GRIEF: A COMEDY is a short film about a woman’s first day back to work after bereavement leave. This film uses laughter to initiate conversations around how to exist in the world while mourning as well as how to support those processing loss. To create spaces for these conversations, our team, guided by an Advisory Board, will engage with the community already gathered around this issue on social media, by adding to the conversation, and sharing resources and stories; build partnerships with leaders in this realm to connect with their followers; and collaborate with other female-identified artists working in the grief space to amplify our collective impact.
Key Personnel Bios
Kathleen Wallace – Writer & Project Manager
Kathleen Wallace is an actress, writer, producer, and facilitator whose work spans both the entertainment and corporate worlds. Notable work includes her series SETTLING UP, which is available on Amazon, and her feminist comedy series THE EVAGELISTS, about evangelists for feminism, which was a finalist in the Raindance Pilot Competition and won a Made In NY Women’s Fund grant. She has facilitated classes and conversations for organizations like the Yale Alumni Association, World50, and Google. Member: Actors Equity, NYWIFT, The FilmmakeHers. KathleenWallace.com
Madeline Johnson – Director
Madeline Johnson is an award-winning writer, director, and producer with over nine years of experience crafting visual stories, managing projects, and leading teams. As a Sundance New Voices finalist, a Second Rounder for the Sundance Development Track, and a Second Rounder for the Macro Episodic Lab powered by the Black List, Madeline makes art to empower untold stories.
A Yale University and FAMU International graduate, Madeline currently works as the Head Writer & Executive Producer of a video series for middle schoolers.
Her short films Juneteenth, Beyond Our Mountains, and Sherman have screened around the world at numerous festivals – most notably the Oscar Qualifying Pan African Film Festival and Edmonton International Film Festival – and also the Prague Independent Film Festival, the Budapest Short Film Festival, Portland Film Festival, and Gig Harbor Film Festival, among several others. Her work has also been featured on Vimeo’s #BlackLivesMatter playlist.
Drawing upon her experience in the criminal justice and religious fields, Madeline makes art to honor and empower us to live our most authentic selves, to make the world more livable for all of us, and to move the needle so we can understand, dream, and live in a new way. MadelineMJohnson.com
Nancy Nagrant – Producer
Nancy Nagrant is a New York City based actor-producer who loves ushering work from development through distribution and is passionate about creating work featuring women protagonists. Her films have played at major film festivals, including Academy-Award qualifiers St. Louis, Woodstock, Reel Sisters, and LA Shorts; and have collected more than 80 official selections, 21 awards, and an additional 33 nominations. Nancy lives in Brooklyn with her husband, and loves travel and other people’s pets and children, especially her 7 nieces and nephews. NancyNagrant.com
