Private Project

Straight Laced

When a conscientious honors student buckles under the academic pressure in her town of overachievers and overearnest parents, she makes a choice that leaves everyone in her life rethinking whether getting into the "right" college matters at all. 

  • Cynthia Gibb
    Director
    "Presumed Incompetent," "Lux Freer" (plus numerous credits as an actress))
  • Jill Johnson Mann
    Writer
    "Presumed Incompetent," "Lux Freer"
  • Jill Johnson Mann
    Producer
    "Presumed Incompetent," "Lux Freer"
  • Cynthia Gibb
    Producer
    "Presumed Incompetent," "Lux Freer"
  • Natalia Mann
    Key Cast
    "Lucia Giordano"
    "A California Christmas," "A California Christmas: City Lights" (Netflix), "The Passage" (Fox), "Presumed Incompetent" (short), "Lux Freer" (short)
  • Matthew Bukzin
    Key Cast
    "Eddy"
    "Presumed Incompetent" (short)
  • Aini Rockwell
    Key Cast
    "Elise Giordano"
  • Cameron Mann
    Key Cast
    "Mack"
    "Eddington" (Ari Astor), "Mare of Easttown" (HBO), "New Amsterdam," "Daredevil," "Law & Order: SVU," "A Very Merry Toy Store," "Lux Freer," "Presumed Incompetent"
  • Mario Manna
    Key Cast
    "Frank Giordano"
    "Presumed Incompetent," "Lux Freer"
  • Brigg Liberman
    Key Cast
    "Arlo"
    "Happy Gilmore 2," "Trevor the Musical"
  • Callie Sarro
    Key Cast
    "Guilia"
    "The Calling," "Tiny Time Travel," "Presumed Incompetent," "Ocean's 14," "When Everything Was Blue"
  • Penelope Sajda
    Key Cast
    "Gabriella"
  • Sophie Jasmin Walther
    Key Cast
    "Scarlett"
    "Presumed Incompetent" (short), "Lux Freer" (short)
  • Isabelle Leeming
    Key Cast
    "Whitney"
    "Presumed Incompetent"
  • Blake Raho
    Key Cast
    "Pierce"
    "Presumed Incompetent" (short), "Lux Freer" (short), "Ocean's 14" (short)
  • Brian Lombardi
    Key Cast
    "Gavin"
    "Presumed Incompetent" (short)
  • Claire Butler
    Key Cast
    "Annie"
    "Presumed Incompetent" (short), "Lux Freer" (short)
  • Phoebe McCance
    Key Cast
    "Samantha"
  • Chloe Carson
    Key Cast
    "Nikki"
  • Chloe Debuck
    Key Cast
    "Briana"
  • Charlie Watson
    Key Cast
    "Axe"
  • Vivienne Leeming
    Key Cast
    "Willow"
    "Presumed Incompetent," "Ocean's 14"
  • Ellie Rockwell
    Key Cast
    "Marlo"
    "Presumed Incompetent"
  • Ella Davis
    Key Cast
    "Delphine"
    "Presumed Incompetent"
  • Lola Rockwell
    Key Cast
    "Liv"
    "Presumed Incompetent"
  • Jennifer Malaquias Ryan
    Key Cast
    "Celeste/Principal"
    "Presumed Incompetent" (short), "Lux Freer" (short)
  • Markley Rizzi
    Key Cast
    "Vicki/Vice Principal"
    "Presumed Incompetent" (short), "Lux Freer" (short)
  • Deb Katz
    Key Cast
    "Reagan"
    "Presumed Incompetent" (short), "Lux Freer" (short)
  • Michelle Feinberg
    Key Cast
    "Xandra"
  • Jill Johnson Mann
    Key Cast
    "Julianna/Rollerskater"
    "Presumed Incompetent
  • Cheryl Nadzam
    Key Cast
    "Lauren/Hippie Mom"
  • Bella Rizzi
    Key Cast
    "Hope"
    "Presumed Incompetent"
  • Cotton Bodell
    Key Cast
    "Nate"
  • Wynston Browne
    Key Cast
    "Benji"
    "The Telepathy Tapes, "Presumed Incompetent"
  • Linde Gibb
    Key Cast
    "Bernice"
    "Friends," "Presumed Incompetent," "Lux Freer"
  • Michael J. O'Hara
    Key Cast
    "Rowing Coach"
    Punk’d: Cast/ Writer – MTV, CSI NY: Guest Star, CBS Monk: Guest Star, USA Network In The Cut with Affion: Recurring Cast, FOX Frank TV: Recurring Cast – TBS, Short Circuits with Nick Cannon: Recurring Cast – MTV, Parks and Recreation: Co Star: NBC Naked But Funny: Cast – TBS, Madam Secretary: Recurring Cast, Law & Order SUV: Guest Star – CBS The Dr, The Wolf of Wall Street
  • Marc Hartog
    Key Cast
    "EMT 1 "
  • Rick Baumblatt
    Key Cast
    "EMT 2"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes 58 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 4, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Dances With Films
    L.A.
    United States
    June 22, 2025
    World Premiere
  • Dances With Films
    New York
    January 18, 2026
    East Coast Premiere
Director Biography - Cynthia Gibb

