Valerie's journey as a storyteller began in the pages of her childhood journals, where dreams, raw impressions of her world and glimpses into "the other side" formed the earliest threads of her narrative tapestry. Growing up in a house built in the 1800s—a place steeped in history and haunted by spirits, Valerie experienced encounters that would shape her lifelong fascination with the things that most people don't see with the naked eye. At age five, she came face-to-face with the spirit world and a boy named Kane, who tragically lost his life to a nearby train when his friends dared him to try outrunning it - sparking her early intrigue with the unexplainable. This childhood marked by brushes with the supernatural became a catalyst for Valerie’s exploration of the psyche and set the stage for her lifelong work as a writer, director, and film creator.
Throughout her career, Valerie has explored various forms of storytelling. She is a published writer, contributing articles on fitness and relationships for magazines and providing captivating copy for numerous websites. Her recent endeavors in fantasy, thriller, horror, and sci-fi novels have expanded her reach, allowing her to delve into imaginative realms where the supernatural meets suspense.
Valerie’s path has consistently returned her to film, where she has been part of major productions like Shanghai Noon, My Boss’s Daughter, Josie & the Pussycats and Agent Cody Banks, working as a therapist to stars on set. Observing the precision and intensity of Jackie Chan’s stunts firsthand on Shanghai Noon and watching other masters at work, she was captivated by the craft of filmmaking. Having been immersed in the film industry for decades in the medical field and also as an actress, Valerie has gained an insider’s appreciation for the art and technique of visual storytelling, and now she is taking her place as a producer and director, weaving her personal fascination with the mysterious and the unknown into her own cinematic creations.
Her love for the genre is personal. Growing up, she watched horror, thriller, and sci-fi films with her brother, who had Down syndrome. Together, they devoured films by directors like Brian De Palma, Martin Scorsese, and Hitchcock. While these were some of the only films her brother would stay awake for in the theater, they were also the seeds of her future work, embedding in her a love for suspenseful, thought-provoking storytelling. Deeply moved by emotion, all forms of storytelling are within the realm of possibility to produce. Documentaries and the human experience have a strong hold on this director. Valerie is a lover of classic cinema, drawing inspiration from the works of iconic black-and-white films of the picture-show era.
Today, as a filmmaker, Valerie combines her background in writing and her lifelong fascination with the supernatural to craft films that evoke a sense of mystery, suspense, and curiosity. Not limited to one genre or another, film is a journey where this director will not stay in one certain category. Through each project, she aims to rekindle the classic cinematic experience—immersing her audience in stories that linger long after the credits roll.
Director’s Statement
My films are an invitation to experience stories that ask more questions than they answer, leaving audiences with a sense of wonder and an unyielding need to discuss what they’ve just seen. As a director, my goal is to provoke thought and evoke a deep connection to each character, scene, and twist. I want my films to pull audiences into a timeless space where the supernatural intersects with the everyday and where one choice can alter the entire course of a life.
I seek to create films that inspire that post-cinema diner conversation—where, over a slice of pie and a cup of coffee, viewers can dissect the characters, plot twists, and unforgettable scenes. This desire to evoke a true cinematic experience calls me to work within different periods, using black and white when the story calls for it, and to weave themes that explore how single events shape a lifetime.
Having spent much of my career on sets around the country, watching iconic scenes come to life, I’ve seen what it means to create worlds that move people. It’s this mastery I aim to bring to my own films. Whether set in the haunting silence of a forgotten past or the sharp realism of present-day, my work will bring audiences to the edge of their seats and beyond. These are films meant to challenge perceptions, invite conversation, and illuminate the many ways that our encounters—both seen and unseen—shape who we become.