Expressions

Expressions is a heartfelt mid 1990s LGBTQ+, PWD romantic drama that tells the story of Flynn, a queer, Deaf man who finds himself at a loss for words as he tries to work up the courage to ask his new neighbor Parker, on a date. With the help of his best friend Max, a loyal and loving dog, and his witty co-worker Judith, he receives the extra push he needs to step out of his comfort zone. This stylistic approach to visual storytelling aids the audience in understanding Flynn's internal thoughts and emotions as he takes a new approach to expressing himself and overcoming his fears.

  • Mackenzie Rosario
    Director
  • Mackenzie Rosario
    Writer
  • Shiayra Ragin
    Producer
  • Jared DeBusk
    Key Cast
    "Flynn"
    Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
  • Jaideep Goray
    Key Cast
    "Parker"
  • Haley Breese
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Romance, Drama, Comedy, LGBTQ+, PWD
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 36 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 28, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    13,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Savannah College of Art & Design
  • SCAD Savannah Film Festival
    Savannah, GA
    United States
    October 27, 2023
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • SignLight International Film Festival
    Hollywood, California
    United States
    April 16, 2024
    West Coast Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Mackenzie Rosario

Originally from Clarksville, TN, Mackenzie Rosario is a first-generation Dominican-American writer/director/producer currently based in Savannah, Georgia. She graduated with honors from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cinema and Photography. In her years at Southern Illinois, she participated in the McNair Scholars program where she conducted undergraduate research. She analyzed the cinematic representation of the Dominican Republic post-dictatorship. Under the leadership of the program, Mackenzie researched the Dominican Republics' cinematic representation during a period of violence and censorship through memory, space, time, and archival materials.

She is currently a full-time M.F.A. Deans Fellow student at the Savannah College of Art and Design double majoring in Film and Television Production and Dramatic Writing. Her graduate thesis project dissected the intersectionality of the "otherness" in Film and Television through the lens of representation and inclusivity. Mackenzie strives to assist in the efforts of telling and promoting stories of underrepresented communities.

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Director Statement

Expressions is a film created from her passion for telling stories about underrepresented communities. She decided to step out of her comfort zone for her thesis film and tell a story about two underrepresented communities she does not represent. Furthermore, she thought this was a great opportunity in her filmmaking journey to conduct research and collaborate with experts and members of the LGBTQ+ and the Deaf communities. In the end, Mackenzie wants to show the beauty and simplicity within these two communities that need more representation. She is challenging herself to expand her horizon of all production elements regarding casting, budgeting, and post-production aspects like the sound design to work alongside the story and invite viewers into the characters' daily lives.