2020/2021 Winners & Shortlists

Write a short summary of what happens in the film

We needed people whose distinguishable trait was evident to viewers just by looking at them; the ‘what you see is what you get’ type. Cast members were carefully curated not only to fit an archetype but also to best portray a key person in Chris’s life. The loving mother, the curios child, the creepy nosy neighbor, the self-indulgent wife, the prejudiced boss and the caring best friend. What better place to look than around? We scouted Chris’s neighborhood for people with real distinguishable faces. We coached them through the process in our search for authenticity. It’s worth noting that we found a hidden gem in Chris’s actual mom. Her delivery was so sincere because she sang towards the end of the film Chris’s favorite lullaby when he was a baby. And most importantly, the real Chris Rowland,our hero, was given the space to deliver his story in his own persona.