SHARK PARTY MEDIA

ABOUT BRAVE MAKERS:

Brave Makers is a team of dedicated and passionate storytellers who craft inspiring branded entertainment to enhance engagement and move audiences. In an ever-changing multimedia landscape, we push our creative boundaries to ensure every project we bring to life is culturally relevant, effective, and unique. Film, TV, livestream entertainment, VFX, and animation are just some of the spaces we play in.

 

http://www.bravemakersshop.com/

https://www.instagram.com/bravemakersshop/

https://www.facebook.com/bravemakers/

​

If You Ever Hurt My Daughter, I Swear to God I’ll Let Her Navigate Her Own Emotional Growth is a short film adapted from the hilarious and heartwarming humor essay written by Toronto-based comedian Sophie Kohn (CBC Comedy), which was featured in The New Yorker’s Daily Shouts column in June, 2018. It features a monologue from a man who appears first as a stereotypical, overprotective patriarchal figure, but through clever turn of phrase, is quickly revealed to be a progressive, boundary-respecting father of a teenage daughter named Raina.

 

Shot in Montclair, New Jersey, the short film features voiceover narration from actor Jon Hamm, alongside performances from lead actors David Afflick (Father), Alani Waters (Raina), and James Denzer (Jaxsen). New Jersey-based production company Brave Makers produced the short, led by a team including company founder and executive producer Justin Ross (Girls Leadership #MyVoiceMyPower), and director, producer, and Austin-based comedian Meghan Ross (An Uncomfortable Woman), who also moonlights as Justin’s sister.

 

For additional stills and behind-the-scenes photos, go to: sharkpartymedia.com/bravemakers

 

CAST & CREW BIOS:

JON HAMM (FATHER VOICEOVER):

Jon Hamm is an actor and producer from St. Louis, Missouri, best known for being the most Emmy-nominated St. Louis Blues and Cardinals fan.

 

DAVID AFFLICK (FATHER):

David Afflick is an award-winning, versatile actor who works on both stage and screen, from TV and commercials to stand-up, sketch and improv comedy, emceeing, as well as screenwriting. The former English teacher thrives by collaborating with artists who are passionate about making their visions become reality through the power of story. Please see davidafflick.com and imdb.me/davidafflick for more about David’s work.

 

ALANI WATERS (RAINA):

Hawaii-born and Colorado-raised, Alani Waters is an actor, director, and voiceover artist based in New York. She recently graduated with her BFA in Drama and minor in Film Production at NYU Tisch School of the Arts in New York, where she also studied at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting, abroad at NYU Tisch Berlin, as well as improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade. Her work has been featured on Dazed, Galore, and at film festivals such as Fusion and Raindance. When she's not telling stories exploring human connection or finding ways to create community and collaborate, you can probably find her petting dogs at your local dog park.

 

JAMES DENZER (JAXSEN):

James Denzer was born and raised in Hawaii, spending his time either in the ocean with sea life or at community theater auditions. In 2016, James graduated from the Tom Todoroff Studio and Conservatory in New York City, where he developed a pension for Shakespeare and classical theater. He continued his Shakespeare studies at the British American Drama Academy in 2019. Major acting credits include leading roles in three world premiere plays in NYC, a national tour, an award-winning music video, and several featured roles on television. See James in the upcoming feature film Laff in the Dark and visit jamesdenzer.com for more about his work.

JUSTIN ROSS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER)

Justin is a director and producer from Montclair, NJ, and the founder of the production company, Brave Makers. Through Brave Makers, his most recent notable works includes producing a segment for Montefiore Health System featured in the Robin Hood: Rise Up New York live TV special, as well as an interview produced for the Today show. He’s also directed national campaigns for organizations like Girls Leadership and directed live stream red carpet events at Tribeca Film Festival. 

 

MEGHAN ROSS (DIRECTOR/PRODUCER)

Meghan Ross is a writer, producer, director, and comedian from New York, now living in Austin with her dog, Dreidel. She directed, produced, and wrote the dark comedy short film An Uncomfortable Woman which was nominated for Best Women Short at Indie Short Fest and Best Director at Portland Comedy Film Festival. She hosts and produces the all-women and non-binary late night show That Time of the Month which has been featured in New York Magazine’s Vulture, Time Out New York, Austin’s NPR station KUT, and partnered with Amazon Studios film Late Night starring Mindy Kaling. Her writing has appeared in VICE’s Broadly, Reductress, The Toast, and IFC, and she previously worked for VICELAND and SundanceTV.