Hollow Hopscotch plays at The Esquire

Get tickets to Camilo Idrobo’s Hollow Hopscotch and Mosaic.

Hollow Hopscotch is a narrative short that explores two conflicting families in contemporary America, one forcibly separated and the other responsible for that separation, and many others.

Mosaic is a documentary feature shot at Aiken High School, where students from immigrant and refugee backgrounds are assigned a unique project: to write and illustrate a memoir about their own lives.

The proceeds from the ticket sales will entirely benefit the LULAC Ohio Educational Foundation Scholarships, seeking to expand the opportunities for Latin American professionals in the region.

The audience will be invited to participate in the filmmaking process by having a conversation with the director and providing feedback on the films prior to their completion and release in festivals.

Hollow Hopscotch wraps production!

Camilo Idrobo’s Hollow Hopscotch wrapped production yesterday!

This dark comedy follows Officer Matzke he as tries to celebrate his acquittal of torture charges with his family. In its production, Hollow Hopscotch was inspired by the Czech New Wave and the directing techniques of the Group Theatre.

I was honored to serve as producer, acting coach, and to share a story by credit with Camilo.

We hope to see you at the premiere in May!

A Guest Letter on Third Places, Democracy, and Art

Emily Cherkin, one of America’s brightest lights on protecting childhood from Big Tech, asked me to write a guest essay on her Substack on democracy and art. It was an honor:

If Democracy Dies in Darkness, Where Will We Find the Light? A Guest Letter on Third Places, Democracy, and Art

Cincinnati Writers Group is "Best of Cincinnati"

From Cincinnati Magazine:

“Your Great American Novel isn’t going to write itself so start putting pen to paper with the Cincinnati Writers Group. Meeting twice a week in Clifton, CWG uses the “pomodoro technique,” which involves 20-minute writing sprints with five-minute breaks in between. The free meetup is for those who prefer a more communal writing experience as opposed to the tortured solitary one the art form is typically known for. Sign up for the newsletter to get all of the details about the group’s comings and goings.”

The Fits 10th Anniversary Screening

I was a pleasure and honor to join a panel hosted by Cindependent Film’s founder, Allyson West, with Royalty Hightower (The Fits’ Star) and Margaret McGurk (WIF Cincinnati). Royalty shouldered every scene in The Fits with her performance when she was 10 years old. Anna Rose Holmer’s film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 2015.

The Fits, in all its mystery, held the same magic for this audience that it did at its premiere. We had a lively discussion about its meaning and impact after the screening. Especial thanks to Jonny Shenk for getting everyone together.

Left to right: Jonny Shenk, Hal Carlton-Ford, Royalty Hightower, Allyson West, and Margaret McGurk.

"Dads." Wraps!

A new film directed by myself and written, produced by and starring Chris Chirdon has wrapped.

“Dads.” is a serious comedy about two new dads — and actors — coping with their new ‘gig’ as stay at home dads for their toddlers. How can they be role models for their children when their dads were absentee and the only men they’re “representing” on TV are small roles such as ‘Redneck 3’ and ‘KKK Member 5’?

Cincinnati Writers Group begins!

Tonight is the first meeting of the Cincinnati Writers Group!

CWG will hold weekly meetings at the Upside Brew. This is a space for writers to write, making the sometimes solitary practice of writing communal and joyful. Come all you poets, playwrights, screenwriters, novelists, essayists! Writers of any kind are welcome!

See complete details here.

Premiere of Better at Work with Liz Animation

After a long gestation, the animated webseries Better at Work with Liz is completed! Linked here.

I was honored to write and direct this.

The Chelsea Repertory's One Act Festival begins tomorrow!

Summerfest ‘23 is here! Plays developed at the Chelsea Repertory Lab premiere alongside additional original works from alumni of The Acting Studio. Please join us! Ticketing and times can be found here.

IDC’s Consent Forward Artist program completed!

I have completed my training as a Consent Forward Artist with Intimacy Directors & Coordinators!

For those that haven’t heard of IDC: they work to create a culture of consent in which intimate stories can be told with safety and artistry. I first became aware of them when I read about their advocacy on HBO’s The Deuce.

I always want to make my sets as safe as possible, so that all cast and crew can take artistic risks collaboratively and consensually. If your work takes your collaborators to vulnerable places, I encourage you to add their methods to your practice.