Private Project

Waking Life

A grieving dad seeks to repair a broken relationship with his teenage daughter after a family crisis rips them apart.

  • Valerie Finkel
    Director
  • Shaelyn Theule-Koops
    Writer
  • Valerie Finkel
    Producer
  • Shaelyn Theule-Koops
    Producer
  • Dana Koops
    Key Cast
    "Clara"
  • Nick George
    Key Cast
    "Norman"
  • Rainy Kerwin
    Key Cast
    "Ruth"
  • Marc Anthony Samuel
    Key Cast
    "Nurse Andrew"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 27 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 20, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • LA Shorts (Los Angeles Shorts International Film Festival)
    Los Angeles
    United States
    July 22, 2019
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Shore to Shore Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    March 15, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Indie Short Fest
    Los Angeles
    United States
    April 1, 2020
    AWARD: Best Child/Young Actress
  • Los Angeles Motion Picture Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    August 31, 2020
    AWARD WINNER: Silver Best Drama Short Film
  • Indie Short Fest
    Los Angeles
    United States
    April 1, 2020
    AWARD NOMINEE: Best First Time Director
Director Biography - Valerie Finkel

Born in New York, and raised in the Washington DC area, Valerie headed north to Boston University for her Bachelor’s degree in Film, and then west to Los Angeles, where she earned an Associates degree in Theater at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her path to becoming a filmmaker began with her learning as many aspects of the craft as she could; before stepping up to Directing, she had honed her skills in everything from Production Managing to Costume Designing to Acting. “The consummate Director,” says Valerie, “is one who can walk in the shoes of all the members of her team.” She has spent the last 30 years working in Television and Film, and is a proud member of the Directors Guild of America.

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Director Statement

WAKING LIFE is a beautiful, emotional piece about how events beyond our control can take away our control, at once making us painfully aware that we are no longer at the helm, and perhaps we never were. WAKING LIFE spoke to me and I think it will speak to everyone, for who among us has not been touched by tragedy – it is part of being alive. We are, all of us, vulnerable and fragile, but the human spirit is resilient and alongside despair lives hope, the very thing we must hold onto so we can carry on. This is my directorial debut.