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Beauty School

A young girl learns what it takes to behave like a woman with a little help from her older cousin, and the beauty industry.

  • Samantha Shada
    Director
  • Samantha Shada
    Writer
  • Sorina Sambula
    Producer
  • Zoe Staig
    Key Cast
  • Samara Weisberg
    Key Cast
  • Aymae Sulick
    Cinematographer
  • Tema Staig
    Production Designer
  • Gwendolyn Stukely
    Costume Designer
  • Christy Carew
    Film Scoring
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 9, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    6,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Sony 4K Digital Video
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • LA Shorts International Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    August 3, 2017
    World Premiere
  • San Diego International Kids Film Festival
    Carlsbad, CA
    United States
    August 26, 2017
  • Marina Del Rey Film Festival
    Marina Del Rey, CA
    United States
    October 8, 2017
  • Southern Colorado Film Festival
    Alamosa, CO
    United States
    October 13, 2017
    Colorado Premiere
  • Way Down Film Festival
    Columbus, GA
    United States
    October 14, 2017
    Georgia Premiere
Director Biography - Samantha Shada

Samantha Shada’s narrative short films, Beauty School and Sexless, both premiered at the Oscar Qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival before broadcasting world wide on ShortsTV with DirectTV. Her script adaptation of Willa Cather’s The Song of the Lark participated in Sundance Co//abs, Stowe Story Labs at the Sidewalk Film Festival and in the Joan Scheckel Filmmaking Labs. Sam also directs and produces theatre in Los Angeles while sitting on the board of incubator Brimmer St. Theatre Co. Since completing her film degree at Emerson College and landing in California, Sam worked with notable companies such as the William Morris Agency, the United Talent Agency, Universal Pictures, Overbrook Entertainment, and Sony Pictures Studios. Actively engaged in elevating platforms for female creatives, she proudly supports Women In Media and the Alliance of Women Directors and programmed Seeking Our Story, a screening series featuring influential films directed by women.

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Director Statement

"Beauty School" draws on my own upbringing as well as on the current political climate surrounding feminism and female self-worth. This story uses an innocent entry point to approach varied, often conflicting, opinions about the value of the beauty industry and its effect on women. This short, while fun to watch, will ideally inspire girls and women to consider their beauty routines in a new light.