The Red Lotus

Michelle drags her sister Debbie to a yoga retreat only to reveal that there is no retreat, but an underground abortion clinic. Michelle needs Debbie support, and they are no longer legal.

  • Shara Ashley Zeiger
    Writer
    Shara is the playwright behind "Roughly Speaking" her critically acclaimed play with rap about the homeless she was also in that ran in NYC Fall 2016. It was hailed by Broadwaybox as one of the top 6 plays to see after the election (included with Hamilton & Sweat) and one of the top 6 Off-Broadway shows to see with a limited run by Playbill. He play "The Dark Place" was part of the Emerging Artist Theater's New Works Festival in 2014. She is also the screenwriter behind shorts "Tupperware Party" (produced by Orange is the New Black's Miriam Morales), "JOE." ( Sedona International Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival) and "Faustess" (The Grove Film Festival & New Filmmakers Festival NY). Shara devises new works with students through The Queens Theatre, and as a company member with Hivemind Collective. She's a reader for The O'Neill Theater Center's National Playwrights Conference, and sits on the board for NY's Educational Theater Association.
  • Shara Ashley Zeiger
    Producer
    She is the founding artistic director of The Platform Group in NYC where she produces her work in film and Off-Broadway theatre.
  • Paula Rossman
    Producer
    Wall is the Way: Works, Evil Rising, The Other Side
  • Shara Ashley Zeiger
    Key Cast
    Shara Ashley Zeiger is a working actor/writer and producer from Philadelphia residing in NYC. As a performer Shara's done work on camera with ABC, MTV, VH1, Spike TV, National geographic, CollegeHumor, and with many festival running films including "Aphasia" (Tribeca/Cannes/Palm Springs) "Gasp!" (Claremont-Ferrand, Chicago International Film Festival), "High Deny" (Buffalo Niagra Film Festival), and "Girl Clown" (Big Apple Film Festival) and upcoming "Weight" (starring Kathy Najimy & Randy Quaid). She recently had roles on the new Tracy Morgan Show "The Last O.G." on TBS and on "Bull" on CBS. Shara was in the National Tour of Imaginary Invalid, and has worked at many theaters Off-Broadway and regionally. Shara is alum of Ithaca College, The O'neill Center's National Theater Institute, The Upright Citizens Bridage, Studio 5, and AGR. She is a proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA & The Dramatists Guild.
  • Jennifer Plotzke
    Key Cast
    Originally from the Windy City, Jennifer grew up on stage and studied theatre and performance in Chicago before packing up and heading east to make her way into film and television. In the past year, she has completed work on seven independent films including The Red Lotus, Uber Oracle and Uneffable. Prior to that, she performed at The PIT as ‘Bertha’ in Actors and Aliens and as 'Gertrude' in Shakesday with Classics on the Rocks. Other favorite roles include ‘Belinda’ in Noises Off, ‘Kate’ in Taming of the Shrew and ‘The Messenger’ in Medea. Jennifer has appeared in several other film projects, including La Vida Inesperada (director Jorge Torregrossa) and High Summer (director Connor Hickey) as well as two new web series, “Pageant Pom Mom” and “Joe Knows Best.”
  • Walker Hare
    Key Cast
    TV: Braindead, The Blacklist, Billions, Madam Secretary and Limitless. Film: The Red Lotus, Lawless Frontier, Sin Matador, The Naturalist, the upcoming feature Even After Everything and The Crying Man, a thriller he also wrote. He has written several short films, features and TV pilots. His feature film, THORP, was a finalist for 7k Films Production Grant. The Crying Man was a semi-finalist for Screencraft’s Inaugural Cinematic Short Story Contest and is currently a Quarter-Finalist for Script Pipeline’s feature contest. He has directed short films and spec commercials. Education: MFA - UCSD
  • Paula Rossman
    Key Cast
    Paula has worked professionally as an actor, director and producer for over 35 years. Since moving to NYC over five years ago, she has continued following her passion for both new play development and improvisation – performing for Samuel French OOB Short Play Festival and onstage at Upright Citizens Brigade. Paula has also worked on film sets in various production capacities, and been seen in several television shows, nearly a dozen short films, five new web series, and roles in twoindependent films (Landing Up and Women and Sometimes Men,) slated for release later this year. Under her newly-formed LLC, Wall is the Way: Works, Paula has recently produced and/or directed several short films, currently making the rounds on the film festival circuit: a satirical comedy, The Other Side, a horror/psychological thriller, Evil Rising, and the soon-to-be released issue-driven drama, The Red Lotus. A proud member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA.
  • Dani Baum
    Key Cast
    Bull (CBS), "Making The Day" (with Dan Fogler), "Weight" (with Kathy Najimy)
  • Jared P Smith
    Key Cast
    A Beautiful Distraction, The Deuce (HBO)
  • Jen Lyon
    Key Cast
    I'm Listening
  • Jessica Alexandra Green
    Director
    Spilt Milk, The Prime, Mindful, The Light Watcher, Cartographer (editor), Drumpf (editor), Better Dead than Red
  • Mike Magilnick
    Cinematographer
    Mike Magilnick is a New England based Cinematographer with Watching Earth Productions. His dedication to the craft and his ability to use light and the camera to tell a story has been a contributing factor to many award winning works. His specialty is narrative short and long format production. Some of his note worthy work includes "The Cobblestone Corridor", "The Wrong Todd", "Diner à Montpellier", "Beauty in the Breakdown", "Mr. Ready", and "Marcus and the Dead Pet".
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Science Fiction
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 40 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Golden Door International Film Festival
    Jersey City, NJ
    United States
    September 20, 2018
    New Jersey
    Nominated Alice Guy-Blaché Women in Cinema Award
  • Awareness Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    October 7, 2018
    West Coast Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Borrego Springs Film Festival
    Borrego Springs, CA
    United States
    January 22, 2019
    TBD
Director Biography - Jessica Alexandra Green

Jessica Green, originally from Chicago, has a BA in Theatre from Florida State, and has spent time working in both Los Angeles and New York. She has directed the shorts "The Red Lotus", "Spilt Milk", "The Prime", "Mindful", "The Light Watcher", "Better Dead than Red", and edited "The Cartographer" (LIFFE), and "Drumpf", and "Uber Oracle."

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Director Statement

I am passionate about storytelling through film, and strive to make every piece I work on something that will not only touch people's hearts but also opens avenues for discussion. When I was invited to direct "The Red Lotus," I was excited to be a part of telling this story. Stories about women and our bodies are so important, especially today, and I was honored to be a part of a project that can really start a dialogue.