Candyland
Short Film
Writer Director
Collaboration with Matthew J Sigel
2020-2024
Writer Director
Collaboration with Matthew J Sigel
2020-2024
Transported through an air vent into the inner workings of an 1800s Oliver No. 5 typewriter, a fantastical, immersive sequence launches the audience into Candyland. The mysterious BOSS, located in a multicolor, dream-like candy store, types out the unfolding story. With every tap of the typewriter keys, this puppet master pulls his characters into a new world, one with multiple realities.
Disoriented and clutching a gas mask, a character (KATELYN) emerges from a forest. Her gender is implied by a brief shot of pink, manicured nails reaching into a military bag. She stumbles out of the dystopian landscape, exhausted. Following her, another masked character, TOMAS pleads for “one more kill,” determined to continue their high-stakes game. When he comes upon her in the throes of a “candy-crash,” Tomas removes his mask, points his finger like a gun, pantomimes her assassination, and abandons her in a display of a dysfunctional relationship.
Frustrated, Tomas closes his eyes and returns to his game, where he is again chased through the dangerous forest, only to collide with a masked soldier. Gunshots, and Katelyn’s shouts urging him to keep moving, force him back to reality.
Surveilled by cameras, Katelyn returns to her disfigured Cadillac. Tomas joins her; they sit in tense silence. Staring at an upside-down clown figurine hanging from the rearview mirror, Katelyn’s grim reflection triggers her desire for her true self. To escape reality, Katelyn pulls out a Ziplock bag containing her crystal pills. Tomas watches in silence, spying on her “candy”. His anger reaches the breaking point when he shouts, “Why can’t you be a real dad?”. The outburst exposes Tomas’ shame and internalized transphobia, rejecting his dad's identity.
Seeking relief, Katelyn consumes her “candy.” Immediately, her world transforms. She becomes the glamorous transwoman she was born to be. She basks in her fantasy spinning a “World’s Best Mama” figurine hanging from the rear mirror of a pristine vintage Cadillac. Tomas is betrayed as his role model indulges his addiction right in front of him. In Katelyn’s delusional state, Tomas discreetly plays with what looks like a colorful LEGO toy pistol. In reality, he handles a loaded handgun from Katelyn’s jacket.
Throughout CANDYLAND, the boundaries between fantasy and reality collapse in on each other, creating tension and peril. Katelyn demands that Tomas “buckle up,” marking a moment when their fragmented realities merge. As Katelyn and Tomas drive deeper into Candyland’s mysterious forest, the journey ahead is coated in the allure of candy. Whether this journey will offer salvation or further entrap them in their delusions remains to be seen.
In the summer of 2020, amidst global lockdowns and growing dependency on screen technology, I began writing my first narrative short film. New York City, where I currently live, was consumed by powerful racial justice protests, sparked by widespread frustration with police misconduct. This backdrop provided fertile ground for the emergence of Candyland.
Candyland follows Tomas, a teenager indoctrinated from a young age to perceive gun violence as a constitutional right and a harmless game, and Katelyn, his trans-mother, who battles hormonal imbalances and societal stigma surrounding gender dysmorphia.
Over the past four years, I had the opportunity to independently produce Candyland with the guidance and collaboration of Matthew J. Siegel, a CLIO and Emmy Award-winning producer. Our diverse cast includes Giselle Byrd and Geoffrey Carter both members of the trans community, activist Corey Taylor, who seeks to integrate individuals born with facial differences into the social realm, and emerging African American actors Christian Daley and Ayana François.
Director, Writer, Producer, Editor
I am a self-taught filmmaker with formal training in Art, Design, and the Public Domain from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and in Luxury Management from l’Institut Français de la Mode in Paris. My collaborations with luxury, beauty, and fashion brands such as Alfred Dunhill, Première Vision, BVBA 32, Sephora, and Fauré Le Page shaped my critical thinking and aesthetics.
In 2005, I formed a Collective of Artists to pursue collaborative projects at the intersection of design, visual art, and film, focusing on the dissolving boundaries between artistic mediums. My work has been recognized with two awards at the International Festival of Hyeres, with a Carte Blanche installation at the Palais Royal in Paris commissioned by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, and multiple collective exhibitions in Europe and USA.
Eloge of Movement, my first short documentary follows a group of contemporary dancers affected by Huntington’s disease as they engage in a protocol of neuroscientific research to measure the contribution of dance for those affected by the incurable and stigmatizing chorea. Counting with the support of l’Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière and the Institut of the Brain and Spinal Cord (ICM), the documentary was broadcast by France Television, and culminated in a dance performance in Hiroshima, Japan, during the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing.
Candyland is my first narrative short film. Deleted Films is the framework for my ongoing collaborative projects, focused on creating opportunities for underrepresented talent and addressing pressing social issues.
Writer, Producer, Assistant Director
CLIO and Emmy Award-winning producer and director of photography Matt Siegel leads the global team at Imageworks. With a strong background in motion picture production and VFX, Matt has contributed to feature films including The Matrix: Reloaded, Spiderman 2, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
In television, he has worked as a 2nd Unit DP and Camera Operator on shows such as Council of Dads, Everwood, Joan of Arcadia, Just Legal, and The Mentalist. His commercial work with brands such as Google, Toyota, SONY, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Bayer, Honda, CVS, and the US Army has earned prestigious awards including ADDY, TELE, Cannes' Golden Lion, and Cable ACE awards.
Matt’s global experience extends to producing and shooting for reality TV networks like Animal Planet, Discovery, and HGTV. He has also led viral marketing campaigns for YouTube, Hasbro, and Reebok. In addition to his professional career, Matt conducts workshops worldwide and has contributed to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, co-authoring Introduction to Digital Cinematography.
