1. The feature will be shot in Kentucky, on Cut Shin Creek, and using as much of a local crew and cast as we can. 

2. Local musicians hired to help with the music. 

3. Local horses and descendants of these women and this time, if we can. 

4. We want to explore the private moments of Ruth, her relationship with the terrain, and dive even more into the generational strength and relationships that are the backbone of our story.

 

 

 

RUTH the Short Film has already received multiple awards at screenplay competitions!

 

Our Team

Rachael Worthington

Writer / Creator / Actress

Hi, I am the writer of this project.

This is a piece of my heart. A love letter to the south, the strong women in my family, and generational strength. It is a narrative hardly anone knows about mirrored with the sacrifices of the present, rooted in true historical events and circumstances, and it holds everything I care about in one story. Visually, and cinematically, I want it to be an homage to that region, and the women of the Pack Horse Library Project. It is important to me that the story gets told, and I want to be the one to tell it.

From the east coast of North Carolina, I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Art from UNC Chapel Hill, where my career began with PlayMakers Repertory Company. I graduated with my M A in Acting from The New School for Drama in 2019. Over the last few years, I have discovered that writing is one of the great loves of my life, and I want nothing more than to see my work brought to life. I have acted in and worked on countless sets, with countless crews. So far, I have written a pilot and season of a comedy series, currently being pitched around by my writing partner (star of Tyler Perry's "A Jazzman's Blues"). I also am in pre-production as the sole writer for a fully produced TikTok musical comedy series starring Broadway's Amber Ardolino.

I am in love with this craft, and I want to tell this story.

I want to make this short film. These women deserve to be known by anyone willing to listen.

 

Lisa Donmall-Reeve

Creative Producer

Lisa was born in the UK, lived in London, New York and now in Los Angeles. She trained at The London Studio Centre, The Conservatoire de Paris (with Matt Mattox) and Martha Graham, NYC. West End credits: Velma Kelly in Chicago, 1st us Ulla in The Producers (original co) Sweet Charity, Crazy For You (u/s Polly) My Fair Lady (original co) Once in a Lifetime (National Theatre) .NYC/International touring and regional; A Chorus Line, The Opera Show, The Rat Pack, 42nd St, Anything Goes, Crazy for You, Cats, Mary Poppins, Sweet Charity, Pride and Prejudice. Numerous choreography and assistant chore/dir credits including Matilda, 42nd Street, Crazy For You, Cats and Peter Pan.

Lisa launched IDR Creative LIC in 2016 with the objective to build creative teams that inspire, and to produce product that makes a difference. Her fi r s t short film, 'Early Mourning', was screened at over 20 film festivals, winning 5awards including the Audience Award at the Soho International Film Festival 2017 in NYC. The follow-up short film, 'Free' is distributed on both Shorts TV and Amazon Prime, and 'Double Exposure' has had a very successful run on the film festival circuit. Lisa's first feature length documentary, 'Uprooted - The Journey of Jazz Dance' enjoyed a world premiere at the Lincoln Center’s Dance on Camera Film Festival in NYC, winning the Best of Fest Feature Award in 2020 and then continued to take the festival circuit by storm winning eighteen further awards including Best Musical Documentary at The Rhode Island International Film Festival and was nominated for Best Documentary during its International Premiere at Raindance Film Festival.

Uprooted is currently streaming on HBO Max in the US. IDR Creative has her second feature documentary 'Susan Feniger. FORKED' on the film festival circuit, two short films also enjoying their festival journey and two narrative features in pre-production. For more information www.ldrcreative.com IMDB

 

Daryl Getman

Director

Director + creator - Daryl Getman seeks to tell stories through movement and imagery, utilizing several mediums from the stage, to film and photography. She was awarded "Fearless Female Filmmaker" from the Coronado Film Festival for her work as director of Double Exposure (LDR Creative), a short romantic comedy film. Whimsy met reality - her style on this piece encompasses a world that feels real, yet heightened, utilizing choreography and music to enhance the story in an almost dreamlike way. She particularly loves working on women's stories - seeking content that is thought provoking, empowering and universal.

A performer in the Broadway community for over a decade, she soon found herself on other side of the table, collaborating on creative teams for a number of productions from stage concerts and broadway musicals, to film. A few highlights include working at Carnegie Hall, ABC, PBS, and for Disney Theatricals, and with artists such as Ariana DeBose, Alex Lacamoire, Al Blackstone, Dick Van Dyke, Robert Redford, Kate Winslet, and Jane Seymour. Her photography work can be seen on many platforms, including stills for Uprooted (HBO MAX - I D Creative), LA Times, NY Times, The New Yorker, Travel + Leisure, VUSA Today.
BFA NYU - TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

 

Matt Simpkins

Cinematographer

NYC BASED CINEMATOGRAPHER

Currently Matt's Work Can Be Seen On HBO Max With 'Uprooted: The Journey Of Jazz Dance' And Several Other Films On Amazon Prime And International Film Festivals.

Originally from Ohio, Matt started his carer as a professional theatrical performer. He launched a successful photography business focusing on portraits and landscapes and quickly discovered a love for the collaborative nature of film making. This led to cinematography - where he strives to bring an emotional narrative and physical energy into every frame.

Since then, he has garnered several BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARDS from festivals accross the country. In NYC, Matt co-founded and is the current creative director of www.ontherocksfilms.com, A BOUTIQUE FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY. BEYOND NYC, he has worked on productions all over the country - as Well As Internationally In London, Paris, Milan, Rome, Florence, Canada & Istanbul/Turkey.

 

Please Support RUTH with a Tax-Deductible Donation! 

Our goal is to raise $60,000 to further development of the feature film!

From the Heart Productions, Inc. is honored to provide fiscal sponsorship for the film RUTH. We carefully select the films we sponsor, and believe that this project will make a positive contribution to society and to the field of filmmaking.

Our IRS number is 95 444 5418 and, as a donor, you may use this number on your taxes with the donated amount for a tax deduction. From the Heart Productions will administer any funds received in support of this project. As fiscal sponsor for this film, we will be closely monitoring its progress. We will contribute advice and feedback where needed on fundraising initiatives, trailers, rough cuts, festival submissions, distribution, and outreach strategies.

If you have any other questions, please contact us at [email protected].

We are proud to endorse this project and encourage you to support it.

 

For more information, please contact Rachael Worthington at [email protected]