Jo

Natalie Schwan

Director(s): Natalie Schwan

Jo tells the story of a woman attempting to get her first book published. She takes a meeting with a publisher who rips her to shreds and claims no one will ever read it. Still, she leaves determined to prove him wrong, with a new fire burning within her. Only at the end does the audience discover who this famous author is and is astounded at her rejection.

I was inspired by J.K. Rowling's story: as a survivor of extreme grief, an overcomer saddled with extreme resilience and found her way to salvation through creativity. I wrote and directed this film as a prompt to the competition theme of a woman's story. This is definitely a woman-focused story, but it is also a story of the human spirit and the resolve to carry on despite extreme opposition.

Starring: Helen McMillan and Richard Crawford

Producer: Natalie Schwan

Director of Photography: Corey Gegner

Production Designer: Lauren Noel-Flores

Line Producer: Marissa Massa

Editor: Samantha Smith

Assistant Director: Jaclyn Gramigna

1st AC: Brett Checkelsky

2nd AC: Jon Farmer

Gaffer: Moe LaRena

Key Grip: Natalie Larkowski

Swing: Frank Cooper

Sound Mixer: Artur Szerejko

Hair + Make Up Artist: Elena Ganz

Wardrobe Stylist: Mario Wilson

Art Assistant: Jack Dobens 

Colorist: Na Thirakomen

Sound Designer: Ross Brunetti

Composer: Wes Braver

Casting: Wulf Casting

Dialect Coach: Susan Cameron

Set Photographer: Samantha Blinn

Production Assistants: Brittany Berger, Dakota Cruz, Johnny Graham, Alec Shangold, Seán van Doornam

Production Company: Velocity Creatives