Grounded in decades of experience, Morgan brings empathy, nuance, and a deep respect for story to her work, with a particular sensitivity to the emotional complexity that lives between light and shadow.
Gigi Boyle, Line Producer
Gigi A. Boyle is an experienced film production professional with a background as a Line Producer and Unit Production Manager on independent and studio-backed projects. Her work spans multiple genres, including horror and thriller films such as Angie and The Block, romantic comedies like A Nice Girl Like You and Out of Order, and the drama feature The Bait. She specializes in production planning, budgeting, scheduling, and crew management, with experience guiding projects from development through post-production and delivery.
Cameron Adams, Composer
Cameron Adams is a composer and conductor based in Los Angeles, and a 2025 nominee of the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. He composes for film and musical theater, most recently scoring the feature film Snooze directed by David Stanley. Cameron graduated from Yale University in 2024, where he completed the 'Intensive Music Major' and was awarded the Abraham Beekman Cox Prize in composition and the Bach Society Prize. He has since gone on to complete the Screen Scoring Master’s Program at the USC Thornton School of Music.
Scott Winston, Visual Effects
Scott Winston has been killing people, blowing stuff up, and removing zits from actor's faces for 30 years. His visual effects work has appeared in numerous Oscar & Emmy award winning productions. In 2019, Scott moved to Nashville, TN and established Danger Pixel to continue helping filmmakers achieve their vision. His credits include The Greatest Showman, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, The Da Vinci Code, True Detective, & Boardwalk Empire.
Jake White - Colorist
Jake White started at Company 3 in 2016 as a client services representative, where he focused on client and colorist in-session needs for a year. He moved into the feature color department, becoming Senior Colorist Tom Poole’s lead assistant. He then moved into a dailies/Jr colorist role, wherein he colored dailies for films like A Quiet Place: Day One and Netflix’s upcoming feature Rez Ball while also working as an additional colorist on Euphoria (S2). During this time, White was also the lead colorist on projects including Blonde, The Slumber Party, Bleacher’s music video for “Tiny Moves”, as well as the short “Poof”, which competed at Cannes in 2023, and the feature Memes & Nightmares that premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in 2024. Originally from Connecticut, he studied film production at Emerson College in Boston, focusing mainly on cinematography while pursuing studies in analog photography.
Ronnie Q - Behind The Scenes Videographer
Ronnie Q is a New York City award-winning director and filmmaker whose work spans narrative film, branded storytelling, and documentary. Ronnie brings an unconventional perspective to directing, combining a deep interest in human behavior with a cinematic, story-first approach.
His work includes festival-winning short films as well as creative campaigns for national brands, international touring productions, and Fortune 500–adjacent clients. In 2025, Ronnie founded RQ FILMS, a New York City–based studio focused on directing brand films, features, and documentaries while developing original narrative projects. Ronnie’s approach remains simple: compelling stories, cinematic craft, and work built to last.
The Final Fight Cast
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Inspired by true events surrounding guardianship corruption and elder exploitation, as chronicled in the New York Times cover story, “The Fight of This Old Boxer’s Life Was With His Own Family,” The Final Fight exposes a hidden legal underworld where power and greed prey on the vulnerable. At its heart, the film asks a deeply personal question: What does justice cost when family is on the line? In this story, we learn about an estranged Hollywood executive who returns home after a desperate call from his aging father, he uncovers a corrupt guardianship scheme orchestrated by his father’s mob-connected in-laws and must risk everything to save the former Golden Gloves boxer who once taught him how to fight, while finding his way back to the father he thought he had lost long ago.
This is our THIRD CAMPAIGN, and thanks to the incredible support of our community, our first two campaigns were extremely successful, raising more than $20,000! Since our last campaign, we’ve reached a major milestone: we finished post-production! We also have exciting new assets to share, including our incredible official film poster and trailer.
We’re now raising funds for festival submissions, publicity, and an experienced film strategist to help us get The Final Fight in front of audiences, and industry professionals.
Our community has grown tremendously since our last campaign, and we hope you’ll continue this journey with us. Every contribution brings us one step closer to getting this story, and the issue behind it, seen and heard.
Below: Josh Davis and Tom Hair portraying Scott and Martin Cohen. Father and son on set of The Final Fight.
