WALLED IN

THE LINKS TO ALL THINGS WALLED IN

Seventeen-year-old, bipolar Briar Fraser tries to claw her way out of a peaking manic episode, by demanding the support from the people that are supposed to help her cope. 

WALLED IN, THE SHORT FILM

Walled IN, the play 

Walled IN delivers a hard hitting message about the mental health epidemic in our schools and in every corner of society. It promotes a conversation that could help de-stigmatize mental health and support those dealing with its challenges. 

We will work with impact partners in the mental health community to find additional interest that will amplify our messaging and generate a campaign that will build awareness and discoverability of the artistic works. We will work with assets such as cast, crew, directors and co-creators and behind the scenes project development to create a robust website that will act as a hub of information about the play and film script themes and ongoing community management. 

Walled IN, the Conversation goals are motivated, instilled in a big heart and we hope all the levels of our desired activity can generate a wide audience, start a conversation that continues long after the artistic objectives are achieved. 

Walled IN, the biographies

the feature film team

AL BERNSTEIN (THE WRITER, ACTOR AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER)

VALERIE BUHAGIAR (THE DIRECTOR) Valerie Buhagiar is a Maltese/Canadian international award-winning filmmaker and actor.

Her debut film as a writer/director/producer was The Passion of Rita Camilleriwhich won several awards including Gold at the Chicago International Film Festival. She has since gone off to make several award-winning films. 

Her first feature film, The Anniversary, won best narrative feature comedy at Cinequest, and several international awards. It has worldwide distribution. Her second feature film It’s Hard to Be Human, won best Canadian feature at FEFFand has worldwide distribution. Carmen is Valerie’s 3rd feature and won Best in Show and Best Director at FEFF, Best Feature at the Canadian Film Festival, Best Cinematography at Whistler’s International Film Festival and was picked as the top ten features of the year by Northern Stars. It is also the Critic's Pick in the NY Times.

Valerie’s 4th feature film, The Dogs, won Best Female Director at the Montreal Indie Film Festival in 2023 and Best Canadian Feature in 2024.

Valerie was on the TIFF Best Canadian feature jury, an alumna of TIFF’s talent lab and Women in the Director’s Chair. Valerie was nominated for a K.M. Hunter award for her work as a filmmaker and given the Maverick Award at FEFF.

WWW.VALERIEBUHAGIAR.COM

JAMES WEYMAN (THE PRODUCER) 

James Weyman is President of media production company Barn 12 Inc., based in Toronto. A 30-year veteran of the screen-based industries James has been a filmmaker, producer, production executive and consultant known for his creative taste and innovative risk-taking.  Recently completed is Ally Pankiw’s feature dramedy “I Used To Be Funny” starring Rachel Sennott that premiered at SXSW 2023 and has sold to over 10 countries including the US; and TV doc “A User’s Guide to the Voice” for CBC’s “The Nature of Things”.  

RUCHI SRIVASTAVA (THE ASSOCIATE PRODUCER)

​Ruchi Srivastava is a student at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), studying Radio and Television Media Arts with a focus on Television, Video Production, and Media Business. She is passionate about the art of filmmaking with the goal of becoming a Director, specializing in science-fiction. With a strong passion for storytelling, Ruchi has gained diverse experience through internships at FAZE Media, where she edited a short documentary that premiered at the 2020 UNESCO MGIEP World Youth Conference on Kindness. Currently, Ruchi works with Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) as an on-call production assistant for their commercial productions. She has worked on set for various projects under MLSE including a documentary for Toronto FC Alumni, Ashton Morgan and commercials for the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs. She also works in TMU's athletics department, capturing content for their social media channels. Ultimately, Ruchi plans to work in the film industry to bring to life all types of stories. Her current project is a short documentary titled The Social Aspect that she made with her friends and family.

SERENA RYDER (THE COMPOSER) 

singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, mental health

advocate. Folk-rock singer-songwriter Serena Ryder is known for

her raspy, soulful vocals and raw, emotional lyrics. She first gained attention with her gold-certified albums If Your Memory Serves You Well (2006) and Is It O.K. (2008).

