"Scott & Zelda At Home" came to me ​in a single evening. Well, sort of…

In 2022 I was taking a class on period ​movement styles and our final project was ​a two-hour improvised acting piece where ​we each would embody a real-life figure ​from the Roaring 20s. My soon-to-be ​producing partner Jenna Elise and I had ​the honor of playing Zelda & F. Scott ​Fitzgerald. We both fell deeply in love ​with these people and the mythos ​surrounding them.

A year later at a small off-off Broadway ​theater, Jenna and I were back together ​performing a different piece and ​throughout the rehearsal process we kept ​saying how much we missed Scott & ​Zelda. We kept saying, “one day.” Well, ​the night after that performance became ​that one day.

Creatively charged from performing with ​Jenna, and albeit a bit intoxicated, the ​idea for a Scott & Zelda script began to ​flow. Much like F. Scott himself, ​inspiration struck and I wrote late into ​the already late evening. The next ​morning after walking my dog and some ​necessary hydration, I opened my laptop ​once again. Positive I was going to find ​a mess of drunk ramblings, I instead ​found a fully formed script. Equipped ​with a beginning, middle, and end, all it ​needed was a little polish.

Two days later, Jenna and I meet at a ​café and walk out as producing partners.

A year after that, after running an over-​achieving Kickstarter campaign, after ​meeting with several top Fitzgerald ​scholars, after an adrenaline filled 4-day ​film shoot, and after several months of ​editing and post-production, we are finally ​ready to share our film with the world.

These characters and people hold a deep, ​meaningful place in my heart as well as ​Jenna’s and the brilliant team we had the ​honor of collaborating with. We know ​audiences will fall in love with the beauty ​and tragedy of Zelda & F. Scott just as we ​have.

To me, Scott represents my own lack of ​self-confidence. I understood him as a ​fellow midwesterner-turned-New Yorker ​itching to make something greater than ​himself. Ultimately, Scott found his defeat ​in crippling alcoholism. My case is not yet ​closed (though I am quite optimistic.) I'm ​hoping in getting this film out in the world, ​I can begin quieting the voices in my head ​that tell me I am "less" or “inadequate." ​Those same voices that plagued Scott, the ​artists before him, and those that have ​followed.

Zelda, a brilliant artist in her own right, ​sadly lived in the shadow of her husband at ​a time when the achievements of women ​were not recognized in the ways they ​deserved. Similar to my journey, Jenna ​found startling parallels between herself ​and Zelda. Jenna’s understanding of her ​misunderstood and tortured soul brought ​the character to life in a way that had not ​been seen before.

I am proud to take a microscope at two of ​the most famous figures of the 1920s a full ​century since the initial publishing of The ​Great Gatsby. I wanted to take a deeper ​look at our societal views on mental health, ​alcoholism, and the creative oppression of ​women of the time. In 100 years we’ve ​gotten much better, but there is still so ​much room for growth and improvement. I ​sincerely hope that people come out of this ​film with a new appreciation and ​understanding of the pressure of making ​art and the toll it can take on one's life if ​they’re not careful.

• RILEY J. EWING

RILEY is a Filmmaker/Actor from suburban Kansas. ​He grew up with a love for theatre and old movies his ​mom would show him when he was home sick from ​school. After studying Theatre in college, Riley found ​himself drawn to telling stories from the other side of ​the camera. Since 2017, he has produced five short ​films with his production company SPACEHEAD ​Productions. Now based in Brooklyn, Riley works at ​bringing his idealistic and surreal views on life to ​whatever platform fits the story. He has studied at ​Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music, The William ​Esper Studios, The Upright Citizens Brigade and the ​Sundance CO//AB. When not working on artistic ​endeavors, Riley is often looking to get out into ​nature and on the best hiking trails and national ​parks with his wiener dog, Arnold.

If you told Jenna Elise six years ago that she’d be ​pursuing a career as an actor and filmmaker, she ​definitely wouldn’t believe you! In 2019, with a BA in ​Economics and a five-year career in private equity ​under her belt, Jenna left it all behind to work as an ​actor, singer and producer in NYC. In 2022, Jenna ​completed the William Esper Studio's two year ​conservatory program, having also studied the ​techniques of Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler and Susan ​Batson.

