Pause/Play

Upon the untimely death of famed gamer, An00bis, college-bound fangirl, Zora, and her influencer bestie, Hannah, honor him by attending his estate sale. There, Zora happens upon a magical, retro Walkman that blasts her into a mysterious realm. Lo and behold, An00bis’ soul is bound to it like a horcrux, stranding him in purgatory. Against a racing clock, Zora is determined to help her jaded idol complete his journey into the Afterlife. In a house full of rabid fans and prowling flippers, the trio must find An00bis’ Book of the Dead before it falls into the wrong hands.

  • Kaitlyn Ali
    Director
  • Kaitlyn Ali
    Writer
  • Amadi Pate
    Producer
  • Chase Simone
    Key Cast
    "Zora"
  • Ibrahim Quraishi
    Key Cast
    "An00bis/Angus"
  • Jessica Ruth Bell
    Key Cast
    "Hannah"
  • Lauri Janover
    Key Cast
    "Shopper Lady"
  • Don Daniels Jr.
    Key Cast
    "Anubis"
  • Shaw Fisher
    Director of Photography
  • Samantha Duncan
    Production Designer
  • Milena Saban
    Editor
  • Matthew Kupferer
    Supervising Sound Editor
  • Michael Paraskevas
    Composer
  • Nathan Weiner
    Visual Effects Supervisor
  • Alyssa Wise
    Creature Designer
  • Kristen Paladino
    Casting Director
  • Lori Malkin
    Casting Director
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Coming-of-age
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 13 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 30, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    25,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital (Sony Venice)
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Dolby Institute x Ghetto Film School Finish the Script
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    May 3, 2023
    Finish the Script Year 2 Premiere at the Academy Museum
Director Biography - Kaitlyn Ali

Kaitlyn Ali is a multi-hyphenate Black American filmmaker raised between Connecticut and Brooklyn. A member of the Pickle Mafia, she studied filmmaking at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and geeked out on all things animation, sci-fi, and post-production.

Her most recent writing and directing work, Pause/Play, premiered at the Academy Museum in May 2023 as a winner of the Dolby x Ghetto Film School Finish the Script Competition. The sci-fi comedy short follows a gamer who stumbles into an alternate realm and must help her recently deceased idol pass on into the next life.

As shown in her additional work on social justice projects like Just Mercy, Queen & Slim, and The Trial of the Chicago 7, she cherishes opportunities to encourage healthy debate and explore the depths of the human experience.

All things considered, Kaitlyn strives to make a positive impact through her storytelling and loves to ask the tough questions, find the humor and push the limits of the imagination.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Hey, I’m Kaitlyn! If it’s not apparent by now, ya girl is a total sci-fi and analog nerd. After creating this story and sharing it with my parents, I've come to realize that this is the first time I’ve put so much of my own heart and soul into a project.

While I may have been jealous that other kids had Game Boys, I’m grateful that my first console was the Namco TV Plug and Play with the single joystick & fire button. It still sits below my TV to this day.

Much like Issa Rae’s The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl, Pause/Play is a love letter to all the awkward, geeky black girls like myself. We're worthy of adventure and deserve to be seen on screen––not just in any role........fantastical leading roles!

Here’s to creating a more colorful world and exploring the mysteries of the universe!