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Logline

Garage Sale is a short dramedy film starring legendary comedian George Wallace. Amidst the drama of his parents’ impending divorce, nine-year-old Dillon struggles to rid his home of the stubborn and ornery ghost of his grandfather, but soon discovers that grandpa has one last lesson to teach before he passes on to the other side.

Synopsis

After his grandfather’s funeral, nine-year-old Dillon trudges home clutching Rex, his trusty stuffed dinosaur, only to be greeted by the sound of his parents bickering. Saddened by his parents’ separation, Dillon retreats upstair, where things take a spooky turn. A door slams, a cane crashes, and a cigar mysteriously smolders in the ashtray. Dillon swears he sees Grandpa’s ghost…but of course, no one believes him.

Turns out, Grandpa isn’t just back, he’s as ornery and mischievous as ever. At first, Dillon is terrified. Grandpa’s ghost vows to haunt the house forever, and Dillon’s mom is too grief-stricken to believe him. Desperate, Dillon tries everything to convince Grandpa to leave—casting spells, burning sage—but nothing works. When his mom mentions holding a garage sale to clear out Grandpa’s things, Dillon hatches a plan: capture the ghost in a cigar box and sell him at the garage sale.

The showdown pushes Dillon to discover a courage he never knew he had. Facing Grandpa head-on, he manages to coax the ghost into the cigar box. Only then does Dillon realize that Grandpa’s teasing was a lesson for Dillon in standing up for himself—both at home and on the playground. With a final wink, Grandpa slips into the box, leaving Dillon braver and more self-assured than before.

Dillon’s efforts to sell-off the cigar box with Grandpa’s ghost at the garage sale is a flop until a mysterious woman named Hazel appears and buys the cigar box. To Dillon’s amazement, Grandpa’s ghost pops out and strolls off hand-in-hand with Hazel, his deceased wife, now a ghost herself. Grandpa gets his happy ending, and so does Dillon, who finally feels brave enough to let go of Rex and step into his more confident future.

Meet the Filmmakers

Robyn Paris — Director/Producer
Robyn Paris is a filmmaker, storyteller, and tech geek who combines heart and humor to tell stories about rule breakers, outsiders, and misfits. Her projects include the hit 10-episode digital series “The Room Actors: Where Are They Now?”, which screened at Oscar-qualifying festivals, partnered with Funny or Die, and earned over a million views online. She also directed the dark comedy short “Fruitless,” which premiered during the pandemic and caught NBC’s attention at NewFilmmakers LA.

In the world of VR, she’s crafted immersive experiences for Fortune 100 giants like Bank of America, Amazon and CVS. Recently, Robyn was one of nine women selected for the Blackmagic Collective “Future Directors of Studio Features” program, spotlighted in Variety. Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, and Movie Maker Magazine have profiled her work, and critics have described her as “super-talented” (PopSugar), full of “moxie and conviction” (LA Times), and “zany and witty” (Tubefilter). On the writing side, Robyn has collaborated with Oscar-winning producers, written for Disney, and won honors including the Samuel Goldwyn Award and a Humanitas Prize nomination. She holds a BA from Duke University and an MFA in Screenwriting from UCLA.

Keith Ewell — Producer/Actor
Keith Ewell is an actor, producer, director, and writer located in Los Angeles. He can be seen in Paramount Pictures’ “Clifford The Big Red Dog,” the Universal Studios release, “Marry Me,” and the 2022 Sundance U.S. competition entrant, “892.” Mr. Ewell wrote and directed the film, “It’s Supposed To Be Easy,” which he produced and co-starred with Adrianne Palicki. Mr. Ewell is a former professional athlete and holds a B.A. from Duke University and a law degree from the University of Florida, Levin School of Law.

Joe Neuman — Producer
A proud Ohio native with an enduring love for storytelling and smooth operations, Joseph Neuman is a versatile Los Angeles-based producer. His journey has been a hands-on ascent through the fabric of filmmaking—gaining invaluable experience across departments, from the intricacies of Camera and Grip to the creative demands of Art, and the logistical precision of Assistant Directing. This comprehensive background has shaped his ability to connect and communicate effectively across all departments. Joe’s expertise spans digital content, social media, vertical videos, and news production. He’s worked extensively in the cutting-edge realm of Virtual Reality training for large brands like Amazon, Sprouts, Bank of America and more—navigating complex technical landscapes while keeping the focus on impact, storytelling, and efficient workflows.

Eric Ubrich — Director of Photography
Eric Ulbrich is a Clio Award Winning Cinematographer + Director specializing in cinematic realism who leans on his natural curiosity about humanity to create story through images. A native of Utah and longtime resident of Los Angeles, Eric finds himself continually exploring the intersection of nature, society, and technology.

Eric has created commercial imagery for clients such as Toyota, Gatorade, Under Armor, Nike, Uber, Ford, and Cadillac. He has lensed music videos for bands such as Incubus and Diplo and has shot A-list talent including Dwayne Johnson, Emma Stone, and Zoë Bell.

Shanee Edwards — Writer
Shanee Edwards is a screenwriter, journalist and author. After a successful acting career, Shanee yearned to create her own characters and give them meaningful stories, prompting her to obtain an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA. While there, she won the Samuel Goldwyn Screenwriting award, Women in Film award and Sloan Science in Screenwriting award. Shanee was hired to adapt various stories for the screen including Apes or Angels, the true story of naturalist Charles Darwin, and Three Wishes, based on the New York Times best-selling novel by Kristen Ashley. You can listen to her interview Oscar-winning screenwriters on The Script Lab Podcast, or read her book Ada Lovelace: the Countess who Dreamed in Numbers. Shanee’s goal is to write movies about spirited women and men whose passion, humor and courage inspire us.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.