Cynthia Gibb, Golden Globe nominee for her portrayal of the title role in GYPSY, opposite Bette Midler, has over 60 film and television credits to her name. She also played the title role in the KAREN CARPENTER STORY. With over 40 years professional experience as an actress, singer, and dancer, Cynthia has worked with, learned from, and been influenced by some of the entertainment industry’s greatest talents. Her co-stars include Kennedy Center honorees Dick Van Dyke, Debbie Allen, Bette Midler; Academy-Award winners Shirley Jones, Burt Reynolds; and Tony-Award winner Donna McKechnie. As a regular on the series FAME, Cynthia was directed by Debbie Allen and worked with choreographers Marguerite Derricks, Jamie Rogers, Otis Sallid, and (of course) Debbie Allen. Cynthia worked opposite comedic icons Dabney Coleman and Christopher Lloyd, as well as stars Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, and Keanu Reeves. She has been directed by Woody Allen and Oliver Stone (in SALVADOR, opposite James Woods and Jim Belushi). Other industry greats she has worked with include producers Gary Goetzman, Neil Meron, and Craig Zadan (producers of the Academy Awards, Smash, and Chicago) as well as Broadway legends Stephen Sondheim, Jule Styne, and Arthur Laurents. Cynthia is a member of the prestigious Actors' Studio and spent many years studying under Hollywood’s best acting coaches, including Milton Katselas, Caitlin Adams, and Larry Moss.

All of these professional experiences add up to thousands of hours on sets, watching, observing, and absorbing the talents of her co-workers. Cynthia was inspired by the gorilla film-making of SALVADOR, shot in Mexico during the wars in Central America in the 80’s. Oliver Stone made a huge impact by showing her the importance of telling stories about difficult subject matter.

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Director Statement

Our film takes place in a town full of type-A overachieving parents, who expect nothing less from their children. It depicts the ways in which those children cope with the pressure they feel to succeed at all costs.

Although the plot and characters are mostly fictional, the lead character and the climactic event were inspired by a real person and true story. I wanted to tell this story because I believe our society is built upon the myth that being more, having more, getting more is the key to success, and that such success equates to happiness and feeling whole. This message surrounds our children. They can’t escape it, whether from their parents, teachers, coaches, or social media. Some kids can weather this storm but many succumb to the weight of the stress, striving dangerously to live up to expectations that are unrealistic and emotionally damaging. Societal demands take their toll on our youth, sometimes in deadly ways. Suicide, depression and drugs are often the result of the burdens they feel.

I hope the audience takes a step back and reconsiders the messages of our culture. Unless or until we teach our children that self-esteem and self-worth come from being good human beings, and not from material possessions or external acknowledgements such as grades and SAT scores, then we will continue to have a mental health and teen overdose crisis in this country.