Private Project

of Masquerade and Rhymes

It’s a dilemma old as time; how do you mend a broken heart? Safely tucked in her home, Jesse Collins uses her quick wit as a shield to keep the world at arm’s length. Calvin, her best
friend, steps up to meddle as only a best friend would, trying to help her start living again. Through a parks and rec poetry program, Jesse meets Hannah, a housewife who was looking for a hobby. The two find more than they expected, but could she possibly be the one to inspire Jesse to move on? In this short friendships are tested and tried, and lives and loves are rewritten with unexpected endings.

  • Laura Kay Henderson
    Director
  • Sarah E MacLean
    Director
  • PS Lorio
    Writer
  • Laura Kay Henderson
    Writer
  • Laura Kay Henderson
    Producer
  • Laura Kay Henderson
    Key Cast
    "Jesse"
  • Stefani Lynn Wallace
    Key Cast
    "Hannah"
  • Sarah E MacLean
    Key Cast
    "Donna"
  • Sam Slottow
    Key Cast
    "Molly"
  • Jack Pinto
    Key Cast
    "Calvin"
  • Jacob Burrell
    Key Cast
    "Mitchell"
  • Dale Hills
    Key Cast
    "Paul"
  • Nicole Jacobs
    Key Cast
    "Muriel"
  • Gail Snyder
    Key Cast
    "Joyce"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 43 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 30, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Film in the Zoo 2020
    Kalamazoo
    United States
    January 22, 2020
    Midwest Premiere
    Official Selection
  • BoxFest Detroit 2020
    Detroit, MI
    October 10, 2020
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Laura Kay Henderson, Sarah E MacLean

LAURA KAY HENDERSON (left)
Laura Kay Henderson is a Michigan based film producer, director, editor and actress, and the owner of SHE Films Media, LLC. She received her BA in Communication (Film, Video, Media Studies) from Western Michigan University. She earned her MA in Communication from the same institution. As an actress and avid traveler, Laura has filmed in South Korea, Canada, Italy, France, England and the United States. Behind the camera, Laura began producing documentaries in 2010, working with arts organizations focused on social justice and community development. of Masquerade and Rhymes is the first narrative film she has directed. A feature film of the same title is currently in pre-production, set to film Summer 2020. Outside of the movie business, Laura produces theatre, acts, does voiceover work and teaches Communications at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. She is also founder of the non-profit Queer Theatre Kalamazoo.

SARAH E MACLEAN (right)
Sarah E MacLean is no stranger to the film industry. Typically they can be found in front of the camera. Sarah has been acting for the camera since she received her BA in Theatre Performance at Western Michigan University in December 1999. She has acted in 13 independent films with Chuck Bentley and The Electronic Theater Company both locally and over seas. She can also be seen in a few locally made horror films by independent filmmakers in West Michigan. Even though Sarah has been a part of creating theatre since she was a small child, Sarah has been well known in Kalamazoo, Michigan for over 20 years acting and directing at local theaters. She is the Resident Company Director of Queer Theater Kalamazoo and has
acted and directed at many of the local community theatres. Sarah directed the stage version of the play Of Masquerade and Rhymes by P.S. Lorio at QTK. Sarah is thrilled to be a part of the
production crew for the short Of Masquerade and Rhymes by P.S. Lorio, adapted by Laura Kay Henderson. When Sarah is not pursuing her passions of theatre and film, she is teaching a
classroom of preschoolers or serving clients as a birth doula, Nurturer By Nature. Sarah feels very grateful to be able to save space for so many of the amazing things that make this wild
adventure we call life worth living.

Add Director Biography