Private Project

Ashes

A woman who has just lost her husband takes us on a journey through the five stages of grief through the eye of magical realism.

  • Melissa Vitello
    Director
    Speak Now, The Wait, The Sound of Settling, Off Season
  • Melissa Vitello
    Writer
    Speak Now, The Wait, The Sound of Settling, Off Season
  • Bryan Ricke
    Writer
    Speak Now, The Wait, The Sound of Settling, Off Season
  • Bryan Ricke
    Producer
    Speak Now, The Wait, The Sound of Settling, Off Season
  • Stacy Snyder
    Key Cast
    "Alex"
    Feeding Time, Heartless, The Sound of Settling, Consulation Prize
  • Adrienne Rose White
    Key Cast
    "Rachel"
    Quirky Female Protagonist, The Witch Files
  • Jonathan Regier
    Key Cast
    "Tom"
  • Elizabeth Alan
    Key Cast
    "The Doctor"
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 7 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 11, 2018
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    scope
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Melissa Vitello

Melissa Vitello is an award-winning writer and director, native to Los Angeles, and active independent filmmaker for over seven years. Melissa currently owns and operates her independent film company Looking Glass Media along side her husband, cinematographer Bryan Ricke. After studying privately in screenwriting with tv writer/producer Valerie Mayhew and taking various film courses, Melissa opened her first film studio: Dark Heart Films. After writing and directing over a dozen short films, Dark Heart films turned into Looking Glass Media, a company she and her husband own and produce together.

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Director Statement

Creating Ashes has been a really different and incredible journey for me as a filmmaker. What started as something we weren't really sure we had set out to do ended up being a really poetic journey in finding my voice as a writer and director I didn't know was there. I'm very excited to share this piece with others and see what kinds of doors and stories it opens up for them as well.