The Final Fight Film Poster:
Below: Todd J. Stein, Writer/Director of The Final Fight. The film is inspired by his father's story.
Below: Cast Members, Tom Hair, Josh Davis, Ellen B. Williams, and Adriana DeMeo in a powerful scene from the film.
Below: Josh Davis on set of The Final Fight.
Below: A pivotal scene with cast member's Tom Hair and Adriana DeMeo on set of The Final Fight.
Below: James Cicoone with Adriana DeMeo filming a scene in The Final Fight.
Director of Photographer, Leland Krane frames a shot on set of The Final Fight.
The cast and crew working out a critical scene in The Final Fight.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Festival Submissions Fees
Costs $1,500
This $1,500 goes toward Film Festival submission fees. Help bring the film in front of those who can help create the path toward success.
The Final Fight Publicist
Costs $2,000
Help us fund the publicity campaign that will bring The Final Fight and its powerful story to audiences everywhere and build momentum!
Social Media Consultant
Costs $1,000
Help us fund and build a social media campaign that will bring The Final Fight to new audiences and build a community around the film.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Todd "TJ" Stein, Writer/Director
Todd “TJ” Stein brings more than 20 years of experience in entertainment, uniquely bridging the worlds of the arts and advocacy. A lifelong New Yorker, he attended the Professional Children’s School and P.S. 183 before earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Syracuse University. Following graduation, Stein worked in casting and development at major networks including Fox, ABC, and NBC.
As one of the Upper East Side’s most outspoken community defenders, Stein has operated at both the grassroots and legislative levels to advance meaningful protections for society’s most vulnerable. His reputation as a community-focused advocate led to two campaigns for local office, where he championed neighborhood rights and fought to ensure that the most marginalized voices were heard. His advocacy on behalf of individuals under guardianship has been featured in Spectrum News NY1’s In Focus with Cheryl Wills, The New York Post, and The New York Times.
A filmmaker, writer, and elder rights advocate, Stein is the creator of the true-story legal drama The Final Fight. Drawing directly from his advocacy work, within the U.S. guardianship system while blending storytelling with social impact. Stein has led an independent production strategy for the film, with the development of a proof-of-concept short to secure feature financing.
Marlene Schneider, Producer
Marlene Schneider brings decades of leadership, advocacy, and program strategy to The Final Fight. As a former Vice President at the National Council on Aging, she spent years championing equity, dignity, and access for vulnerable communities. Her work centered on building national partnerships, shaping policy initiatives, and elevating stories that often go unheard. Now stepping into film producing, Marlene is driven by a belief that storytelling can be a tool for justice. She brings her deep experience in community engagement, coalition building, and mission-driven project development to the film. The Final Fight aligns perfectly with her lifelong commitment to lifting up real people, real struggles, and real impact.
Leland Krane, Director of Photography
Leland Krane is a New York-based Director of Photography with over 100 credits in TV and film. His work has been featured in American Cinematographer, Indiewire, and The Wall Street Journal. Leland is a member of ICG Local 600 and serves on its AI Committee.
Some of Leland's more notable projects include "Chappelle’s Show," the theatrically released film"Under Hellgate Bridge," "Tunnelvison" and both shooting and Directing the top rated show "REDRUM," for ID. TV Camera operating credits include, Love LIfe, NSFW, Madam Secretary, Limitless, The Americans, The Get Down, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, SNL, The Deuce and others. He also serves as a 2nd unit Dp on some of these projects. Leland has worked in a wide array of formats and genres, from live events and concerts, promo's, music video's and spots to long form motion pictures and episodic television, sometimes directing commercial spots, promos, TV episodes. He has traveled extensively for projects in the US, North Africa, Europe and Australia. He holds both U.S. and Canadian citizenship. Specialties: Director/ Director of Photography/Camera operator.
