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Logline

A young mother kidnaps her own daughter down the golden coast while dodging sugar daddies and law enforcement.

Synopsis

A young woman is taking her daughter on a roadtrip to see the poppy bloom in Antelope Valley — at least this is what she claims.

In truth they’re running away. Along their journey, Alex receives menacing phone calls from a looming figure. A loan shark? An ex? A sugar daddy? Strapped for cash, she faces casual indignities at gas stations and rest areas.

While a friend’s place seems at first a refuge, things go awry yet again.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Hannah Marianetti — Writer/Director/Actor
With an expressed focus on intimate relationships, Hannah has contributed to work that has screened at festivals internationally, including Sundance and SXSW, as well as streamed on NETFLIX (Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey), HBO (Year One), and SHOWTIME (Sophia).

Most notably, she was a producer and production designer on Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey on Netflix– a docuseries highlighting women who left the FLDS due to forced underage marriages.

During Covid, Hannah and James Yu made a claustrophobic go-pro documentary Asian Cinema Club, which screened at Fine Arts Film Festival, LA Comedy Festival, Twin Cities Film Festival, and more.

Tchaiko Omawale — Executive Producer
Tchaiko’s filmmaking is influenced by growing up in eight countries by the age of 16. Her impulses for fantasy connect to African indigeneity. Tchaiko’s debut feature film Solace about a Black girl navigating an eating disorder, is streaming on Paramount + and KweliTV. Outreach included a conversation about food, trauma, and the Black body with Roxane Gay.

Tchaiko’s short fantasy film Sita was exhibited in the Project Row House show “Black Women Artists for Black Lives Matter” co-curated by Simone Leigh, the first Black Woman to represent the USA in the Venice Biennale.

Most recently, Tchaiko’s feature-length documentary received the Ford Research and Development Grant. In 2024 she became a recipient of the Creative Capital Award.

Tchaiko created Nomadic Fairy Inc.to platform outsider stories and to produce them with the rigorous artistic sensibility.

Carissa McElravy — Producer
After graduating the prestigious Chapman’s Dodge Film School, Carissa traveled through Bangkok and Berlin becoming the lead singer of a post-punk band the Split Manics.

Unfortunately, her childhood friend, Hannah continues to rope her into the headache of filmmaking.

Aside from working as a production coordinator at the Trailer Park, Carissa continues to surprise audiences all over LA with her vocal talent and unparalleled stage presence.

James Yu — Co-Writer
James is a writer based in Oakland. He holds an MFA from the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, and was an Eleanor Briggs fellow at Macdowell.

Stefan Vleming — Director of Photography
Specializing in commercials, fashion, beauty, and music videos, Stefan is known for working with surrealist visuals and working with artists one step ahead of the zeitgeist.

Some of his clients include: Vogue, McDonald’s, Cardi B, A$AP Rocky, Kali Uchis, Tyler, The Creator, and Noah Cyrus.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.