The Life You're Given

After Mallory's sick mother gets a call from her doctor, she doesn't realize she must choose between fulfilling one of her mom's last wishes or getting her to her appointment on time.

  • Kerri Wheelock
    Director
  • Kerri Wheelock
    Writer
  • Kerri Wheelock
    Producer
  • Mickel Cannon
    Producer
  • Grace Pomilla
    Producer
  • Nancy Kimball
    Key Cast
    "Mallory"
  • Laurie Mahoney
    Key Cast
    "Carol"
  • Emily Casey
    Director of Photography
  • Thomas Clinton
    Editor
  • Annie Fleisch
    Assistant Director
  • A. Roux Tabor
    Casting Director
  • A. Roux Tabor
    Production Designer
  • Kevin Fann
    Sound Mixer
  • Vivian Duong Nguyen
    Composer
  • Emily Hu
    Sound Editor
  • Eway Mak
    Camera Operator
  • Cassidy Salfelder
    First Assistant Camera
  • Giselle Hernandez Tamarit
    Second Assistant Camera
  • Lauren Williams
    Gaffer
  • Erin Robles
    Grip
  • Kerri Wheelock
    Prop Master
  • Sabrina Z. Geffner
    Set Dresser
  • Robert Samuel McMahon
    Boom Operator
  • Kerri Wheelock
    Costume Designer
  • Kayleigh Feliu
    Makeup Artist
  • Gabriella Ribeiro
    Script Supervisor
  • Jackie Bennet
    Digital Imaging Technician
  • Gabriella Ribeiro
    Assistant Editor
  • Thomas Clinton
    Colorist
  • Zack Ramirez
    Second Unit Sound Mixer
  • Kamal Rahyab
    Production Assistant
  • Kai Ortiz
    On Set Photographer
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 42 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 14, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 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:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - School of Visual Arts
Director Biography - Kerri Wheelock

Kerri Wheelock is a writer/director who specializes in stories about women, exploring heavy topics such as mental illness, complex relationships, and queerness, but with a touch of humor. Her latest film, The Life You’re Given (20 mins), is a drama about a young woman’s relationship with her dying mother. Some of her other works include Another Study of a Girl in Crimson (9 mins), a queer psychological thriller about a New York City transplant and her encounters with a mysterious neighbor, and For Worse (10 mins), a drama about a young woman trapped in an increasingly abusive relationship. Kerri has also worked on many films as a costume designer, set dresser, and makeup artist, and always brings a unique and keen artistic eye and visual style to her work. B.F.A. in Film Directing - School of Visual Arts 2023.

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Director Statement

I returned to school to finish my degree in the fall of 2021, after a yearlong leave of absence to move home and care for my sick mother. She had passed away that February, a little less than a year after being diagnosed with lung cancer. When it came time for me to make my thesis film, it was still pretty fresh and I had a hard time thinking of a story that felt as impactful as my own. The first few drafts of my script focused on Mallory, the daughter in the film, in the throes of grief immediately after the loss of her mother. It made sense to me then to concentrate on her feelings, as I was overwhelmed by my own, but it felt like something was missing. After a few tries, I realized the story was in the relationship that I had with my mom; the tragedy was in the sudden hole that was left by her absence, and it couldn't be felt fully without letting the audience know her. My mother was my best friend and a pain in my ass, and I think most mothers and daughters can understand how unique that bond can be.