In October of 2020, I was diagnosed with a panic disorder. I spent months unable to function because of constant panic attacks. Because of this, I had to leave high school. During this time, I started writing a screenplay about everything I was going through. Ultimately, writing is what allowed me to process all of those difficult feelings and get back to living my life. Since starting work on this screenplay I have gotten my high school diploma, enrolled in an acting conservatory and started to seriously focus on my creative career.

I am now in the pre-production stages of bringing this screenplay to life. My cast includes Kevin Corrigan (Superbad, Pineapple Express, The King of Staten Island) and Elizabeth Berridge (Amadeus, The Funhouse, Hidalgo) as well as Lee Strausberg students Joe Bodnar and Daniel Dale. This will be the sixth short film I have written, directed, and edited. My director of photography is Johnathan Cohen, a Boston University student and most of my crew is Frank Sinatra School of the Arts film students.

While in the process of pre-production I have run into several monetary concerns. Location, costumes, props, equipment, and transportation cost a lot. All money raised will go towards making this film a reality.

The film is a coming-of-age family drama, it will be about thirty minutes long, and it will be available on YouTube/Vimeo. My hope is that anyone out there who is also struggling with anxiety/depression/substance abuse will be able to watch this film and relate. Creating this project has helped me overcome my panic disorder, and I want to help others do the same.

Thank you so much for the support.

Sadie