Private Project

While We Were

When a down on his luck drug dealer ( Jeff Pennington ) returns to his hometown to carryout the biggest deal of his life only to find his double-crossing partner ( Clayne Crawford ) has botched the deal, his search for the truth leads to a labyrinth of paranormal events.

Featuring: Clayne Crawford ( Lethal Weapon, Rectify, Spectral, Justified ) Jeff Pennington, Kate Hankin, Wolfgang Nelson and Sir James Anthony.

Original Music by Matt Dixson, Andrew Joslyn.

  • Richard Spitaleri
    Executive Producer
  • Robert Roa
    Producer
  • Robert Roa
    Director
  • Robert Roa
    Cinematographer
  • Clayne Crawford
    Key Cast
    Rectify, Justified, The Glades
  • Jeff Pennington
    Key Cast
  • Eric Wolfgang Nelson
    Key Cast
  • James Anthony
    Key Cast
    Chasing the Green, Legends of Nethiah
  • Kate Hankin
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 29 minutes 5 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 20, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 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:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • New Filmmakers Los Angeles - LA Film Festival
    Los Angeles
  • PUSH Film Festival
    Briston, Virginia
    June 12, 2015
Director Biography - Robert Roa

Robert Roa is an Artist, Designer, Producer, Director and Cinematographer. He is the founder and director of LA based design and media company, Hybred Studios. His work includes original art and design as well as producing, directing and cinematography for film and new media.

Robert began working professionally as a producer, director and cinematographer for commercials, campaigns and innovative branded media projects in 2001 alongside such notable directors Lars Von Trier, Darren Aronofsky, Jean-Pierre Jeunet and David O. Russell.

He has since produced, directed and photographed films, commercials, music videos, television, web and branded entertainment for a rich variety of clients including American Apparel, Bank of America, Cartoon Network, Dalai Lama, Discovery Channel, Fox Searchlight, Fuel TV, Honda, Levis, MTV, Nike, Nike SB, Sony, UFC, Urban Outfitters, Vans and VH1. His multimedia work and video installations have been showcased in publications and galleries around the world including The Museum of Contemporary Art and the Palais de Tokyo in Paris.

His recent work, “While We Were” is his first feature length film, which he produced, directed, photographed and edited under the banner of a resource-based production company he launched in 2014.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"While We Were" was produced as part of an ongoing series of resource based creative projects in collaboration with S.M.A.C. (Smoky Mountain Artist Collective).

S.M.A.C. is a non-profit artist collective dedicated to the preservation of the Great Smoky Mountains though film, music and new media.

Originally conceived as a silent film, "While We Were" was produced on location in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee with a hand-held camera and available light and resources.