January 2025 - The script has received the "Official Selection" in part of Short Sweet Film Festival 2025, scheduled from February 28 to March 2, in Cleveland, OH.
December 2024 - Golden Pen Script Awards named the script as Best Short Screenplay in their 8th Edition season.
October 2024: New Jersey Film Awards has named the script as "best short screenplay" for September. Please click the link and the plus sign in September to expand
Hollywood International Golden Age named the script (previously known as Whisper of Hope" as "best unproduced short script" for August..
Austin International Arts Festival has placed the script as a Semi-Finalist.
September 2024: The script got a Semi-Finalist selections, from Arthouse Festival of Beverly Hills, Nashville Independent Filmmakers Festival, and Hollywood International Golden Age Festival
August 2024 - The script received the official selection from Hollywood Gold Awards
Starting a new chapter in life can indeed be both exciting and challenging. For Sharon, anticipating the meeting with her husband's daughter, Faith, likely carried a mix of hopes and uncertainties. The reality of blending families can be far more complex than imagined, with acceptance and adjustment especially when going from no children to suddenly being a stepmom.
January 2025: The title is getting changed soon. It will be The Step Between Us.
October 2024: When I started out with the script in the spring of 2024, the title was Whisper of Hope. The idea behind this script came from a fav movie of mine 1998's "Stepmom" starring Julia Robert, Susan Sarandon, Jena Malone, Ed Harris. I saw the connection (or not) between the stepmom (Julia's role) and her to be stepdaughter (Jenna's role).
The first few versions were quickly written & re-written within a month. Before the summer I only submitted to 6 festivals to test it out and get the feeling. The response was good. Since August 2024 a friend Michael Reyes read and suggested where to make changes. He and I went through a few versions. At that time with Michael's suggestion the title was changed to Embracing Change.
CHARACTER: SHARON
ALYA LEI is an actor (SAG-AFTRA), improviser, audiobook narrator and podcast host, & is repped by UIA Talent in New York city.
Alya’s film & TV credits include: 13 Reasons Why (Netflix), Lucifer (FOX) and Barry (HBO). Her recent lead role in “Laughing Again” has been accepted into multiple film festivals in the U.S., as
CHARACTER: SHARON
ALYA LEI is an actor (SAG-AFTRA), improviser, audiobook narrator and podcast host, & is repped by UIA Talent in New York city.
Alya’s film & TV credits include: 13 Reasons Why (Netflix), Lucifer (FOX) and Barry (HBO). Her recent lead role in “Laughing Again” has been accepted into multiple film festivals in the U.S., as well as internationally.
Alya was a member (and producer) of "FreeFall International" Improv troupe - an international group of actors and creators, established during the pandemic. Freefall International performed live, unscripted shows on zoom for audiences all around the world, connecting with joy, tears and laughter, by recognizing everyone's shared humanity.
CHARACTER: FAITH
JOY ANNA MACMAHON is a student in the Baltimore/Washington, DC area. She enjoys performing in local theatre productions and hopes to study theatre in college. She is delighted to play Faith in the upcoming short film The Step Between Us.
CHARACTER: LILY
Suzanne Mun is a Korean-American actor based in Northern Virginia, with a background in martial arts and digital marketing. She enjoys collaborating with filmmakers who are passionate about creating positive change in their communities and sharing meaningful stories through film.
After work, Suzanne can be found hanging
CHARACTER: LILY
Suzanne Mun is a Korean-American actor based in Northern Virginia, with a background in martial arts and digital marketing. She enjoys collaborating with filmmakers who are passionate about creating positive change in their communities and sharing meaningful stories through film.
After work, Suzanne can be found hanging out with her two pups, exploring new coffee shops, or at the climbing gym. She is excited to work with Bryan on his upcoming film, The Step Between Us.
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY & EDITOR
Antonio LaGamba is a skilled filmmaker and Director of Photography based in Philadelphia, PA.
