Private Project

Expecting

***Now an Official Selection at over 9 prominent film festivals worldwide***

On the night of their gender reveal party for twins on the way, Taylor and Alex Armstrong have a few big surprises to share with the world.

Taylor Armstrong is quite anxious about the impending arrival of their two twins - and tonight's gender reveal party doesn't make things any easier. Taylor has always had a rocky relationship with their father, who exudes toxic masculinity, and Taylor's male friends aren't much better, as they ruthlessly tease Taylor about Taylor's aversion to traditionally masculine activities like sports and hunting. As the pressure builds from Taylor's father and male friends during tonight's party, Taylor prepares to share the truth about their gender identity.

Masculinity can be particularly confining and confounding, and Taylor Armstrong's difficult journey in EXPECTING speaks to the traumatic experiences that many people who are born as biological men often have.

A Jared Milrad Film, starring award-winning actors Jack Settipane (LAST CALL with John Malkovich), Kiana Madani (THE PIRATES OF SOMALIA opposite Al Pacino and Evan Peters), and Mark Torres (DR. DEATH, DEXTER), with cinematography by Rafael Leyva (Disney's ULTRA VIOLET & BLUE DEMON, MARIACHI, THE OATH).

  • Jared Milrad
    Director
    DISTANCE, TARGET, HARMONY, MARRIAGE, 1.20.17, OFFICE PARTY, HURRY UP AND WAIT
  • Jared Milrad
    Writer
    DISTANCE, TARGET, HARMONY, MARRIAGE, 1.20.17, OFFICE PARTY, HURRY UP AND WAIT
  • Nathan Johnson
    Writer
    DISTANCE, HARMONY, MARRIAGE
  • Jared Milrad
    Producer
    DISTANCE, TARGET, HARMONY, MARRIAGE, 1.20.17, OFFICE PARTY, HURRY UP AND WAIT
  • Jack Settipane
    Key Cast
    "Taylor Armstrong"
    LAST CALL
  • Kiana Madani
    Key Cast
    "Alex Armstrong"
    OSPREY, THE PIRATES OF SOMALIA
  • Mark Torres
    Key Cast
    "Jackson Armstrong"
    DR. DEATH, DEXTER
  • Alex Skinner
    Key Cast
    "Paul"
    NEVER HAVE I EVER, FOR ALL MANKIND, SNATCHERS, GOOD GIRLS, INSECURE, TWENTIES, SILICON VALLEY
  • Trevor Sean
    Key Cast
    "Nick"
    MCMILLIONS
  • Karen Lancaster
    Key Cast
    "Lynn Armstrong"
    DRAMA CLUB
  • Gabriela Hernandez
    Key Cast
    "Katie"
    THE OATH
  • Valentina Guerra
    Key Cast
    "Rachel"
    9-1-1: Lone Star
  • Tina Van Berckelaer
    Key Cast
    "Dianne"
    Bunker 731
  • Rafael Leyva
    Director of Photography
    MARIACHIS, THE OATH
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 13 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 23, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Infinity Film Festival

    Official Selection
  • LGBTQ+ Toronto Film Festival

    Official Selection / Best Direction Award
  • LGBTQ+ Los Angeles Film Festival

    Official Selection / Best Direction Award
  • Berlin Indie Film Festival

    Honorable Mention
  • Amsterdam International Film Festival

    Award Winner
  • Cannes Shorts

    Official Selection
  • Love Wins International Film Festival

    Official Selection
  • Micheaux Film Festival

    Official Selection
  • qFLIX Philadelphia 2022: The LGBTQ+ Film Festival
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Jared Milrad

A New York City native, Jared Milrad is a multiple award-winning filmmaker, actor, entrepreneur, and advocate for inclusion and social change. Jared is the founder of A Show For A Change and Movikarma, a nonprofit supported by Warner Bros. Discovery, Lionsgate, and industry leaders that empowers underrepresented filmmakers to build a more impactful, inclusive Hollywood. Movikarma launched a podcast, Rewriting Hollywood, in which Jared interviews Oscar-winning, Oscar-nominated, and other underrepresented voices to discuss inclusion, representation, and social impact in entertainment. In addition to launching a social impact streaming platform, Movikarma created a digital-first film festival that has helped distribute numerous award-winning films from around the world, including an Oscar-nominated film, and has built relationships with executives at Warner Bros. Discovery, The Academy for Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Netflix, Amazon Studios, Apple TV+, Disney, The Sundance Institute, Lionsgate, NBC Universal, Participant Media, ViacomCBS, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Bad Robot, Hello Sunshine, Shondaland, Ryan Murphy Productions, The Obama Foundation, and with Oscar-winning and Emmy-winning filmmakers. Recently, Jared hosted a Trans Equity Summit with the White House and Admiral Rachel Levine, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health for President Joe Biden, to address transgender equity issues in Culture, Health, Policy, and Law.

