Story

Our story begins and ends in the Boxworth family mansion.  Persephone Boxworth, the current occupant, is a tortured woman plagued by a family curse.  She has the body of a forty-something woman, but the soul of someone much older.  She is not what she appears to be.  Nothing in this dilapidated place is.  This house holds centuries of family secrets and Persephone knows them all.  Her ancestors trapped her in the mansion decades ago and now she seeks freedom from this prison.  Unfortunately, she can’t just leave; someone must replace her.   But, who?  Persephone is billionaire heiress with no heirs of her own.

Enter the Boxworth consanguinity.  Persephone has invited several distant relatives to a weekend reunion to find her successor.  The choice will not be easy as they must willingly participate.  Persephone is determined to get what she wants.  She will use their greed and secrets against them.  Some will refuse, and some will do almost anything to win the prize.  In a battle for control of the family fortune, the Boxworth’s will discover secrets, test their resolve, experience psychological and physical torture, and face possible death.   One by one, family members will fall until there is only one left- Persephone’s replacement and the (new) Executor.

The Team

Producer/Writer/Director: Valerie Resciniti

Valerie is an MFA Directing student at Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles.  She has been working toward completing this program since 2021 and is finally at the end of the road.  Valerie has a long career in corporate video and photography production.  She has worked for the U.S. Military, Department of the Army, and Department of Defense.  She left government service to pursue a narrative storytelling career.  She has produced and directed several short films and is ready to take this next step.  She is also a current MBA candidate focused on entertainment studies and entrepreneurship.

Producer- Hailee Lipscomb 

Hailee Lipscomb is a classically trained actor and singer from San Francisco, CA. When she isn’t developing a new feature film, she can be found singing Jazzy Folk songs in clubs around Los Angeles, while concurrently shredding on the harmonica.

She graduated from Cal State Northridge with a B.A. in Film and Television Production. With her extensive experience both behind the scenes and in front of the camera, Hailee is the perfect right-hand to help guide this project to the end.

Director of Photography: Tim Yao

Tim is a freelance director, cinematographer, and editor in Los Angeles.  He has worked in film and Television production for more than a decade, and has produced/written/directed/filmed several short-form projects both non-fiction and fiction.  Tim holds a BA in Communications from Masters College, and is currently serving in the Army Reserve as a producer of Army marketing and advertising.  Tim has the exact amount of experience and background to head the cinematography department on this project.

Why We Need You & What You Get

Filmmaking is an expensive endeavor.  It requires dedicated, skilled people and special equipment and design to bring all the elements together.  Any money we receive will go entirely toward funding the items necessary to complete our thesis project and will not be used for any other purposes.  We will be filming on location at a MSMU Los Angeles campus. 

Specific film expenses include:

• Salaries for Cast and Crew
• Filming days meals and snacks for Cast and Crew
• Production Design- set decoration and props
• Wardrobe and Costumes
• Equipment Rental
• Travel and lodging for out-of-town cast/crew
• Postproduction services

Our goal is simple, create an entertaining feature film for our supporters to enjoy.  In addition, backers may receive small tokens of appreciation such as private screenings or autographed memorabilia.  Please review the perks for more details. 

The Impact

One of the greatest challenges for any filmmaker is completing a feature film.  It is particularly challenging for a student, which is why most students do not attempt a feature film.  We have taken this challenge head on by electing to present a feature film thesis project.  Though the main reason for this project is to satisfy a degree requirement, there is a greater purpose.  Completing a feature film will validate our skills as a storytellers, and realize the dream to make a feature-length movie. Our hope is that by completing this project we will inspire other student filmmakers to challenge themselves and reach great heights.  

Our team is in the final phases of preparation.  We have locations locked, some cast, crew, and equipment in place.  We are currently casting our final characters, completing script rewrites, developing cinematography and interior design plans, and hunting for costumes.  April will be a hectic, fast-paced month, but we will not rest until we’re ready to roll cameras.  We are 80% there but need the generosity and support of others to push us past the finish line.  That is where you come in.

Other Ways You Can Help

We understand that some people just can’t contribute financially, but would still like to support this project.  Sharing our campaign link with friends and family would help immensely.  Every little bit counts and we truly appreciate your support.