Man in the Sky

Man in the Sky is the story of a failed playwright, Tripp Hartlin. A jaded man whose been stripped of all hope and dignity. His feelings of failure parallel with how he feels he's preforming as a single parent. Ultimately, his daughter’s child-like perspective inspires Tripp to give his dream one last go. It might just end with a heartwarming spotlight, but not in the way you might think!

  • Mariah Molina
    Director
  • Mariah Molina
    Writer
  • Rose Winchester
    Producer
  • Penny Kapadoukakis
    Cinematographer
  • Lexa Thompson
    Editor
  • Jordan Smith
    Assistant Editor
  • Jordan Smith
    Assistant Editor
  • Andrew McGinn
    Tripp Hartlin
  • Pamela Campbell
    Ryan Hartlin
  • Alexis Ward
    Elaine
  • Concetta Rose Coppola
    Charlie Dumont
  • John Blackwell
    Theater Producer
  • Julie Nalibov
    Receptionist
  • Lucas Harmon
    Theater Actor
  • Morrison James
    Boss
  • Joseph Machosky
    Agent
  • Lana Smith
    Theater Audience Members
  • Jimmy LeFlouria
    Theater Audience Members
  • Grace McGovern
    Theater Audience Members
  • Ava Cavasos
    Theater Audience Members
  • Lauren Winningham
    Theater Audience Members
  • Megan Long
    Theater Audience Members
  • Joseph Machosky
    Theater Audience Members
  • Alexandra Campbell
    Theater Audience Members
  • Lexa Thompson
    First Assistant Director
  • Nichole Buttery
    Second Assistant Director
  • Grace McGovern
    Production Designer
  • Megan Long
    Assistant Production Designer
  • Austin Duplantis
    1st Assistant Camera
  • Grace Garrett
    2nd Assistant Camera
  • Anja Riemer
    Gaffer
  • Joseph Machosky
    Best Boy
  • Rocky Burger
    Key Grip
  • Ava Cavasos
    Grip
  • Hope Williams
    Swing
  • Jordan Smith
    DIT
  • Jessica Hood
    Still Photographer
  • Jackson King
    Costume Designer
  • Dylan McIntosh
    Assistant Wardrobe
  • Vik Vinayak
    Sounds Designer
  • Trevor Poole
    Foley Artists
  • Ian O'Brien
    Foley Artists
  • Lauren Winningham
    Production Mixer
  • Matthew Erickson
    Boom Operator
  • John Buchanon
    Color Grader
  • Ben Krueger
    Composer
  • Madi Montgomery
    Music Supervisor
  • Adam Hirsch
    Production Assistant
  • Chloe Hogan
    Original Song by
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Family-Friendly
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 38 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 28, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Sony FS7
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Belmont University
Director Biography - Mariah Molina

Mariah Molina is an innovative and visionary film director known for her captivating storytelling and artistic approach. With a passion for inviting the audience into a cinematic experience that leaves people better than they were found. Through her studies at Belmont University, Mariah Molina has learned to create unforgettable, self-reflective experiences giving each audience a sense of hope, purpose, and inspiration. While this is just the beginning of her career, she has impacted many with the messages conveyed through her work. They are clear, concise, and simple truths about the life we experience every day.

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Director Statement

I made an actor cry during the first table read. He later told me that the story I had written deeply resonated with his childhood and the role he was casted to play brought him healing. That’s when I knew my love for filmmaking was because of the people.

There’s no greater love than to lay one’s life down for their friends. As a filmmaker, I don’t literally lay my life down but in many ways the sacrifices we often make as filmmakers become incredibly taxing. To me, creating movies is beyond the money, fame, and success - it’s for the lives that could be changed and the generations to come.

As kids they tell us we can be anything, and if you want to see change then be it. Well, I’m still becoming it. As long as I live, filmmaking will always be one of my greatest loves, challenges, and responsibilities. In many ways, Man in the Sky, is a reflection of me having the opportunity to take a long, hard look at myself in the mirror and ask what it is that I really want out of filmmaking.