With a strong background in documentary cinematography and video production, Antonio brings a keen eye for storytelling and visual composition to every project. As the owner of a successful video production company
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY & EDITOR
Antonio LaGamba is a skilled filmmaker and Director of Photography based in Philadelphia, PA.
With a strong background in documentary cinematography and video production, Antonio brings a keen eye for storytelling and visual composition to every project. As the owner of a successful video production company, He has worked on a diverse range of projects, from documentaries, short films and corporate films to creative storytelling pieces.
Passionate about capturing authentic moments and compelling narratives, Antonio blends technical expertise with artistic vision to create visually stunning and emotionally resonant films.
RECORDING ARTIST
Farrah Mechael is a professional recording artist who sings passionately from her heart and soul. "Singing is in my blood; singing is programmed into my DNA."
Farrah’s cinematic discography credits top producers and songwriters. Her recent single "Burning" topped independent radio charts at # 1 and placed # 21 on Top 40 rad
RECORDING ARTIST
Farrah Mechael is a professional recording artist who sings passionately from her heart and soul. "Singing is in my blood; singing is programmed into my DNA."
Farrah’s cinematic discography credits top producers and songwriters. Her recent single "Burning" topped independent radio charts at # 1 and placed # 21 on Top 40 radio charts among pop artists like Beyonce and Lady Gaga. She has performed her music as the opening act for worldwide artists, such as Ariana Grande, Marshmello, and Shawn Mendes, at national tours and events like iHeartRadio’s Wango Tango. She was Bud Light sponsored in 2019 for a Chris Brown & Tory Lanez opening show. She embarked on a successful 16-city US tour for her EP "Farrah Please." Her powerhouse voice is the highlight of her performances, which draw in and solidify consistent, dedicated fans.
In Los Angeles, she has performed at venues such as Banc of California Stadium, The Roxy, The Ivy, LA Fashion Week, Vicky's (now closed due to Covid), and more. Additionally, Farrah has performed at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, the Gramercy Theater in New York, the Fillmore in New Jersey, House of Blues San Diego, Cornerstone in San Francisco, the Detroit Opera House, and Comerica Park in Detroit among multiple other hot spots.
Born in Boston, raised in Detroit, and living in Los Angeles, Farrah is trained in multiple genres. She began singing opera, then ventured into jazz, gospel, pop, urban, and eventually developed her own cultural, worldwide, and original sound. Farrah makes her music to spread freedom and encourage self-expression, releasing her fans from the stress of reality with her inspiring words and powerful vocals. Farrah has multiple upcoming projects up her sleeve.
"Not only do I want my music to inspire you, I want it to take you back to a special time in your life. I want you to feel deeply and love passionately; I want my music to set you free." Farrah Mechael
SONGWRITER
Tamara Mechael is a professional songwriter and published author with over ten years of experience in the music industry. She shares credits on songs with top producers and songwriters, many of which have been performed among the likes of worldwide artists, such as Chris Brown and Ariana Grande, and at national tours and events
SONGWRITER
Tamara Mechael is a professional songwriter and published author with over ten years of experience in the music industry. She shares credits on songs with top producers and songwriters, many of which have been performed among the likes of worldwide artists, such as Chris Brown and Ariana Grande, and at national tours and events such as iHeartRadio’s Wango Tango. Single "Burning" performed by artist/her sister Farrah Mechael reached #1 on New Music Weekly nationwide radio charts for independent artists and #21 on nationwide radio Top 40 charts, placed between songs by notable pop artists including Beyonce and Lady Gaga. Multiple songs written by Tamara have charted organically on iTunes Top 40 all over the world, including countries such as Greece and Bahrain.
Tamara writes from her soul for people to benefit and relate. Tamara aims to be the source of healing and inspiration for those who look to music and art to escape. She has nothing less than a passion for words, and her legacy will live through all people she affects through her compositions. Together with her sister, they have created a catalog of high-quality records in collaboration with world class producers, engineers, and songwriters.
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