Story
A support group for people addicted to the movie Carol
descends into mayhem as superfan Blanche embodies Carol Aird, luring her fellow addicts and therapist to temptation.
Carol Support Group is a loving homage to Carol (2015), which was nominated for six Academy Awards. Starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, it was directed by Todd Haynes from a screenplay by Phyllis Nagy, based on the novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith.
Brett Candace as GENEVIEVE
Ashley Morton as BLANCHE
Julia Farino as FLORENCE with group
Phyllis M. Nofts, Michael Ruesga and Julia Farino
Ashley Morton as BLANCHE and director Allison Tate
Producer Wendy Jo Carlton with cinematographer Jeanne Tyson
CAST
Ashley is from San Francisco and graduated from the University of Southern California's BFA Acting program. Since then, she has been lucky enough to work with her talented fellow alumni on various projects.
Cate Blanchett is her muse, and she is honored to play Blanche in this touching, heartwarming short!
Phyllis M. Nofts
PHYLLIS
Phyllis was most recently seen in the movie Open. Her favorite stage roles include Norma Hubley (Plaza Suite), Ouiser Boudreaux (Steel Magnolias), and Mrs. Dubose (To Kill a Mockingbird).
Phyllis is comfortable on both sides of the footlights, having worked in the capacity of stage manager, assistant director, and director.
Phyllis is a member of the Act Out Mystery Theatre Company. As always, she thanks her spouse, Evie, for her unwavering support.
Gillian Cameron
MARGE
Gillian Cameron has recently retired from a 36-year career as a high school English and film teacher. This has allowed her to pursue her first love, acting. Gillian is also a storyteller, folksinger, writer, filmmaker, and cartoonist. She has just published the second volume of her graphic novel Calogrenant.
She lives with her cat and books in Southern California and is immensely proud of her two daughters. She is also, incidentally, transgender.
Michael Ruesga
TONY
Michael Ruesga is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara's BFA acting program. He is best known for his work as Jesus on Issa Rae's hit web series, Awkward Black Girl, on Pharrell Williams' i am OTHER YouTube channel.
He also recently appeared as part of McDonald's new ad campaign "There's a Big Mac for That," which aired during the Grammys and the Academy Awards.
Ashley Morton
BLANCHE
Brett Candace
GENEVIEVE
Brett Candace is an actress and writer who lives in Los Angeles.
She has worked in film, television, commercials, and multi-media projects.
Julia Farino
FLORENCE
British actress Julia Farino has been living and working in Los Angeles for the past five years, following 20 years in the U.K. working onstage in London's West End, on tour, and in television.
Julia's television credits include shows such as Veep (HBO), Jane the Virgin (The CW) and Days of Our Lives (NBC).
CREW
Allison Tate
WRITER - DIRECTOR
Allison Tate is an award-winning filmmaker based in Los Angeles.
Previously, she directed A Kiss From Your Lips, a one-take love story, featured on Upworthy.
As a proud queer creator in the film industry, she tells empowering stories about women and LGBTQ people.
She is also the Video Producer at Here Media, creating content for the world's leading LGBT brands, including
The Advocate, OUT and PRIDE.
Wendy Jo Carlton
PRODUCER
Wendy Jo Carlton’s first feature film was the lesbian drama Hannah Free, starring Emmywinner Sharon Gless. Hannah Free won several audience awards and can be found on Amazon.
Carlton wrote and directed her second feature, lesbian rom-com musical Jamie and Jessie Are Not Together, which earned glowing reviews from critics Roger Ebert and Michael Phillips. Her LGBT web series, Easy Abby, has received 40 million views for season 1, with season 2 releasing soon.
Carlton was artist-in-residence at 911 Media Arts in Seattle and recipient of the Navona Fellowship from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she earned an MFA in moving image. Her award-winning short films have screened internationally, including the American Film Institute and Sundance. Carlton also founded a media literacy and filmmaking program for teen girls called Chicks Make Flicks. She is devoted to telling love stories about female, queer, and working-class characters, and collaborating with other freaks and geeks.
Jeanne Tyson
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Jeanne Tyson is a Los Angeles-based cinematographer and filmmaker. Jeanne has shot several features as well as dozens of shorts and documentaries.
Her work has been featured in film festivals worldwide.
Jeanne frequently lectures on cinematography, directing, and production.
She is a lecturer in the Department of Film, Television and Digital Media at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Executive Producers
Paul Colichman
Stephen P. Jarchow
Executive Producers
Tony Shyngle
John Mongiardo
Associate Producer
Christopher Donaldson
1st AD
Harrison Merkt
Mike Roma
Script Supervisor
Abigail Shields
Allie Levin
Editor
Allison Tate
Color
Jeanne Tyson
Sound
Carl Fredrick
Composer
Amanda Yamate
Musicians
Tim Richardson
Belinda Lee
Garek Najita
Ben McPeek
Jordan Leicht
Hank Mehren
Score Mixer
Anthony Ragus
Gaffer
Kelly Urban
1st AC
Michael Thomas
Grip
Gal Glick
Stills Photography
Julia Williamson
Yezmin Villarreal
Production Assistants
Chris Cortese
Madison McCann-Farhat
Special Thanks
Here Media
Jeff Hendricks
Lucas Grindley
Hope Lutheran Church
Chris Cortese
Debra Tate
Effie Ralli
John Clifton
Melanie D’Andrea
Kendra Bradanini
