Private Project

The Runner

An ambitious Production Assistant fights to survive a stressful day on set.

  • Nic Inglese
    Director
    Awkwafina is Nora from Queens
  • Matt Bryce
    Writer
    Emerson College - Writing for Film & Television MFA
  • Nic Inglese
    Writer
    Awkwafina is Nora from Queens
  • Matt Bryce
    Producer
    Emerson College - Writing for Film & Television MFA
  • Ginette Neveu
    Producer
  • Ziwen Zhang
    Producer
  • Matt Bryce
    Key Cast
    Emerson College - Writing for Film & Television MFA
  • Livia Scott
    Key Cast
    Difficult People
  • Roy Schuler
    Key Cast
    FBI: Most Wanted, Law & Order: SVU, Power Book III
  • Sage Spielman
    Key Cast
    Riff Raff
  • Martin Pfefferkorn
    Key Cast
    Nurse Jackie, Fallout
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 51 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 16, 2024
  • 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:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Nic Inglese

Nic Inglese is a writer, director, and actor born and raised in Queens, New York. He holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU Tisch
and a BFA in Film from SUNY Purchase.


His previous short film All Boys screened at festivals like Bushwick Film Festival and HollyShorts' Monthly Screening Series before debuting online with Film Shortage, where it achieved a Best Pick of the Month.

As an actor, Nic has appeared in feature films like Babes (SXSW, 2024) and After Class (Tribeca Film Festival, 2019), as well as TV series such as Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, GIRLS5EVA, and Succession.

He is looking forward to watching the
Mets win the 2025 World Series.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Filmmaking is often associated with directors, writers, and actors—but the heart of every production beats because of the crew, especially production assistants. As someone who has lived that experience, I wanted to create The Runner as an ode to the unsung heroes of every set.

The Runner captures the absurdity, exhaustion, and resilience that define life as a PA. It’s a job that demands everything while offering little recognition, yet it is the foundation of so many industry careers. Through a blend of humor and chaos, the film presents an authentic perspective on the relentless hustle behind the camera—one that I hope resonates with both industry veterans and newcomers alike.

At its core, this film is about more than just production assistants. It’s about chasing dreams in an industry that thrives on unpredictability. It’s about finding meaning in the madness and camaraderie in shared struggle. My goal with The Runner is to celebrate the people who make filmmaking possible and to shine a light on a story rarely told.

I am incredibly excited to share this film with audiences and hope it connects with those who have ever been “the runner” on set—whether literally or metaphorically.