Complete:   Cassidy Vs the Toilet Seat   |   Discarded   |   Lust

In Post:   Bittersweet Symphony   |   Dinner Guest   |   The Seer

In Pre-Production:   Judgement   |   Marathon   |   Tomorrow

Burdened with both literal and figurative family baggage, a highly conscientious young woman struggles to accept help from her upbeat roommate after her grandmother’s death.

Starring

Lucía Vico  as  Meg

Stephanie Rodriguez  as  Joy

Crew

Screenplay by Elysia Van Deusen

Director – Laurel Kulow

Producers – Andee Kinzy & H.Cherdon Bedford

Director of Photography – Tyler T. Taliaferro

Assistant Camera – Juliette Roberts

Gaffer/Grip – David Lykes Keenan

Editor/DIT – Danny Baker

Sound Designer – Louis A. Weyrich

Production Designer – April Ruiz

Property Master – Elysia Van Deusen 

Writer’s Statement

by Elysia Van Deusen

I had already been pondering all that we inherit from our parents and ancestors — not just physical items or genetic traits, but intergenerational trauma — when my Producer asked me to write a short script on the theme of giving.

Ah, giving! Who could hate the idea of giving? Me, apparently.

As I tried to approach the topic, my own family baggage around *gifting* kept inserting itself, hijacking everything pleasant I tried to write about giving. My own grandmother tended to give presents that I would have appreciated about four years earlier – a rabbit print outfit when I was eight that four-year-old me would have loved, a knock-off Barbie doll when I was eleven. And there was a catch-22 involved: I had been taught to be honest, AND I was supposed to say nice things about the gift I received and love and cherish it forever.

I was supposed to lie, but also not lie.

And the gift exchange was just the beginning of the burden, because there was always follow-up: I would be asked months later about how much I used and liked the gift, expected to wear the rabbit shirt when Grandma came to visit, and receive new home-sewn outfits for the “Barbie” doll on subsequent holidays.

So I took my own hang-ups around gifting and magnified them, creating the character of Megan who had no context in which to interpret the presents she received. Megan is conscientious to a fault, put-upon by her family, and utterly incapable of tolerating anyone being disappointed in her. She doesn’t have to “open” her inheritance in front of her Nanna, but instead in front of a new-ish roommate who she doesn’t want to burden. Megan can freely express that she doesn’t like the “gift,” but she still isn’t equipped to graciously accept the gift of friendship that Joy is offering to her. To overcome that sense of being misunderstood, of not being known, (because who would give such gifts if they actually knew the recipient?) I had Joy reframe the situation through seeking to know Megan better.

In writing “Discarded” I read up about those who consider giving gifts to be one of their love languages. I’m still reticent to give and receive presents, but I am more aware of what I have inherited and what I want to pass along. I hope this short film inspires the audience to be generous in how they view others.

Production Photos

Cast Bios

Lucía Vico – Meg

Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Lucia is an Austin based trilingual actress, writer and filmmaker. Winner of the coveted “Best Actress” award from Monaco Film Fest in 2019. Other than acting, loves wine and good food, reading, learning, traveling and hiking. Currently rehearsing for a play in Austin, and repped by Pastorini-Bosby.
www.imdb.me/luciavico
@luciavicoofficial

Stephanie Rodriguez – Joy

Stephanie is an actor, producer and production designer recently producing and starring in “Bouquet Toss.” She is currently developing her own short screenplay, “Clump.” Originally from Miami, she embarked on a new chapter in 2020, relocating to Austin, Texas, infusing her work with fresh inspiration, a new perspective and a latin flare.
https://www.stephanierodriguez.design/
@travelsize_

Crew Bios

Elysia Van Deusen – Screenwriter / Property Master

Elysia Van Deusen believes that people need stories and art. A highly creative problem solver with varied experience on full-fledged studio pictures, micro-budget indies, commercials, documentaries, sales videos, reality TV, and live broadcast news, her most recent credits are for writing, directing, and art department.

Laurel Kulow – Director

Laurel is a writer, director, and producer. Her short film “All You Want To Know” was selected for the Portland Film Festival, Massachusetts Independent Film Festival, and Austin Indie Fest where she won Best Director and the film was nominated for Best Short Film. The script for “All You Want To Know” was a finalist for the Atlanta Film Festival and BlueCat Screenplay Competitions. Laurel has produced content for Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, BET and Vice.

laurelkulow.com
@laurelkul on instagram

Andee Kinzy – Producer

Andee Kinzy, an award-winning writer-producer-director and teaching artist from Austin, TX, explores Shakespeare’s plays with hundreds of kids around the world, empowers girls in film, and actively creates new projects. She is currently shopping a dark comedy feature screenplay focused on elder care, aging, and end-of-life autonomy, co-writing a feature horror film script, developing the Shakespeare Pigeon Theatre web series, and planning a multimedia exhibit titled HOT (about menopause). Her favorite herb is cilantro and she has more curiosity than a cat.
https://improvedarts.org/
https://www.instagram.com/andeekinzy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andeekinzy/

Tyler T. Taliaferro – Director of Photography

Tyler T. Taliaferro is a filmmaker from Austin, TX with a background in narrative, commercial, and editorial work. He’s had films featured in Austin Film Festival and SXSW. Tyler currently works in Austin as a freelance director, cinematographer, and editor. He has directed, edited, & shot work for Texas Monthly Magazine, Still Austin Whiskey Co., Rombauer Vineyards, and dozens of other brands across the country.

Website: taliaferro-film.com
Instagram: @tttaliaferro

Louis A. Weyrich – Sound Design

Film director, writer, composer, sound engineer, and sound designer. I started with Austin Film Meet in 2008. I love expressing myself through music and film. If you find me doing something creative, then you will not find me at all.

https://www.themythband.com

Danny Baker – Editor

Hullo, my name is Danny. I have been editing professionally for 4 years now. I have been lucky enough to work on shows for channels and services that include: TLC, A&E, Peacock, Bravo, Netflix, and PBS. If you are needing my services, I can be best reached via email at: danbakerbus@gmail.com.