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Ryn (2021)

A desolate future. Desperate to save her ailing girlfriend, a young woman is forced to confront the unstable leader of a violent faction to secure their freedom.

  • Jacob Matthew Baldy
    Director
    "A Dance at the End of My World", "The Sonnet Project"
  • Jacob Matthew Baldy
    Writer
    "A Dance at the End of My World"
  • Sean Arnold
    Producer
  • Jacob Matthew Baldy
    Producer
  • Cailey Merulla
    Key Cast
    "Ryn"
    "A Dance at the End of My World", "We Fall. We Dance. We Rise.", "Second Sight"
  • Jullian Burger
    Key Cast
    "Kris"
    "Solidarity"
  • Sean Riehm
    Key Cast
    "Julian"
    "A Dance at the End of My World", "The Mark of a Killer", "The Goodbye Tour"
  • Samuel Henry
    Key Cast
    "Terry"
    "Alexander Bok"
  • Jeremy Lipton
    Key Cast
    "Andrew"
    "Pas de deux"
  • Niku Clark-Mitchell
    Key Cast
    "Trevor"
  • Jacob Matthew Baldy
    Key Cast
    "Mike"
    "Gluten Freak", "How to Tell Somebody You Love Goodbye"
  • Matt Derengowski
    Key Cast
    "David"
    "The Legend of Ukulele John"
  • Sean Arnold
    1st Assistant Director
  • Michelle Edmond
    2nd Assistant Director
  • Lexa Forgione
    Director of Photography
  • Ciara Racanelli
    Production Designer
  • Jacob Matthew Baldy
    Editor
  • Avery Boyer
    Assistant Camera
  • Danny Rinaldi
    Gaffer
  • Matt Derengowski
    Grip
  • Patrick McLaughlin
    Grip
  • Tyler Stampone
    Grip
  • Yvonne Payne
    Script Supervisor
  • Tim Jones
    Sound Mixer
  • Colton Dodd
    Score
  • Jillie Fisch
    Art Department
  • Ciara Racanelli
    Art Department
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    25 minutes 24 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 11, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    3,250 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Redcode RAW
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39 : 1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Montclair State University
  • Actress Universe
    Moscow
    Russian Federation
    Finalist: Best Actress in a Drama
  • Andromeda Film Festival
    İstanbul
    Turkey
    Best Director & Best Production
  • Cooper Film Festival
    Online Event
    Finalist
  • Couch Film Festival
    Toronto, Ontario
    Canada
    Best Thriller
  • Florence Film Awards
    Florence
    Italy
    Best Student Film, Best Actor, Best Cinematography & Best Sound Design
  • Hollywood Gold Awards
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    Best Indie Short Film
  • Indie Short Fest
    Los Angeles, CA 90038
    United States
    Award Nominee: Best Student Director (Male), Best Production Design & Best Original Song
  • IndieEye Film Awards
    Online Festival
    United States
    Best Original Sound/Music/Score
  • New York Movie Awards
    New York
    United States
    Best Fantasy & Best Student Film
  • Phoenix Short Film Festival
    Ottawa, Ontario
    Canada
    Best Script, Best Producer, Best Cinematographer & Best Costume Design
Director Biography - Jacob Matthew Baldy

Jacob Matthew Baldy is a filmmaker and writer based out of Durham, New Hampshire, best known for his writing/directorial work on the award-nominated short film, “A Dance at the End of My World”, and his episodic entry into The New York Shakespeare Exchange’s U.S. based “Sonnet Project”, shot in Rye, NH. Having received his B.F.A. from Montclair State University, with a concentration in filmmaking, Baldy continues to expand his ever-growing body of work, developing and writing several new projects, including a film loosely based upon his own personal battle with depression and anxiety, as well as a feature-length adaptation of his short film “Ryn”.

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Director Statement

Where is it that we find SANCTUARY? Is it in the places we live; the people we love? How far are we willing to go for it?

These are the questions imposed within the narrative of RYN, the story of a young woman determined to seek refuge for her ailing girlfriend, the person who she finds sanctuary in. RYN was a story that was initially conceived out of a place of anger. As the leadership of the United States fumbled in the hands of the former president, I consistently felt an overwhelming sense of frustration, dread and ire towards the way women, the LGBTQ+ community, the climate crisis, the COVID pandemic, and other marginalized/minority groups were being treated. RYN simply began as me spewing all my anger into a screenplay, where I envisioned a dark, dour future plagued by the corruption of powerful men. But as time went on, I began to find hope through what felt like an endless tunnel of darkness, and that hope soon began seeping its way onto the pages of the script.

RYN is not intended to be an easy watch. No. RYN was crafted in a way to elicit a strong, emotional response from its audience. The same, overwhelming dread felt by the titular character, who in simply trying to find peace and help for the woman she loves, is overpowered, and stripped of her innocence by a powerful man above.

Extensive research was done in handling the topics depicted in the film. Throughout the production process, the utmost care and respect were constantly considered in the way the film’s story and dialogue were written, and in the way the narrative was shot as to not sensationalize or push the subject matter to an extreme that would alienate audiences. Through all the hardships, and the pain and suffering inflicted upon our lead character, she refuses to let her trauma take her away from the person she is, and the one she loves. There is always hope at the end of the day. Hope that will always be found in whatever, and whoever we call SANCTUARY.

Jacob Matthew Baldy
Writer, Director & Producer
August 12th, 2021