Stay in the car

Stay in the Car is a short film based on real events written by Amanda Ross and directed by Calvin Ghaznavi. It's a story that puts us in the seat of an El Camino next to Salem (Lara Hunter), a teenage girl who finds herself unwittingly part of her mother's crime spree. Salem waits in the car as her mother Dee (Ashley Alva) & her mother's "friend" Mike (Timothy V. Murphy) drive around late at night making violent pit stops. There's not much dialog, but everything is clearly conveyed in the 7 minute short thanks to the fantastic acting of the entire cast. Ashley Alva as Dee gives a powerful performance, she is believable in her portrayal that straddles the lines between vulnerable & abusive, and protective & negligent. When the credits began to roll I found myself wondering what went on outside of the car, and what became of everyone after the story ended.