She won the Juno Award for New Artist of the Year in 2008 and achieved international stardom with her fifth album, Harmony (2012), and her smash hit “Stompa,” which went triple platinum in Canada. She has won a Canadian Screen Award, a MuchMusic

Video Award, a SOCAN Award and seven Juno Awards, including Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year in 2014. She received the Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour from Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2021.

                    the short film team

​DAVID MORRISON (Director and photographed by)

David Morrison is an award-winning Cinematographer and Director/DP with a diverse and extensive career in visual storytelling. Inspired by a high school photography class, David leaned into his creative impulse at Savannah College of Art and Design, studying Photography and Film while cutting his teeth as a shooter and editor at the local NBC news station. Arriving in Los Angeles he continued in the world of motion, lending his eye to independent films and music videos, with a roster that has today expanded to Eazy-E, Heavy D, Ghostface Killah, En Vogue, Regina Spektor, U2, Velvet Revolver and Beck’s iconic video, “Girl.” 

Commercials followed for brands such as Microsoft, Budweiser, Visa, Target, Ford, MLB, McDonald’s, Pampers, Fat Tire, Mastercard and the Uncle Drew miniseries for Pepsi Max featuring Kyrie Irving. David’s Always campaign for Lauren Greenfield, #LikeAGirl, took top Super Bowl honors, becoming a cultural touchstone and Emmy award-winner with over 100million online views to date. Partnering with and learning from a collection of talented commercial and film directors (Stacy Peralta, Margo Weathers, Kyle Patrick Alvarez, Anne Fletcher, Dime Davis, Damian Marciano, Tony Kaye, Matthew Rolston) fueled David’s transition into the role of director/DP. His ads for UVA, Toro, GQ, Pfizer and Professional Bull Riders marry his emotive and arresting photographic aesthetic with a love for performance-driven storytelling.

David’s narrative experience includes Katherine Dieckmann’s feature “Strange Weather” starring Holly Hunter and Hilary Brougher’s film “Stephanie Daley”, winner of the Haskell Wexler Cinematography award. Director Marc Forster brought David onto his first series, Amazon’s “Hand of God”, which led to further television opportunities on the Lena Waithe produced “Boomerang” for BET/Paramount and the dance-centric “Step Up” series for Starz/Lionsgate. Still photography continues to be a through line in his creative life - a means for experimenting with light and composition for translation into moving pictures. His musicianship and meditation practice likewise inform his work and unique directorial style. David is currently a member of the DGA and ICG and resides in LA with his wife of 25+ years. And his children remain his favorite muse.

WWW.DAVIDRMORRISON.COM

HARPER KENNEDY CULLEN (LEAD ACTOR)

Harper Cullen  is an actress from Los Angeles California. After studying at Terry Schrieber school for Theatre and Film NYC, she moved back home to LA to pursue her acting career. Having two parents as actors she has been around the film industry her whole life where she grew to learn and love the craft. Harper plans not only to act but to direct, write and produce as well. ​

KIRILL YUSIM (PRODUCER)

Kirill Yusim immigrated to United States from Odessa, Ukraine at the age of 9 with big dreams. Starting young at age 12 he became fascinated by the theatre where he landed his first job helping with lighting design and sound engineering for several plays. His love of theatre and arts continued through high school, where he worked on everything from plays to music videos, quickly setting his path for Film School.

Kirill received his BFA at the University Of California State Northridge School of the Television, Radio and Arts, with a concentration in Cinematography. As soon he graduated he devoted himself to his career as a Director of Photography and a Producer. Working across the industry since 2002 Kirill has produced, shot and directed in various genres including film, TV, music and even short film. From 2007 to 2015, Kirill worked at New York Film Academy as a Cinematography and Producing instructor.

Kirill Yusim is a member of the local 600 Union and has been working in the industry for almost 15 years as a freelance cinematographer and producer. His work includes feature and short films, music videos, commercials and events. He has worked on unscripted shows including Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers, Bad Girls Club and Giada at home and across networks including ESPN, Discovery, Speed Chanel, G4, Showtime, Oxygen and Food Network.