A finalist for The Sundance Institute's Episodic Lab, Jared has created numerous films, pilots, web series, documentaries, political ads, and PSAs. His credits include the multiple award-winning films "Expecting" (writer/director/producer) and "Distance" (writer/director/producer) - recognized by The Micheaux Film Festival with the coveted "Outstanding Cinematography Award - in which Jared worked with acclaimed cinematographer M.I. Littin-Menz ("Resistance," "The Vast of Night," "Hands of Stone") and actors Kiana Madani ("The Pirates of Somalia") and Alex Skinner ("Never Have I Ever," "Silicon Valley"). Jared's other credits include "Target" (actor/writer/director/producer), "Harmony" (actor/writer/director/producer), "Cumpleanera" (actor/writer/director), "Marriage" (actor/writer/director), "1.20.17" (actor/writer/director), "Office Party" (actor/writer/producer), and "Hurry Up and Wait" (actor/writer/producer). Jared is also the star of the award-winning documentary, "Jared and Nate: A Love Story," and he produced an original docuseries about civic engagement, healthcare, racial justice, and voting rights in Georgia. Among his various acting roles, Jared has appeared opposite Tom Sizemore and Bai Ling in "Better Criminal" and ID Network's "Murder Book."

Jared worked for President Barack Obama on both of his presidential campaigns and served in The White House during the Obama Administration. He founded a nationally recognized nonprofit organization, Civic Legal Corps, which was personally endorsed by Warren Buffett's son, Peter; U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor; and Harvard Law School Dean Martha Minow. Jared has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support various social causes and campaigns, and he appeared in Hillary Clinton's historic presidential campaign commercials ("Getting Started," "Equal"). Jared has been profiled by dozens of media outlets around the world, including The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, BBC News, The Guardian, The Times of London, TIME, MSNBC, CBS, NBC, and ABC News.

Jared co-produced and was a featured speaker at the launch of Storytellers United, a salon series inspiring inclusivity and sensitivity in entertainment, and he founded We Won't Go Back, a civic engagement platform featured in The Advocate, Out Magazine, and Mic. With his husband, Nate, Jared is the co-author of "So, You Want To Get (Gay) Married: Stuff You Need To Know Before Saying 'I Do,'" which garnered numerous mentions in national media. Jared has also worked to develop programs that empower at-risk youth in Southern California and provide more sustainable food choices for children and families.

Trained at The Second City Chicago and The Howard Fine Acting Studio, Jared is an accomplished public speaker who has advocated on behalf of President Barack Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton. He earned a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law, a graduate degree from Tufts University, and an undergraduate degree with highest honors from North Carolina State University. Jared has earned numerous awards, including the Presidential Award for Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University, the prestigious General Hugh Shelton Leadership Award of Excellence, and the Caldwell Fellowship at North Carolina State University.

Jared is proud to call Long Beach, CA, home with husband, Nate, and adopted dogs, Oliver and Dolly. In 2018, Jared was a candidate for Long Beach City Council and was personally endorsed by actor/producer Kal Penn.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I am very proud to present EXPECTING, an intimate and profound exploration of gender identity, self-discovery, and oppressive cultural norms. As a LGBTQ+ writer/director, I created EXPECTING from my lived experience of coming out and accepting my own identity, in addition to the journey of a close friend who recently transitioned as a transgender individual.

EXPECTING explores the many external and internal pressures that dictate one's behavior, appearance, identity, and most private moments. Masculinity can be particularly confining and confounding, and Taylor Armstrong's difficult journey in EXPECTING speaks to the traumatic experiences that many people who are born as biological men often have.

Throughout my career, I have been proud to work with leaders like President Barack Obama, to build relationships with Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated talent, and to partner with inclusive executives at Netflix, Lionsgate, WarnerMedia, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and many other leading institutions across Hollywood. With our terrific cast and crew led by award-winning actors Jack Settipane (LAST CALL with John Malkovich) and Kiana Madani (THE PIRATES OF SOMALIA opposite Al Pacino and Evan Peters), I'm confident that EXPECTING will reach a wide audience and profoundly impact everyone who watches it.

On behalf of our extraordinary creative team, thank you for considering EXPECTING.