Wake
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama
We have made a great "short" that we feel will do well on the festival circuit. But we need help in getting out to festivals.
Wake
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama

2 Campaigns | New Jersey, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $860 for festivals. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
14 supporters | followers
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We have made a great "short" that we feel will do well on the festival circuit. But we need help in getting out to festivals.
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
The Story
Synopsis: At a funeral home in the midwest, estranged son Charlie is in town from California to attend his father's funeral. Meanwhile, Charlie's mother, Bea, is trying to cope with the loss of her husband who meant the world to her. During the course of the afternoon, Charlie reveals his anger and anguish toward his father, while Bea travels a road of denial, fantasy & wonder. Will the discussions of the afternoon strengthen the relationship between mother and son? Or will it drive them further apart? This dark one-act play adapted for film features two people who are not only separated by distance, but also by a haunted past.
Backstory: Barb asked her friend Mark to write her a two person scene for her scene-study class. When she & Billy did the scene in class, the teacher urged them to film it. They were able to crowdfund enough money from the 1st Kickstarter to put together an incredible team, resulting in a great short film. The entire team is very proud of it and wants to submit it into film festivals.
About This Team
KRISTEN KRESS PARNESS
DIRECTOR
Kristen Kress Parness is an award-winning writer & director, whose most recent professional experience includes a trio of commercials for the alternative online apparel company, RageOn!, a festival-winning short, Super Grannies Bridge Club, about a team of superhero grandmas told from the point of view of a 9-year-old boy, and a host of others short films, television programs, and feature films. After completing her Masters of Fine Arts in Directing at the Actors Studio in 2014, Kristen spent a year in Los Angeles working on the Warner Brothers lot, learning about various aspects of production. Now back on the east coast, she directs in conjunction with her production company, Brain Fry Productions, and is the Coordinator of Student Affairs and director for the S!NG program at the Bronx High School of Science.
MARK AMENTA
WRITER
Mark Amenta has been involved with acting, directing, playwriting, and instructing in Minneapolis, Chicago, and West Michigan. He is the author and lyricist of twelve children’s musicals, has written several children’s plays, and many one-acts. The film WAKE (previously titled Julie) was originally written as a 10-minute play and performed by Barbara Miluski in New York City. Mark has acted in Minneapolis, Chicago, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has taught acting at Hope College and Grand Rapids Community College. He has directed plays at both colleges as well as community theaters in Michigan and Chicago.
JUSTIN ZVERIN
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Justin Zverin is a cinematographer and camera operator, born and raised in New York City. Living in the borough of Queens for most of his life, he began his production career by first graduating from Queens College, then progressing to shoot short films and commercials. He is full-time in the camera department of the hit television show, Law & Order SVU, and his own projects include the comedy web-series "So, Then Tell Me," multiple commercials for the online apparel company, Rage-On!, numerous music videos and theatrical performances, as well as several short films, including The Waiter & The Park, directed by Emmy-award winner Lee Percy. It is no surprise that he and WAKE director, Kristen Kress Parness, have previously worked on several successful projects together. One of his most treasured experiences has been traveling to Russia to film a short which he produced, directed, shot, and edited himself, titled The Oak is Old, But the Root Is Fresh.
DAVID STOTT
EDITOR
David Stott is an award-winning film editor with twenty years' experience serving clients like A&E, History, Visa, Sam Adams, IFC, MIT and Harvard University. He is a guest teaching artist at Manhattan Theatre Club, a New York City Producer for the 48-Hour Film Project and has served on the Board of Advisors for the University of North Carolina's Chapel Hill Communications Department. An established international documentarian, David was hired to complete a documentary series for the United Nations and the World Bank showcasing human rights initiatives in Nigeria, Peru and the Philippines. His first narrative feature, the kid-friendly sports comedy Coach of the Year was released in 2016 and has been described as "theBad News Bears, underwater." COTY is currently touring the festival circuit. David and WAKE director, Kristen Kress Parness, have been working together in various production capacities since 2010.
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
The Story
Synopsis: At a funeral home in the midwest, estranged son Charlie is in town from California to attend his father's funeral. Meanwhile, Charlie's mother, Bea, is trying to cope with the loss of her husband who meant the world to her. During the course of the afternoon, Charlie reveals his anger and anguish toward his father, while Bea travels a road of denial, fantasy & wonder. Will the discussions of the afternoon strengthen the relationship between mother and son? Or will it drive them further apart? This dark one-act play adapted for film features two people who are not only separated by distance, but also by a haunted past.
Backstory: Barb asked her friend Mark to write her a two person scene for her scene-study class. When she & Billy did the scene in class, the teacher urged them to film it. They were able to crowdfund enough money from the 1st Kickstarter to put together an incredible team, resulting in a great short film. The entire team is very proud of it and wants to submit it into film festivals.
About This Team
KRISTEN KRESS PARNESS
DIRECTOR
Kristen Kress Parness is an award-winning writer & director, whose most recent professional experience includes a trio of commercials for the alternative online apparel company, RageOn!, a festival-winning short, Super Grannies Bridge Club, about a team of superhero grandmas told from the point of view of a 9-year-old boy, and a host of others short films, television programs, and feature films. After completing her Masters of Fine Arts in Directing at the Actors Studio in 2014, Kristen spent a year in Los Angeles working on the Warner Brothers lot, learning about various aspects of production. Now back on the east coast, she directs in conjunction with her production company, Brain Fry Productions, and is the Coordinator of Student Affairs and director for the S!NG program at the Bronx High School of Science.
MARK AMENTA
WRITER
Mark Amenta has been involved with acting, directing, playwriting, and instructing in Minneapolis, Chicago, and West Michigan. He is the author and lyricist of twelve children’s musicals, has written several children’s plays, and many one-acts. The film WAKE (previously titled Julie) was originally written as a 10-minute play and performed by Barbara Miluski in New York City. Mark has acted in Minneapolis, Chicago, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has taught acting at Hope College and Grand Rapids Community College. He has directed plays at both colleges as well as community theaters in Michigan and Chicago.
JUSTIN ZVERIN
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Justin Zverin is a cinematographer and camera operator, born and raised in New York City. Living in the borough of Queens for most of his life, he began his production career by first graduating from Queens College, then progressing to shoot short films and commercials. He is full-time in the camera department of the hit television show, Law & Order SVU, and his own projects include the comedy web-series "So, Then Tell Me," multiple commercials for the online apparel company, Rage-On!, numerous music videos and theatrical performances, as well as several short films, including The Waiter & The Park, directed by Emmy-award winner Lee Percy. It is no surprise that he and WAKE director, Kristen Kress Parness, have previously worked on several successful projects together. One of his most treasured experiences has been traveling to Russia to film a short which he produced, directed, shot, and edited himself, titled The Oak is Old, But the Root Is Fresh.
DAVID STOTT
EDITOR
David Stott is an award-winning film editor with twenty years' experience serving clients like A&E, History, Visa, Sam Adams, IFC, MIT and Harvard University. He is a guest teaching artist at Manhattan Theatre Club, a New York City Producer for the 48-Hour Film Project and has served on the Board of Advisors for the University of North Carolina's Chapel Hill Communications Department. An established international documentarian, David was hired to complete a documentary series for the United Nations and the World Bank showcasing human rights initiatives in Nigeria, Peru and the Philippines. His first narrative feature, the kid-friendly sports comedy Coach of the Year was released in 2016 and has been described as "theBad News Bears, underwater." COTY is currently touring the festival circuit. David and WAKE director, Kristen Kress Parness, have been working together in various production capacities since 2010.