The Runaways
Abused and neglected, Kellee attempts to run away with her boyfriend James, only to be chased and cornered by her abusive stepfather. What follows is a series of events that leads to a violent confrontation with the abusive man who terrorizes her life.
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Dewey Ortiz JrDirectorSurvivor Stories, Comeuppance
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Dewey Ortiz JrWriterSurvivor Stories, Comeuppance
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Tia GoodsonProducerSurvivor Stories, Comeuppance, LUV
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Michael WilsonDirector of PhotographyOf Mics and Men
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Studio UnknownSound DesignQueen Sugar, Wonder Woman, Reality High
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Alyse HamiltonKey Cast"Kellee"The C-word
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Isaiah EvansKey Cast"James"The C-word
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Valeka J. HoltKey Cast"Eileen"For Entertainment Purposes Only, First Love
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Bakaari WilderKey Cast"Mr. Henderson "American Tap
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Nelson IrizarryKey Cast"Dave"
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Project Type:Short
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Genres:Drama, Suspense, Noir, African-American, Domestic Abuse
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Runtime:21 minutes 41 seconds
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Completion Date:January 15, 2019
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Production Budget:25,000 USD
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Red
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
In 2010, Dewey Ortiz Jr co-founded DK Filmworks with the goal of changing the perception of African-Americans in cinema. The following year, Dewey began writing Comeuppance, a short screenplay about small-town greed and corruption. Dewey subsequently directed and executive produced the film which was featured at several film festivals.
In 2015, Dewey began developing The Runaways, a powerful short that follows abused and neglected teenagers as they gather the courage to escape their tumultuous lives. The Runaways wrapped post-production in early 2019, and will be screened at festivals throughout the year.
While developing The Runaways, Dewey created Survivor Stories, a four-part docu-series that highlights survivors of domestic abuse. In the summer of 2017, Survivor Stories won Best Web Series at the inaugural DC Black Film Festival and has been streamed over 100,000 times.
Presently, Dewey is in production on a documentary in DC, and writing his next feature film.
In writing and directing The Runaways I worked closely with advocates for domestic violence awareness who once upon a time where victims and abusers themselves. I was inspired by their courage and their tireless mission to end cycles of violence. My hope is that The Runaways can inspire in a similar fashion, and have a positive impact that can encourage dialogue and ultimately change.
I truly hope you enjoy the film. A lot of love went into making it; a lot of pain as well.
Dewey Ortiz Jr
Director, The Runaways