Sailing Lessons

When barred from church camp activities due to a dress code violation, teenage Paige finds an unlikely friendship with a sailboat instructor who challenges her view of womanhood.

  • Kelli Neal
    Director
    Meet-Cutes & Breakups, I'm A Girl
  • Kelli Neal
    Writer
    Meet-cutes & Breakups, I'm A Girl, Father Son Time
  • Madison Gotthardt
    Writer
    Butch, Girl Almighty, Assisted Living
  • Sarah Sellers
    Producer
    Meet-cutes & Breakups, I'm A Girl
  • Nia Aguinaldo
    Producer
    Butch, Girl Almighty, The Calling Witch
  • Kylie Schumacher
    Producer
    I'm A Girl
  • Kelli Neal
    Producer
    Meet-cutes & Breakups, I'm A Girl, Father Son Time
  • Payton Wyatt
    Director of Photography
    Butch, The Calling Witch, Girl Almighty
  • Dylan Steele
    Key Cast
    ""Paige Erickson""
  • Danielle Smythe
    Key Cast
    ""Heidi Miller""
  • Mollie Peery
    Key Cast
    ""Jane""
  • Rosie Mender
    Key Cast
    ""Kaylee""
  • Lindsey Waters
    Production Designer
    Butch, Jules, Method & Madness, Lily's Corner
  • Stephen Takashima
    Editor
    Don't Kill My Vibe, Civil, Sepulcher, Breathing Through Trees
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 44 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2026
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 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
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Kelli Neal


Kelli Neal is an LA-based independent filmmaker from Flint, Michigan. She wrote and directed "Meet-cutes & Breakups" which premiered at the New York Cinefest and was recently nominated for ‘Best Actress’ at the North Hollywood Cinefest. Kelli’s other short, "I’m a Girl," won five awards, including ‘Best Family Drama’ (Dos Lagos Film Festival), ‘Best First Time Director’ (Niagara Falls International Shorts), and ‘Best Student Film’ (Chicago FEEDBACK Film Festival). Kelli is passionate about female-centric narratives and representation for women in the film industry, both on screen and behind the scenes.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The genesis of this project initially came about because I have access to a sailboat and thought, “How cute would it be to make a short film about a sailboat?” I grew up sailing on my Dad’s boat, and when I pitched the idea of borrowing his boat for this film, Mike Neal officially joined the crew as the Marine Coordinator.

The story really grew wings when Madison Gotthardt got involved and suggested exploring a mentor relationship between a teenage girl and an older woman who was not her mother or a relative. We were both suddenly struck by the realization that we could not think of any examples of this specific dynamic in film or television. Given that we could each enthusiastically rattle off ten different women in our lives who had major influence in how we situate ourselves in the world, this gap in the literature shocked us.

My hope for this film is that it becomes the metaphorical Heidi role for those who relate to Paige’s limited view of who a woman can be–something that stands apart from previous depictions of female role models in film and television.