Outside of “Scott & Zelda at Home,” recent projects ​include the leading roles of Sarah Thacker in "The ​Darkness Outside," now available to watch on ​Amazon Prime, and Mona in "Fuggboi," a 2021 ​webseries.

Starring as Zelda Fitzgerald has truly been a dream ​come true and she has been thrilled at marrying her ​artistic passions with her business experience in this ​debut film of her production company, ITM Pictures.

Hollye is an experienced independent produce​r, who recently acted as Production Coordinator on​ Julia Stile's feature directorial debut "Wish Yo​u Were Here". She is beginning her festival run of her​ writing & directing debut, “Cotton Something” (Sem​i-Finalist Flicker Rhode Island Film Festiva​l). She has independently produced eight short film​s - most of which are only starting their festival runs:​ “The Itch” (selected by Lift-Off Global Network: Firs​t Time Film Maker Sessions, The Dark Hedges Interna​tional Film Festival, Stock Shock, Make Believe S​eattle), "A Splinter in the Eye" (Official Selec​tion Odense International Film Festival), "The Arcade", ​"The Bull", "Face Value", "Bardo", "Scott & Zelda at​ Home" & "A Fish Out​ of Water".

Sydnee Savannah Williams is an actor, model and ​producer based in NYC. Originally from Boise, Idaho, ​she grew up with the dream to work in the industry. ​After receiving her BFA from Baldwin Wallace ​University, Sydnee is now in NYC studying at William ​Esper Studio’s two-year acting technique program, ​One On One NYC, and is a recent alumni of UCB. ​Her recent film, Riley J Ewing’s “Unplugged”, can be ​viewed on YouTube.

Maeve Forti is an actor, writer, and producer based ​in New York City. Growing up in Boston, ​Massachusetts, she had a lifelong dream of becoming ​an actor. Maeve received her B.A. from Yale ​University in Sociology & Journalism, and has since ​trained at UCB and Anthony Meindl’s Actor ​Workshop. After moving to New York City, she made ​her television debut in 2022 on NBC’s Law & Order. ​She spends her free time writing and walking her ​Golden Retriever Daisy.

Jacob is a New York based Director of Photography ​that specializes in narrative cinematography. With a ​background in set lighting, he combines an extensive ​technical knowledge of lighting and camera tech with ​inspiration from a wide range of world cinema to find ​the right look for each project. In his free time he can ​be found in a nearby movie theater or painting ​frames for his current passion project - a music video ​about many New Yorkers watching the same sunset. ​Jacob was recently accepted to the ASC Vision ​Mentorship for the 2023-2024 year.

Francesca is a New York-based Production Designer, ​with experience in both commercial production and ​the indie feature scene. She has worked closely with ​companies like Feverpitch Productions and Stanulis ​Films, specializing in summer slashers and horror ​films. In addition to her work as a Production ​Designer, Francesca is also a Writer/Director in the ​comedy genre, which greatly influences her devotion ​to story and character relationships when bringing ​sets to life.

Born in Burbank, California, Walker Mitchell-Schill is ​an Editor/Post Supervisor who has been

in editing rooms since before he could work a ​computer! Only a short subway ride from the heart

of Hollywood, it’s no wonder he’s found his home in ​the world of post-production. With over a

decade spent working in editing rooms of all kinds, ​he embodies the essence of cinematic

storytelling.

Walker has spent the last 3 years working in Film and ​Television, gaining a full view and

understanding of the post-production process. A ​lifelong student of the creative process, he has a

foothold in Music as well, with a degree in Music ​Performance, and time spent as a sound

designer/engineer.

Editing Scott & Zelda At Home has been an enriching, ​rewarding, and reflective experience for

Walker, with an incredible cast, crew, and story, this ​film is a paramount building block of his

artistic endeavors to come.

GREGORY GOOD

COMPOSER / ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

GREGORY GOOD

COMPOSER / ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

Zach Kochuyt is a Nashville-based audio engineer ​with over a decade of experience. He has worked in ​almost every facet of the industry ranging from live ​shows to film post-production. He most recently ​performed the music supervisor role for Scott and ​Zelda at Home, also being a part of the recording, ​mixing, and mastering of these songs as well.

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