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Logline

The life of a disciplined high school athlete begins to unravel when his queer identity competes against the idea of who he was supposed to be.

Synopsis

Ambitious high school athlete Dakota Riley begins his senior year like most of his peers; within the confines of the steady monotony that comes with adolescence — sports, classrooms, dinner tables, school halls. With high expectations for his athletic pursuits, Dakota lives within carefully designed boundaries, a calculated blueprint upon which he’s formed the basis of his identity. But when the reality of this identity is thrown into disarray, Dakota is forced to confront the consequences of denying himself, or come to terms with who he really is.

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Meet the Filmmakers

Benjamin Howard – Director/Writer/Editor

Benjamin Howard is an Emmy-recognized writer, director and producer. Benjamin’s narrative projects often explore personal themes related to sexual identity, particularly through a ‘coming-of-age’ lens. His undergraduate thesis project Deviant was recognized with a Student Emmy Award in 2019. Benjamin is earning his M.F.A. in Film Production / Directing at UCLA, and is currently developing his debut feature Riley.

Laura Scarano – Producer

Laura Scarano earned a B.A. in History of Art & Design from Pratt Institute. Her mission has always been to elevate artists, building them a platform to make an impact on others and present their work to the world. While in New York, she worked in non-profits with fine artists, writers, and filmmakers. Today, Laura produces films in Los Angeles and New York.

Michael Elias Thomas – Cinematographer

Michael is a recent graduate of the M.F.A. Cinematography Program at UCLA. His thesis film First Position, an 80’s dance drama which he wrote, directed and shot himself on 16mm film, premiered at Frameline in 2019. Currently, he works as a cinematographer and colorist for short films and music videos and resides in Hollywood, CA.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.