Fundraiser for BREATHE Short Film

I’ve always wanted to make a thriller. Seven years ago, I reached out to a writer friend Diana Mar to start writing a thriller about a strained mother/daughter relationship. I wanted to create a project where my daughter Sydney and I can work together, and there needed to be a cool action fight scene! Then life happened and time got away. In April this year, I reached out to Diana to see if we can make a short film version and if she can write a first draft by July 1st. And it happened! Then, I brought in director friend Art Chudabala, followed by Executive Producer Will Mahr at Cinescape Pictures!

We’re excited to announce that we are in Production for our thriller film BREATHE, and we’d love your support in raising funds!

BREATHE logline: A controlling mother and her burnt-out valedictorian daughter retreat to a relaxing Airbnb to repair their strained relationship, only to discover that the tortured legacy of the house forces them to confront the darkest corners of their own conflict.

Here’s our cast so far:

Here’s our amazing team so far:

Our goal is to raise $15,000 by 10/31/25 to complete this 10-15 minute SAG-AFTRA film! We start filming in November. Your donation will go towards paying for the following:

Any amount is greatly appreciated! Your support means a lot to us!

With Gratitude,

Jennifer, Will, Art, Kipp, Sydney, Diana, and Team BREATHE

Read Below for Bios:

Jennifer Aquino - Actor, Executive Producer

Jennifer Aquino is an actor based in Los Angeles. She’s known as the Doctor who killed McDreamy on "Grey’s Anatomy.” Aquino who can currently be heard on the popular Netflix series “Beyond the Bar,” will be seen in the upcoming feature film Out of the Woods with Frances Fisher, directed by Sal Bardo. Past TV projects include the CBS series “Matlock” opposite Kathy Bates and Sky P. Marshall, “General Hospital” “Angel from Hell” and “Matador” to name a few, with films including The Message, Screenland Drive and Only the Brave with Tamlyn Tomita. In addition, she collaborated with Academy Award-winner John Ridley, she produced and performed as the strong-willed daughter in his original play Ten Thousand Years at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. She continues to be repped by Bailey Harrison at Exclusive Artists Agency and Bradley Richards at Kairos-Talent Management.

Art Chudabala - Director

Los Angeles native Art Chudabala made his acting debut opposite Christian Slater in the 1988 cult classic Gleaming the Cube. He went on to guest star on iconic TV series including The West Wing, Six Feet Under, ER, Boston Legal, and Grey’s Anatomy, and work with acclaimed directors Kathryn Bigelow (Strange Days), Irwin Winkler (Life as a House), and Steven Spielberg (War of the Worlds). In 2004, he received a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the Oscar-winning ensemble of Crash.

Shifting behind the camera, Art produced and edited for Sony’s Underworld franchise, Showtime’s Californication, and served as a staff editor at Paramount Pictures. His 2017 short film The Anniversary earned “Best Thriller Short” and “Best Editing” at multiple film festivals.

Fun Fact: Art once cooked his family’s Thai BBQ recipe alongside Bobby Flay on Food Network’s Grill It!

Will Mahr - Executive Producer, 1st AD

Will Mahr is Executive Producer at Cinescape Pictures and is based in Los Angeles. He brings experience from previous roles at A+E Networks, Propagate Content, and Big Fish Entertainment. Will produced History's Greatest Mysteries with Laurence Fishburne, as well as Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid. Will recently worked with Jennifer Aquino and Joe Gunawan in their award-winning drama short “To Be With You” and is excited to be working with them again in BREATHE.

Diana Mar - Writer, Producer

Diana Mar is an award-winning screenwriter whose honors include the Walt Disney Fellowship, the Samuel Goldwyn Award, the Streisand-Sony Fellowship, and the Jack Nicholson Prize. A former story analyst for Kathryn Bigelow, Wolfgang Petersen, and New Regency, she has a proven eye for market-ready stories. Her latest project—a horror short (Breathe) —uses genre to examine the toxic toll of today’s relentless achievement culture on the parent-child relationship.

Kipp Shiotani - Producer

Kipp is an Actor/Director/Producer born and raised Buddhist in Salt Lake City, Utah – enough said! His first gig was opposite Jim Carrey, Damon and Keenan Wayans and Alan Michael Greer in the pilot episode of the groundbreaking sketch comedy show “In Living Color.” Kipp has appeared in many Film & TV projects including series finale episodes of “The X Files” and “What I like About You” and has had recurring roles on the soaps “Bold and the Beautiful,” “Santa Barbara,” and “General Hospital.” Academy Award-winner John Ridley cast Kipp as David Kim in the Showtime series “Barbershop” based on the popular movies. Currently he can be heard on the Netflix series “Daughter of Lupin” and is looking forward to producing BREATHE.

Sydney Shiotani - Actor, Producer

Sydney Shiotani is a Filipino/Japanese American actor based in Los Angeles. Raised by two other actors and artists, she spent much of her childhood on sets and behind curtains where she fell in love with the art form that five year old her would describe as "playing pretend every day!"

