“Wicked” star Marissa Bode and Tony nominee Julia Lester are among the actors lending their talents to the short films by Inevitable Foundation‘s Visionary Fellowship filmmakers.
The year-long program provides disabled filmmakers with the funding, community and guidance to create a short film that could eventually be made into their debut feature. The inaugural cohort of fellows — Zayre Ferrer, Monica Lucas, Filipe Coutinho, Alys Murray and Katherine Craft — received $55,000 in funding for their short film, as well as a production grant, access to an experienced crew, health insurance, marketing support and financial aid for access and travel.
Production on the shorts is underway in neighborhoods across Los Angeles and will continue through the end of June. Casting is by Danielle Pretsfelder Demchick, CSA, and Elizabeth Hay, CSA.
“We are very excited to welcome these incredible actors who will help bring our 2025 Visionary Fellowship short films to life,” said Inevitable Foundation co-founders Richie Siegel and Marisa Torelli-Pedevska in a statement. “We are proud to be producing all of the films in Los Angeles, which is allowing us to maximize accessibility on-set and work with the talented crews who call L.A. their home.”
Bode will star in Craft’s “The Hog Queen,” which is set in a small-town Texas gay bar during its Hog Fest Drag Show. The film follows, as the logline explains, “when all hell breaks loose and the people trapped inside scramble to survive the hogs…and each other.” The project, which shoots in Van Nuys, also features Garrett Coffey, Aaron Leddick, Christian Zamudio and Skyler Davenport.
Lester will star in Murray’s “Beware Cockblocking Ghosts,” which follows a teenage girl who must escape with her life when the demonic ghost of her dead best friend gets murderously jealous of her homecoming plans. The film also stars Reed Horstmann and Ruby Jay, and will shoot in Glendale.
Coutinho’s “8-Tracks,” follows a heartbroken 30-year-old who recounts, with great energy and a touch of magical realism, two life-defining relationships through the eight songs that tell their story. The film stars Graham Patrick Martin, Matt Shively and Shannon Dang, and also shoots in Glendale.
Ferrer’s “Bembé,” follows a bandless Merengue bandleader hustling her way through the flourishing Latin Music scene of 1980s New York, and learning the hard way that if you wanna make it, you can’t do it alone. The film, which will shoot in Hancock Park, stars Rafael Castillo, Lex Lumpkin, Vico Ortiz, Nathaly Navarro, Mauro Castillo, Fernando Huc and Carlos El Grande.
Lucas’ “Double Birthday Christmas Wedding,” will star Lilli Kay and follows identical twin sisters Gina and Victoria, who were born on Christmas Day and have always been attached at the hip. The logline explains: “When golden child Victoria gets engaged and sets the wedding for Christmas day, down-on-her-luck Gina refuses to be left behind and competing Birthday Christmas Weddings ensue.” The film will shoot in Sherman Oaks.
Founded in 2021, Inevitable Foundation has supported hundreds of disabled filmmakers through a series of programs, including its Accelerate Fellowship, Elevate Collective, Elevate for Podcasters and Emergency Relief Fund. The Visionary Fellowship is exclusively supported through Netflix’s Fund for Creative Equity, which trains aspiring filmmakers for jobs on Netflix productions. The short films will be screened at an industry event this fall.