Echo Chamber: DWFLA - Katie’s Mom
Today we look at one of the final films to screen at Dances With Films (22nd June - 2nd July 2023) for our @EchoChamberFP coverage!
Putting a spin on the troupe of old guy with younger woman, this new film aims to explore different possibilities, whilst still bringing the laughs. We then are joined by the forces of nature behind everything, who stuck to their guns and got their film made!!!
'Katie’s Mom' is directed by Tyrrell Shaffner, who co-wrote with Meryl Branch-McTiernan. Nancy Rosenfeld (Dina Meyer), a nurturing mom and recent divorcée, whose beloved Jewish/Christmas mashup holiday celebration with her adult children is derailed when she falls for Alex Rojas (Aaron Dominguez), her daughter's (Julia Tolchin) charming new boyfriend. Their electrifying affair upends her status quo and sets her on a path to becoming the woman she was meant to be.
Watch the conversation: HERE!
Today we have:
Katie’s Mom - Poster
Katie’s Mom
Watch Review: Here.
Dances With Films
Sunday, 2nd July 2023 at 14:45pm World Premiere
TCL Chinese 6 Theatres
Buy Tickets: Here.
Director: Tyrrell Shaffner
Cast: Dina Meyer, Aaron Dominguez, Julia Tolchin, Shannon Dee, Clara York, Lexie Stevenson, Jason Wiles, Colin Bates, Christine Weatherup, Rib Hillis
Credit: Ex Files Productions
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Running Time: 113 min
Cert: 15
Trailer: Here.
Website: Here.
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @katies_mom_movie
Watch the conversation: HERE!
Tyrrell Shaffner
Tyrrell Shaffner
Writer, Director, Producer
Tyrrell moved around a lot as a child, living in four states and in England before she was thirteenyears old. Always the tallest girl in school--with frizzy hair and freckles--she cracked jokes to survive her vagabond adolescence.
As a filmmaker, she explores being an outsider from a female point of view.Tyrrell moved to Los Angelesto attend USC. Her comedic undergraduate thesis film”Different”played at festivals around the globe and won the Rhode Island International Film Festival Grand Prize for Student Film.
Tyrrell then worked as a staff director/producer for Oscar - winning producer Rob Fried and his digital channel, Feeln (later acquired by Hallmark.) She served in the same role for Director Jon Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”) and his premium Google Channel, DS2DIO. A member of the PGA New Media Council, Tyrrell has since crafted hundreds of pieces of short form content for companies like Crypt TV, Alpine Labs, Lionsgate and Tongal.
In 2020, Tyrrell received her MFA in Screenwriting from UCLA, where she was awarded the George Burns and Gracie Allen Fellowship in Comedy. "Katie's Mom" is her feature film directorial debut.
Follow Tyrrell via:
IMDb: Here.
Linkedin: Here.
Website: Here.
Twitter: @Tyrrell323
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @tyrrell323
YouTube: Here.
Frank A Leon
Meryl Branch-McTiernan
Producer, Writer, Additional Crew
Meryl Branch-McTiernan is a screenwriter, fiction writer, essayist and blogger for Huffington Post. Her teleplays have been quarter-finalists in the Austin, Final Draft and Sundance screenplay competitions. Her fiction has been featured in “The Brooklyn Rail” and on the podcast, “Nobody Reads Short Stories.” Her comedic monologues were published in the book, "Men's Comedic Monologues that are Actually Funny." She teaches Creative Writing and Screenwriting at Stony Brook University. She has been awarded the Joseph Kelly and the Sally Martell Prizes. She received her BS from Syracuse University in Television, Radio and Film and her MFA in Creative Writing and Literature from Stony Brook University.
Follow Meryl via:
IMDb: Here.
Linkedin: Here.
Twitter: @meryl_branch
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @outerboroqn
Dances With Films - Poster
26th Dances With Films
Dances With Films (DWF:LA & DWF:NYC), now in its 26th year, champions the unflinching spirit at the very core of the independent film scene. While the vast majority of film fests rely heavily on celebrity, we have relied on the innovation, talent, creativity and sweat equity that revolutionized the entertainment industry. And that reliance continues to prove successful with alumni moving on to write, direct and produce celebrity-studded vehicles, star in blockbuster movies and television series, produce multi-million dollar films and create hit TV shows. Oh…. and we even have several OSCAR® nominees… In a world of homogenized, formulaic film festivals, DWF:LA continues to defy the rules.
Film Information: Here.
Film Programme & Tickets: Here.
Panel + Special Events: Here.
Website: Here.
Twitter: @danceswithfilms
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @danceswithfilms
*(Music)
'I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You' by Black Kids - 2008