Private Project

The Principal's Assembly

A high school principal’s grief over the loss of a student spirals into substance abuse. To escape her anguish, she slides into a summer habit of frequenting an out-of-the-way bar whose bartender reminds her of the student until she suffers the harsh reality of her delusion. Once discovered, her husband and best friend confront her alcohol consumption, abuse of prescription antidepressants, and emotional stability, yet she insists on delivering a sobering speech at an assembly on the first day of school.

  • Pamela Jayne Morgan
    Executive Producer
    The Holdovers
  • Jordan Ancel
    Director
    Good Guys With Guns
  • Seth Chitwood
    Writer
    Luna, The Witch
  • Evan Schneider
    Producer
    Tales to Line A Coffin
  • Seth Chitwood
    Producer
    Luna, The Witch
  • Jordan Ancel
    Producer
    Good Guys With Guns
  • Pamela Jayne Morgan
    Key Cast
    "Jane"
    Boston Strangler
  • Anna Rizzo
    Key Cast
    "Sandy"
    Law and Order: SVU
  • Marilyn Busch
    Key Cast
    "Angie"
    CODA
  • Sal Rendino
    Key Cast
    "Dave"
    Billions
  • Quinton Brogan
    Cinematography
    Life without Katie
  • Justin Golightly
    Editing
    Void
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Substance Abuse, Family
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 13, 2022
  • 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:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • New Bedford Film Festival
    New Bedford, MA
    United States
    April 20, 2024
    NOMINEES: Best Actress in a Short Film (Pamela Jayne Morgan) & Best Supporting Actress in a Feature, Short Film or TV Series (Marilyn Busch)
  • Avalonia Festival of Shorts etc
    Atlantic Beach, FL
    United States
    November 4, 2023
    Best New England Short
  • FirstGlance Philadelphia Film Festival
    Philadelphia, PA
    United States
    October 8, 2023
    Nominations: Best Drama, Best Ensemble Cast - Short Film, Best Actress - Short Film
  • Great Lakes International Film Festival
    Erie, PA
    United States
    September 21, 2023
    Pennsylvania
    Official Selection
  • Catalina Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    September 22, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival
    Middlebury, VT
    Vermont Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Provincetown International Film Festival
    Provincetown, MA
    Official Selection
  • Berkshire International Film Festival
    Great Barrington, MA
    Official Selection
  • Fort Myers Film Festival
    Fort Myers, FL
    Official Selection
  • Garden State Film Festival
    Asbury Park, NJ
    United States
    New Jersey Premiere
    Winner: Best Actress in a Short
  • Beaufort International Film Festival
    Beaufort, SC
    United States
    South Carolina Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Winter Film Awards International Film Festival
    New York, NY
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Austin Indie Fest
    Austin, TX
    United States
    Texas Premiere
    Nomination: Best Short
  • Toronto Shorts International Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    December 13, 2022
    Canadian Premiere (Digital Edition)
    Best Actress
  • Open Gate International Film Festival
    Boston, MA
    United States
    November 13, 2022
    Winner Best Ensemble; Nominations - Best Direction, Best Actress
  • New York Long Island Film Festival
    Long Island, NY
    United States
    October 22, 2022
    Winner Best Actress Short; Nominations - Best Dramatic Film, Best Supporting Actress Short (2), Best Cinematography Short, Best Editing Short
  • Best Shorts Competition
    La Jolla, CA
    United States
    Winner 2022 Humanitarian Award; Winner Best of Show; Winner Award of Excellence Actress, Leading
  • Wine, Women & Film Festival
    Brooks, CA
    United States
    September 17, 2022
    (online edition)
    Official Selection
  • Block Island Film Festival
    New Shoreham, RI
    United States
    September 7, 2022
    Rhode Island Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Fire Island Film Festival
    Fire Island, NY
    United States
    August 27, 2022
    New York Premiere
    Winner Best Overall Performance (Lead Actress)
  • Woods Hole Film Festival
    Woods Hole, MA
    United States
    August 3, 2022
    Massachusetts/East Coast Premiere
    2nd Runner-up Audience Choice Award
  • LA Shorts International Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    July 7, 2022
    California/West Coast Premiere (Online Edition)
    Official Selection
  • Beyond the Curve International Film Festival
    Paris
    France
    June 20, 2022
    European Premiere
    Nominations: Best Short Film & Best Actress
  • New Bedford, MA
    United States
    April 20, 2024
    Nominated: Best Actress in a Short (Pamela Jayne Morgan)
Director Biography - Jordan Ancel

Jordan Ancel is a multi-award-winning Film & TV director/producer/writer whose films have been in over 100 festivals worldwide. He recently wrapped production on the feature film "The Unseen," a psychological horror/thriller, starring R. J. Mitte (Breaking Bad), which is an allegory for school bullying. His dark comedy short film, "Good Guys With Guns," a commentary on the overwhelming gun violence epidemic, can be seen on Amazon Prime. His latest stage production, "Melissa Center is… Marrying Jake Gylenhaal," produced during the Pandemic, was the first of it’s kind to be a multi-cam live-stream from a theater raising thousands of dollars for charity through ticket sales to help artists affected by the pandemic.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

When Pam Morgan (EP, Story By & Lead Actress) approached me about her idea, I knew I had to partner with her to bring this to life. The issues this story addresses, the silent pain that many feel and never reveal to anyone, and the message of hope are important to bring to light. I truly believe that as a filmmaker, telling stories about the human condition can help people.