After getting accepted to over a dozen top acting programs across the country, she ultimately decided on Rutgers University to obtain her BFA. She’s had the privilege of working with Pamela Adlon on the FX Network show “Better Things,” playing Caesar in “Antony and Cleopatra” at The Globe Theater in London, as well as Lysander in “A Midsummer Night's Dream,” and Goneril in Young Jean Lee’s “Lear.”

One of her biggest goals is to play the roles she wishes she could have seen people like her play when she was little; aiming to create a greater space for queer POC in film, television, and theater. When she's not acting, she enjoys getting lost in horror novels, DMing Dungeons & Dragons, and impulsively picking up new hobbies.

Jim Beaver - Actor

Jim Beaver is an American character actor, best known for his leading roles on the TV series Deadwood and Supernatural. Born in Laramie, Wyoming a minister's son, he was raised in and around Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. He obtained a degree in theatre and returned to the Dallas area where he worked for five seasons with the Dallas Shakespeare Festival. After two seasons on 3rd Rock from the Sun as French Stewart's sullen bar-owner boss Happy Doug, Beaver landed his most prominent and critically acclaimed role, that of Ellsworth, the gruff but decent and beloved prospector in the landmark Western series Deadwood. After that, he moved to the popular father-figure role of demon hunter Bobby Singer on Supernatural, a part that brought him a worldwide fan base and a secondary career making personal appearances.

Joe Gunawan - Director of Photography

Joe Gunawan is a Cinematographer based in Los Angeles. He has worked on numerous films including “Eclosion,” “Angel,” and “Complicit” among others. Joe recently worked with Jennifer Aquino and Will Mahr in their award-winning drama short “To Be With You” and is excited to be working with them again in BREATHE.

Heather Dowling - Actor, Script Supervisor

Heather Dowling is an award-winning actress and writer who co-wrote, produced and stars in the comedy series DOWN THE MIDDLE streaming on YouTube, featuring Tom Bergeron. This past year, Heather made an appearance on Paramount + in Season 18 of Criminal Minds: Evolution.

In her two critically acclaimed one-person shows, UNEMPLOYED. FINALLY. and FERTILE, Heather brought to life 50 distinct characters. Both shows won the PRODUCERS' ENCORE AWARD and were nominated for BEST SOLO PERFORMANCE at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. The shows were also selected for the prestigious L.A WOMEN'S THEATRE FESTIVAL and deemed BEST OF FEST at SOLOFEST, the largest solo festival on the West Coast. Both were also selected for UNITED SOLO, the largest solo festival in the world, on 42nd Street in New York City.

Learn more about her at HeatherDowling.com and follow her on Instagram @SaysHeather

Keelyn McDermott - Actor/Costume Designer

Keelyn McDermott is a multidisciplinary theater artist with a passion for storytelling through performance, design, and direction. With years of experience as an actor, director, and costume designer, she thrives at the intersection of creative vision and collaboration. In addition to her stage work, Keelyn has contributed to several film projects as a lead performer, costumer, and script supervisor. She is thrilled to both star in and costume design this film, bringing her integrated approach to character and aesthetics to the screen as part of her ongoing exploration of identity, imagination, and cultural critique.

Sheilla Josanna is a Production Designer based in Los Angeles. She recently worked with Jennifer Aquino, Will Mahr, and Joe Gunawan in their award-winning drama short “To Be With You” and is excited to be working with them again in BREATHE.

Joseph Bennie - Film Composer

Australian composer Joseph Bennie is earning recognition for his powerful and cinematic scores across film, television, and streaming platforms. His recent work includes the feature thriller “Control” (starring Lauren Metcalfe), released on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV, as well as the UK horror feature “Cain Hill”. Joseph has also composed for numerous international short films, including the action piece “Defector” and the dark comedy/horror “Train Set.”

Beyond original scores, Joseph is known for his epic re-imagined themes and orchestral releases, such as “The Planet Krypton” (Epic Version With Choir) and “Titan,” a full trailer-style album. His music has been featured worldwide in television programs, trailers, and promotional campaigns. Blending sweeping orchestration with dramatic storytelling, Joseph Bennie continues to establish himself as a bold and dynamic voice in contemporary screen composition.

Samantha Soriano is a Makeup and Hair Stylist based in Los Angeles. She recently worked with Jennifer Aquino and Will Mahr in their award-winning drama short “To Be With You” and is excited to be working with them again in BREATHE. Fun Fact! She dresses up as a Catrina to support the Latin community, the arts, and to empower women.

Anais Almonte - Fight Choreographer

Anais Almonte is a Dominican-born stunt actress and producer raised in New York City. She began her acting career at The Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute in NYC. Her achievements as a martial artist and amateur MMA fighter led her career as a stunt performer working in Marvel movies and Disney TV shows. In 2017, she launched her own production company, 2Guns Productions, with producing partner Joe Ariola. In 2021, they produced their first feature film "Delusional" a psychological thriller, distributed by Gravitas Adventure, and subsequently platformed on Amazon Prime and Tubi. Her short film, Something To Give, premiered at The Circuit Fest and garnered accolades as an Official Selection at The Worldwide Women's Film Festival and her latest controversial short film, Justice, her first directorial debut, a film that she also wrote and produced.