End of the Festival Run

When I set out to direct my first short film, I didn’t know what to do or what to expect. I certainly didn’t anticipate how wonderfully life-altering the experience would be.

I want to thank everyone who helped create Invasion ‘53, starting with Richard Jefferies who pointed me in the right direction when I had no clue how to make a movie. Next, thank you to my producer Kurt Uebersax, who thought he was just giving me some tips and sending me on my way but instead became my mentor and collaborator. Thank you to the Invasion ‘53 team—Sam, Ashley, Nancy, Adeline, Camden, Grey, Matt, Ricky, Eric, Katie, and everyone in the crew. Thank you to my lifelong friend Margaret, who flew across the country with her baby and learned how to be a script supervisor in order to help me.

Thank you to Anthony for powering through migraines and late nights to compose and produce a score that expertly blends Bernard Herrmann and Lawrence Welk, with some ragtime and, of course, a theremin. Thank you to Steve Bamonti for getting those twinkling stars just right, and to Matt Riggieri and Matt Bittman for their consummate work in post to make this film look and sound as if it were made in the 1950s.

My job as director was infinitely easier because my cast was marvelous. Annie, John, Nicole, Rick, Michal, Dan, Zach, Lisa, Vince, and Bill, thank you for breathing life into these characters and making the audience care about each and every one of them.

When I was growing up and watching Deep Space Nine, I was excited every time I saw the name Jeffrey Combs in the opening credits. I didn’t know which alien he’d play that week, but I knew he’d be amazing. Now he has one more alien role under his belt, and it’s some of his best work. Jeff, thank you for putting your trust in me and for being supportive at every turn.

Just as I didn’t know what to expect making the movie, I had no idea how we’d fare with festivals. The answer turned out to be “very well.” From San Jose to San Diego Comic-Con, to Boston, New York—Upstate and City—Miami, Seattle, L.A., the Jersey Shore, Richmond, Grand Rapids, and Washington, D.C., to Sydney, Edmonton, Halifax, the Skellig Coast of Ireland, London, England, and back home to Maryland ten times—including twice at the Weinberg Center for the Arts—this little movie has traveled the globe. And it hasn’t been alone, because you all have shown up in droves, over and over again.

Thank you to all the friends and family—and family of friends—who have come out to our screenings across the country, many of you on several occasions. Your support and encouragement resonate long after the lights come up.

Thank you to the festival directors, the programmers, the screeners and volunteers who make these events possible. And thank you to the movie lovers—and the Invasion ‘53 fans—who have come out to watch this film for the last year and a half. After 65 selections and 30 awards, the festival run of Invasion ‘53 has come to a close.

I embarked on this project to try directing and learn about production. But I am taking away much more than that. The biggest rewards of this journey aren’t the laurels or the trophies. They’re the friendships that developed and deepened along the way and the knowledge that so many of you believe in me. And for that, I thank you.