Michael Marantz, who earned a slot in SHOOT’s 2015 New Directors Showcase, directed, served as a writer and created the music for this film for the Robin Hood Foundation via production company Already Alive.
Robin Hood Foundation, which partners with 200-plus organizations, helps some 400,000 New Yorkers a year living in poverty, affording opportunities to people who would otherwise normally fall through the cracks. Titled We All Stumble, this short depicts the plight of the impoverished, ultimately offering a ray of hope as we see how a helping hand can make a world of difference. The film makes a stirring case for contributing to Robin Hood; 100% of donations go toward the partner organizations that are on the front lines of the fight against poverty in NYC.
Credits
Client Robin Hood Foundation Production/Creative Already Alive Michael Marantz, director; Tim Sessler, DP; Noah Meisner, Michael Marantz, exec producers; Tay McEvers, Carlee Briglia, producers; Michael Marantz, Jason Oppliger, Jenny Weiner, writers; Billy Gerard Frank, production designer; Hannah Rothfield, art director; Julie Molo, wardrobe; Filipp Penson, assistant camera; Sandy SooHoo, 2nd assistant camera; Cedric Vara, assistant director; Sussan Cordero, 2nd assistant director; Christine Pfister, set dresser; Brittany Romney, Elvira Gonzalez, hair/makeup; Phil Bradley, DIT. Music Michael Marantz, Soundcloud Casting Jamie Carroll, casting director. Editorial Joint Editorial Nicholas Davis, editor. Color Lenny Mastrandrea, colorist; Matt Hubert, finishing producer. Sound Mixing Taylor Bradshaw, Drew English. Performers Soleidy Mendez; Tyler Matos; Jamej Lawton; James Trenton; Brianna Moore; Vanessa Thorpe; Erik McKey; McKale Gray, Michael Coppola, Darlene Dues, Andre Nieves, Marbel Melendez, Nate Gray, Matt Nagin, Kim Akia. Locations Pentwater Productions, location manager.
Comcast and Xfinity have released this short, “Stay Connected to Your Dreams,” to celebrate the November 22 release of Universal Pictures’ feature film Wicked.
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, based on the generation-defining blockbuster stage musical, stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. This short follows their journeys from childhood to present day, where they take on the iconic roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. Along the way, Wicked fans will be delighted by Easter eggs, including props from the film and Broadway show, and will experience emotional, real-life moments featuring the two stars. The short film was unveiled today (11/12) on Erivo and Grande’s social channels and can be viewed across television, social media and on an Xfinity site.
“Stay Connected to Your Dreams,” which is directed by Wicked DP Alice Brooks, ASC (via production house Superprime) in collaboration with Wicked director Jon M. Chu, taps into the power of connection, friendship and achieving your dreams. It begins with Grande and Erivo’s childhoods, and how Wicked fueled their love for music and film. It then moves through their teen years and into adulthood where Grande shared the fateful tweet in 2011 that playing Glinda in Wicked would be her dream role. The short film concludes with the actual footage from the videoconferencing call back in 2021, where both women learned they’ve been cast in the coveted roles of Elphaba and Glinda.
In addition, the short film will be the first-ever 4DX spot shown across the country. Theater-goers will feel the magic of Oz, complete with an immersive cinema experience combining on-screen visuals with synchronized motion seats... Read More