Adrienne Stern, C.S.A. Casting Director
Adrienne Stern, C.S.A. is a seasoned Casting Director and ARTIOS WINNER whose films have premiered at Sundance, TIFF, Cannes, Tribeca, Berlin, SXSW, HIFF, Woodstock, Seattle, Venice and many other prominent film festivals, taking home first place prestigious awards that have led to distribution deals and launched actor’s careers. Some of her well known films include The Believer starring Ryan Gosling, ”Thirteen Conversations About One Thing” starring Matthew McConaughey, “Broken English” starring Parker Posey and Justin Theroux, “Joseph Pulitzer” starring Liev Schreiber, Sebastian Stan, Billy Magnussen, Lauren Ambrose, Rachel Brosnahan and Adam Driver as the Narrator.
Bruce Hall, Assistant Director
Bruce Edward Hall is a New York City-based 1st Assistant Director and Producer with more than 20 years of experience across films, TV, commercials, and music videos. His credits include Jackie, Mudbound, and The Wackness, with projects airing on CNN, History, Hallmark, AMC, Netflix, Hulu, and Discovery. Most recently, he completed Situation #64 with Hari Nef and Louisa Jacobson, and served as co-producer on Influenced, featuring Jill Kargman, David Krumholtz, Justin Bartha, Jason Biggs, and Jessica Capshaw.
Morgan Alexandra Neville, Editor
Morgan Alexandra Neville is a New York City–based film editor known for her strong sense of story, rhythm, and performance. With a career spanning independent film and television, she has worked on projects including Blue Jasmine, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Half Magic, iGilbert, Genius: Aretha, and Oh. What. Fun. Grounded in decades of experience, Morgan brings empathy, nuance, and a deep respect for story to her work, with a particular sensitivity to the emotional complexity that lives between light and shadow.
Gigi Boyle, Line Producer
Gigi A. Boyle is an experienced film production professional with a background as a Line Producer and Unit Production Manager on independent and studio-backed projects. Her work spans multiple genres, including horror and thriller films such as Angie and The Block, romantic comedies like A Nice Girl Like You and Out of Order, and the drama feature The Bait. She specializes in production planning, budgeting, scheduling, and crew management, with experience guiding projects from development through post-production and delivery.
Cameron Adams, Composer
Cameron Adams is a composer and conductor based in Los Angeles, and a 2025 nominee of the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. He composes for film and musical theater, most recently scoring the feature film Snooze directed by David Stanley. Cameron graduated from Yale University in 2024, where he completed the 'Intensive Music Major' and was awarded the Abraham Beekman Cox Prize in composition and the Bach Society Prize. He has since gone on to complete the Screen Scoring Master’s Program at the USC Thornton School of Music.
Scott Winston, Visual Effects
Scott Winston has been killing people, blowing stuff up, and removing zits from actor's faces for 30 years. His visual effects work has appeared in numerous Oscar & Emmy award winning productions. In 2019, Scott moved to Nashville, TN and established Danger Pixel to continue helping filmmakers achieve their vision. His credits include The Greatest Showman, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, The Da Vinci Code, True Detective, & Boardwalk Empire.
Jake White - Colorist
Jake White started at Company 3 in 2016 as a client services representative, where he focused on client and colorist in-session needs for a year. He moved into the feature color department, becoming Senior Colorist Tom Poole’s lead assistant. He then moved into a dailies/Jr colorist role, wherein he colored dailies for films like A Quiet Place: Day One and Netflix’s upcoming feature Rez Ball while also working as an additional colorist on Euphoria (S2). During this time, White was also the lead colorist on projects including Blonde, The Slumber Party, Bleacher’s music video for “Tiny Moves”, as well as the short “Poof”, which competed at Cannes in 2023, and the feature Memes & Nightmares that premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in 2024. Originally from Connecticut, he studied film production at Emerson College in Boston, focusing mainly on cinematography while pursuing studies in analog photography.
Ronnie Q - Behind The Scenes Videographer
Ronnie Q is a New York City award-winning director and filmmaker whose work spans narrative film, branded storytelling, and documentary. Ronnie brings an unconventional perspective to directing, combining a deep interest in human behavior with a cinematic, story-first approach.
His work includes festival-winning short films as well as creative campaigns for national brands, international touring productions, and Fortune 500–adjacent clients. In 2025, Ronnie founded RQ FILMS, a New York City–based studio focused on directing brand films, features, and documentaries while developing original narrative projects. Ronnie’s approach remains simple: compelling stories, cinematic craft, and work built to last.
The Final Fight Cast