Director of Photography
Neil Shelley is a digital media artist and educational instructor specializing in digital photography, video and storytelling. His work includes both documentary and narrative films, commercials, reality television, action sports videos, music videos, 2D and 3D animation, and digital marketing campaigns. He has collaborated with various companies and organizations such as Google, Doritos, TD Bank, University of New England, and the University of Maine.
Neil has taught various documentary and narrative digital filmmaking classes at high school, collegiate, and adult-workshop levels. Neil is an Adobe Certified Expert in Adobe Premiere Pro, a certified Davinci Resolve trainer, and certified user of RED Digital Cinema cameras.
Tomas
Christian Daley, a talented 14-year-old actor, began his career at age 6 with school plays. Known for his diverse acting skills and triple-threat talents, he excels on both stage and screen. Christian has a passion for bringing characters to life and being a part of powerful stories. His passion and natural talent have earned him roles in various productions and commercials, where he connects deeply with audiences.
He trains at HB Studios and Actorsite, with additional guidance from his actress mother, and attends a drama academy in high school where he continues to hone his skills and explore new techniques. Christian is admired for his professionalism, strong work ethic, and positive attitude, on and off set. Outside of acting, he enjoys basketball, video games, and time with family and friends. His dedication and charisma make him a rising star, and he aims to inspire others through his impactful performances.
Katelyn
Giselle Byrd is the newly appointed Executive Director of The Theater Offensive in Boston, Massachusetts, where she is dedicated to uplifting queer and transgender artists of color, LGBTQIA+ youth, and their allies. With over a decade of experience in talent management, production, casting, and brand partnerships, Byrd has been a champion of diverse voices in entertainment, social justice, and digital media. She is the first transgender woman to be accepted into Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women's Filmmaker Program.
Byrd’s documentary film debut, Giselle’s Story, directed by Susan O’Brien, was featured at the Imagine This International Women’s Festival, and her follow-up film, When We Arrive As Flowers, executive produced by Alexandra Billings, screened at festivals across the U.S. in 2022-2023, continuing her advocacy for transgender life through film.
In addition to her role at The Theater Offensive, Byrd serves on the Board of Directors at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center and The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, which is dedicated to LGBTQIA+ artists. She is also a member of the advisory board for The Ali Forney Center, supporting displaced at-risk LGBTQIA+ youth with essential services and resources.
Boss
Corey was born with a severe facial difference, requiring numerous skull and nasal reconstruction surgeries. Doctors predicted he would be deaf, blind, and mentally challenged. The only thing they got right is that he is significantly visually impaired. As a child, Corey dreamed of becoming an actor but let the dream die, assuming no one would cast him due to his facial difference.
In 2019, Corey joined TikTok and began sharing his experiences with the world. There, he discovered acting challenges and duets, which reignited his passion for acting. In 2022, fate intervened—someone noticed his talent, and Corey was offered a small role in a feature film. His performance led to an invitation to return for a slightly bigger role. Realizing that his dream wasn’t lost, he embraced multiple other projects, including Candyland. The rest is history.
As an activist, Corey is dedicated to integrating individuals born with facial differences not only into the silver screen but also into broader society.
Buster
Ayana François is a performer and overall artist dedicated to creating art that exemplifies revolutionary imagination and provides nuanced representation for underserved groups of performers and audiences. Ayana has roots in theater performing in theaters across their community and most recently as a director.
Last April Ayana produced a new play t(RUSt) at the Tank NYC following recent directing credits like Every Little Thing by Duncan McMillan and Murder Ballad by Julia Nash both at the Penn School of Theater.
Ayana has also received awards for their comedic writing and performance such as the 2021 SNL Scholarship through UCB. Ayana’s previous acting film credits include “Don’t Go Gently” by Alison Robison and the Cabaret of Many Colors of which Ayana was also the director.
Officer Smith
Geoffrey Carter is a 26-year-old actor from Philadelphia, PA, who identifies as a trans man. As the oldest of six siblings, he has always been passionate about acting and is pursuing a freelance career in the industry. Geoffrey enjoys working out, drawing, playing video games, and creating social media content, while also nurturing a love for reading.
Acting, for him, is an opportunity to embody different characters and experience new lives, a challenge he finds thrilling. With aspirations of a successful career on the big screen, Geoffrey is committed to working hard to achieve his dreams. In the future, he hopes to expand his creative talents by directing his own films. His love for the arts drives everything he does, and he eagerly looks forward to the exciting roles and opportunities ahead.
DAVID GIL
MATTHEW J SIEGEL
NEIL SHELLEY
GISELLE KRISTINA BYRD
EMILY WALOWSI
JIM BOUTIN
JULIA GOWESKY
MEGAN MILLER
RYAN TORRENS
JORDANROBBINS
GAVIN LEFEVRE
FELIPE GIL
ANDREW C KAY
SOUNDS BIG PRODUCTIONS
LUCKY R AND MELMAC
RONDA LABEL
HENRI ZIRPOLO
CAITLIN GIBBS
ELIJAH SECREST
ABC PAINTBALL
LEONEL ESCOBEDO
HYPERCUBE
CAMILO RAMIREZ
SWEETIES CANDY COTTAGE
LISA HODES
SYLVAIN BAZINET
DANIEL ROCKMAN
SETH RATNER
FRANK AND KERRIE RAGAN
RACHEL SULLIVAN
IAN PANIGUA CORPORAN
JANET WHANG, JWT MANAGEMENT
NEW JERSEY FILM COMMISSION
TOWNSHIP OF WEST MILFORD
WEST MILFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
EXTRA DUTY SOLUTIONS
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
FILM EMPODIUM