​Kirill's recent accomplishments include producing two feature films - Lights and Quarries - both available on the major on demand Platforms like iTunes, Google Play, Xbox among many others. is vast experience across various genres has allowed him to seamlessly cross back and forth between TV, Theatre and Film. Most recently Kirill has taken on his next feature as the Executive Producer which will shoot later this year. 

CARLA RODA (PRODUCER)

Carla Roda was born in Barcelona, Spain and raised by a family of artists. From a young age she was surrounded by theater and cinema and at 18 years old started her journey of getting her BFA in Cinema and TV in Barcelona, Spain. She graduated with honors, and two Film Festival nomination for her short films; "Tristesa" (Stiges Film Festival 2011) and "Extraños" (Premi Sole i Tura, 2010). Since then she has devoted her career to becoming a Producer and Editor not only in Spain, but also internationally - working in France, Canada, Australia and now the US. 

In 2014 Carla moved to Los Angeles to get her Masters Degree in Film. Since then she has produced over 15 projects and edited more than 20 projects. Her short film "Camila" which she Produced, Directed and Edited was accepted to Cannes Film Festival 2016, has won a Silver Award for the best cinematography in LA Film Awards. It was also a Official Selection Los Angeles Cine Fest and Official Selection in Austin international Film festival. Her other project "Klaazor" was also awarded Platinum Awards at the FAME'US International Film Festival, World premiere at Dances with Kidz, Official World Premier at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Official Selection at SCI-ON Festival at Reno, Nevada, Official Selection at Hollyshorts Film Festival in Los Angeles and Official Selection at Burbank International Film Festival. 

Carla's recent accomplishments include directing a short film " Happy Birthday" that is circulating in Festivals. Most recently Carla has start the pre-production of her first Opera Prima " Let it Go", a movie that rebels deep questions about love, friends, family and yourself. 

ALIKI PARASCHIS (CONSULTING PRODUCER)

As an award-winning producer with many years of both office and on field experience in all types of productions, Aliki is committed to creating visually compelling projects with strong stories. Completing her Masters’ Degree in Media Studies from NYU, she has managed the production of numerous independent films, commercials, music videos, documentaries, and projects for Broadcast Television, which have received multiple awards, nominations and mentions at prestigious international film festivals, as well as enjoyed theatrical release.

Paraschis’ films include GET HAPPY! starring Chris Riggi, which won Best Romantic Comedy 2015 at The Manhattan Film Festival, Best Romantic Feature Film Award at the 2016 Universe Multicultural Film Festival, and the Gold Remi at the 49th WorldFest Houston International Film Festival this April 2016; THE SUSPECT starring William Sadler, James McCaffrey, and Mekhi Phifer currently streaming on NETFLIX; and DARK starring Whitney Able and Alexandra Breckenridge (winning Best Supporting Actress for Dark at The Milan International Film Festival 2015), now out on DVD & VOD. 

​Aliki’s goal is to continue making powerful films with strong messages that deeply influence their audiences and have a worldwide impact, as well as stunning videos for the TV and the web.

Her dream? MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THE WORLD TO SEE.

GEORGE KALLIS (COMPOSER)

George Kallis is a prolific film & TV composer based in Los Angeles. He has scored over 20 feature films, Emmy and BAFTA award-winning TV programs. His trademarks are lyrical melodies and full-bodied score arrangements. He is nominated for an African Academy Film Award (2017) in Cape Town for his score for ‘93 Days’ starring Danny Glover. He is currently scoring Walt Disney's local language film "The Last Warrior"

THERESA RADKA (SOUND)

Theresa Radka is also a life long performing musician with an interest in experimental industrial and deconstructionist sound.

Born in the northwest USA in 1963. Ms. Radka attained a Masters Degree from Columbia University in Architecture. She designed a number of prominent buildings including a notable police station in Brooklyn. Desiring a career change in the mid-1990s she began working boom and sound in various independent films and commericials including "Kissing Jessica Stein"(2001).