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Logline

How do we set aside grief when our loved ones need us most? Up for an Oscar, aging actress Margaret Green dons her fur coat while her husband, Harold, dons his bravest face.

Synopsis

We open on Harold Green (70s) rummaging through an armoire to find a fur coat for his Oscar-nominated wife, aging actress Margaret Green (70s). As Margaret puts the finishing touches on her Oscar ensemble—an ornate ball gown, a pearl necklace, silk gloves—she teases Harold for his questionable taste in fur. Margaret is assertive and quick-witted, but Harold can see through her mask of confidence. He knows that above all else, she is desperate to win tonight. Sensing her anxiety, Harold holds his wife tenderly, and it’s in his loving arms where Margaret’s armor cracks and she admits a difficult truth: that she needs to win because if she doesn’t, she fears she’ll be forgotten.

Guilt washes over Harold’s face as he holds back a painful truth: Margaret is not nominated for an Oscar, nor is she attending the Oscars at all. She’s sick, her memory fading, her days of glory behind her. We realize that all along, Harold, with quiet devotion, has simply let Margaret live in her cherished past. Eventually, Margaret leaves and Harold sits alone in the room. His own armor cracks and grief engulfs him as he stares longingly at a film poster of a younger Margaret.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Sarah Showich — Director
Sarah Showich (they/them) is a Lebanese-Jewish director for the stage and screen. As a recent graduate of USC’s school of Dramatic and Cinematic Arts, their work centers around work with character as a predominant element, exploring the impact of society, how it shapes us, and what more we can ask of ourselves and those around us. They are currently assistant directing Tales of the Trancestors: The Divine with Celebration Theatre directed by Nico Pang. Other recent stage credits include being a directing observer with Center Theater Group and Deaf West’s production of American Idiot directed by Snehal Desai and directing a staged reading of Buck v. Bell with Eight Ball Theatre Company. For the Screen, they previously directed an indie short film called Me & You which premiered at Austin Micro Film Festival and won Best Relationship Drama.

Farah Hosseini — Writer
Farah Hosseini (she/her) is an Afghan-American actor and screenwriter based in Los Angeles. She is currently in her last year as a Theatre BA undergrad at the University of Southern California. Previously, she starred in USC’s main stage production of Ike Holter’s Hit the Wall and their production of Machinal by Sophie Treadwell. Whether on the stage or the page, she’s passionate about telling deeply personal stories. She writes knowing that stories heal. This is her debut project as a screenwriter.

Charlie McCollum — Producer
Charlie McCollum is a producer and director based in New York City. At the core of his filmmaking ethos is an emphasis on authentic storytelling executed in forms not seen before. His approach to producing revolves around hands-on collaboration and team building-– taking immense pride in overseeing a project from start to finish through strong partnerships. As a director and writer himself, he is a second set of eyes for creatives to bounce their boldest ideas off of. Recent credits include Idlewild, Sultana, Blue, and I Don’t Know What I’m Doing Here.

Scott Brian — Producer
Scott Brian is a producer and director based in New York City and Los Angeles. He is dedicated to innovating the way people engage with and create the arts, which is highlighted through his passion for collaborative storytelling. With a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Southern California in Theatre, Scott has gained a panoramic understanding of the creative and logistical facets of the entertainment industry. Most recently, he directed an original narrative short film, Playthings, and produced live events, House of Harmony, Artscape, and USC Sings: Voz Latina.

Ruben Plascencia — Director of Photography
Ruben Plascencia is a first generation Mexican-American cinematographer based in Los Angeles, CA. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Ruben was able to find his passion for filmmaking at a young age and pursued his education with a Bachelor’s degree in Film Production at the University of Southern California. Currently, he works as a freelance DoP in LA.

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Contact

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