Private Project

Her Unlikely Kin

Sarah Rassi is running out of options. She needs a bone marrow transplant and her only match on the registry is troubled war veteran, Peyton Sinclair. Can Peyton overcome his own battles with PTSD to step up and save Sarah's life? Her Unlikely Kin tells the story of two strangers, who by rare genetic chance, can offer each other new life.

  • Kenneth J. Raimondi
    Director
  • Kenneth J. Raimondi
    Writer
  • Jackie Raimondi
    Producer
  • Kenneth J. Raimondi
    Producer
  • Nick Stevenson
    Key Cast
    Orange is the New Black
  • Alexis Santiago
    Key Cast
  • John Castellanos
    Key Cast
    The Young and the Restless
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 2 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 1, 2015
  • 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:
    Yes
  • G.I. Film Festival
    D.C.
    United States
    May 28, 2016
  • Worldfest Houston
    Houston
    United States
    April 10, 2016
    Platinum Remi Award
  • Gasparilla Film Festival
    Tampa
    April 3, 2016
    World
  • San Antonio Film Festival
    San Antonio
    July 30, 2016
  • Southern Colorado Film Festival
    Alamosa
    October 13, 2016
  • Alamo City Film Festival
    San Antonio
    October 29, 2016
  • South Texas Underground Film Festival
    Corpus Christi
    November 12, 2016
    Best Short
  • Las Cruces International Film Festival
    Las Cruces
    United States
    March 4, 2017
    Best Narrative Short
  • Nacogdoches Film Festival
    Nacogdoches
    United States
    February 25, 2017
Director Biography - Kenneth J. Raimondi

Ken grew up in Connecticut and was always interested in story telling. He graduated from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in 1999 while still finishing High School but realized that he wanted to experience something more before locking down a career choice. After graduating from High School, he joined the Air Force and spent the next 13 years traveling the world.
He served as a helicopter crew chief, honor guardsman, and recruiter until finally settling in on what he did best, story telling. Ken spent the last 7 years of his career as a broadcaster telling the Air Force and NATO story while serving in Korea, Texas and Afghanistan. He earned top honors in the Department of Defense for his innovative interactive documentary project called “30 Days Through Afghanistan”.
In 2011, Ken’s life took a dramatic turn. He was diagnosed with a rare disease called Aplastic Anemia. The bone marrow failure disorder eventually led him to a bone marrow transplant and he was forced to leave active service. Ken knew he wanted to continue to tell stories. He started Story. Told. Productions and enrolled in the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Film program.
Now three years post transplant, Ken is healthy and has finished his first short film, Her Unlikely Kin, currently on the film festival circuit. He lives in Schertz Texas with his wife and two kids.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

In 2011, I was diagnosed with a rare blood disease called Aplastic Anemia. At the time, I was active duty in the Air Force and in the prime of my life. I would eventually need a bone marrow transplant and thanks to a selfless donor on the bone marrow registry, I was given a second chance at life. It’s a debt I can never fully repay but one I will also never forget.

I was one of the lucky ones. Many people who need bone marrow transplants don’t have any matches on the registry. For some, they have a match but those matches for one reason or another don’t follow through with the donation. When I found out that number was near 70%, I was shocked.

I wondered who would not follow through with giving when they knew it would offer someone a chance to survive? I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Then I dug a little deeper.

What if the only match was someone whose own life was in the balance? What if it was a veteran battling PTSD? What if?

I explore those questions in Her Unlikely Kin. It’s my hope the story will grip viewers to want to know more about what the main characters are battling and in turn bring a heightened awareness to causes I deeply care for. Peyton Sinclair and Sarah Rassi are about as different as two people can be. They differ physically, culturally, emotionally yet genetically, they can offer each other a second chance at life.

His only chance … is her last.