Experiencing Interruptions?

Across the Aisle

Teddy, an idealistic young congressman, is celebrating his first big legislative win at a bar with two of his colleagues when Jane Keller, a rival congresswoman from the opposition party, stops by to congratulate him. Taken by her, Teddy attempts to woo Jane, much to his colleagues' chagrin. Through their flirtation they learn a thing or two about their ideologies, what motivates them to vote the way they do, and discover that there's more that brings them together than that keeps them apart.

  • Thomas Block
    Director
    The Grown Ups Table
  • Thomas Block
    Writer
    The Grown Ups Table
  • Tiago Santos
    Key Cast
    "Teddy"
    Glamping, There Can Be Light
  • Shannon Spangler
    Key Cast
    "Jane"
    The Curious Woods, The Skies Are Dead
  • Brendan Mokler
    Key Cast
    "Brian"
  • Griffith Munn
    Key Cast
    "Alex"
  • Ellen Chapman
    Executive Producers
  • A.G. Block
    Executive Producers
  • Matt Tornero
    Producer
    The Grown Ups Table, The Search
  • Delaney Heil
    Producer
    The Grown Ups Table
  • Adam Gilmore
    Director of Photography
    The Grown Ups Table, Yearning for a Thursday, Starcrossed
  • Adam Gilmore
    Editors
    The Grown Ups Table, Yearning for a Thursday, Starcrossed
  • Tara Lexi Robertson
    Editors
    The Grown Ups Table, Yearning for a Thursday, Starcrossed
  • Tara Lexi Robertson
    1st Assistant Camera
  • Justin Linvill
    Sound Mixing
    The Ark, One Last Con, Last Chance for Dad
  • Meg Hartung
    Costume Design
    I am HuaQing, The Man from Nowhere
  • Meg Hartung
    Hair & Makeup Supervision
  • Meg Hartung
    Production Design
    22
  • Adam Gilmore
    Colorist
    The Grown Ups Table, Starcrossed
  • Tara Lexi Robertson
    Colorist
    The Grown Ups Table, Starcrossed
  • Meg Hartung
    Craft Services
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Political, Romance, Romantic Comedy
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 36 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 10, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED Komodo
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Best Shorts Competition
    Online
    United States
    Winner: Award of Excellence
  • Best Shorts Competition
    Online
    United States
    Winner: Award of Merit - Special Mention (Actress: Leading)
  • Central Coast International Film Festival
    Camarillo, CA
    United States
    October 12, 2025
    Winner: Best Production Design
  • LA Shorts International Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    July 18, 2025
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Breckenridge Film Festival
    Breckenridge, CO
    United States
    September 19, 2025
    Colorado Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Sacramento International Film Festival
    Sacramento, CA
    United States
    August 30, 2025
    Northern California Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Yucca Valley Film Festival
    Yucca Valley, CA
    United States
    November 7, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Old Towne Film Festival
    Santa Ana, CA
    United States
    November 9, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Culver City Film Festival
    Culver City, CA
    United States
    December 5, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Durango Independent Film Festival
    Durango, CO
    United States
    March 6, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Pasadena International Film Festival
    Pasadena, CA
    United States
    April 14, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Las Vegas International Film and Screenwriting Festival
    Las Vegas, NV
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Los Angeles Lift Off Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Thomas Block

Thomas Block is a multi-disciplinary storyteller; writer, director, and actor of stage and screen for over 20 years. He co-directed and starred in the 2023 Comic Con International Independent Film Festival Official Selection "The Grown Ups Table" and has appeared in numerous short films, as well as stage productions with The Porters of Hellsgate and School of Night in Los Angeles, Sacramento Theatre Company (STC) and Sacramento Shakespeare Company (SSC) in Sacramento.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

As the son of a political journalist and a political activist, politics and government have been part of my world for my entire life. While we live in a world where reaching across the aisle seems more and more unrealistic, I still hope that there will come a point when we can, and will, find more commonality in our shared humanity than allow hate and ignorance to keep us from seeing each other as human beings.