Tribeca: 5 Questions for the Women of LIZA ANONYMOUS

Time won’t permit a 5 Questions Series for filmmakers screening Short Films at Tribeca 2021 (June 9 – 20, 2021) as I have done for other film festivals, but I did want to highlight this one short in particular, LIZA ANONYMOUS as it’s a Feminocentric project led by an Award-winning all-women team:

Director Aubrey Smyth won the Grand Prize at Moet Moment Film Festival; Screenwriter Leah McKendrick most recently wrote Summer Lovin’, the Grease prequel; Actress Danielle Beckmann was recently signed to Affinity Artists and Cutler Management; Chloe Smolkin won Excellence in Cinematography from Brightside Film Festival; Costume Designer Keely Bembry (Top Five); First AD Catriona Rubenis-Stevens (Feeling Through); Composer Joanna Katcher (It’s Not a Burden: The Humor and Heartache of Raising Elderly Parents); Editor Samantha Smith (Aish Divine: BBC); Sound Recordist Vera Quispe (The Subject); Makeup Artist Gianna Gutierrez (Snatched); Casting by Kristen Paladino and Katie Rosin is an award-winning producer and publicist.

Liza Anonymous Synopsis: Liza‘s desperate search to fit in gets her wrapped up in a tangle of lies and ill-informed emulation. As her charade crumbles, she learns that imitation is not the sincerest form of flattery, but finds solace in the most unlikely of places.

I got a chance to screen the entire short prior to Tribeca, but as it’s embargoed until the premiere, I’ll just let the ladies themselves clue you in to the world of Liza…

5 QUESTIONS FOR
DANIELLE BECKMANN, AUBREY SMYTH & LEAH MCKENDRICK

I sent the three lead creatives each a set of 5 Questions to answer about the film and what they bring to it.

Check Out the TRAILER

Danielle Beckmann a bicoastal actress Liza Anonymous (2021), Eat Our Feelings (2015), Just All Around Good Ideas (2017)which “Time Out New York” named her a Critics’ Pick. And “Backstage” calls her an actress who “attacks with impressive commitment.” IG @deebeck

Aubrey Smyth (Director) is an award-winning film and commercial director based in Brooklyn, NY by way of Lawn Guyland. She is a lover of witty dialogue, colorful props, and adores a circular dolly track. Aubrey graduated from the acclaimed Pratt Institute and started her production company Gingersnap NYC at the age of 21. In 2020, the music video Aubrey directed for Aish Divine “BBC” won 9 Telly Awards and was a Webby Award nominee.IG @aubreysmyth

Leah McKendrick (Screenwriter) is an actress/singer/filmmaker that got her start in musical theatre in San Francisco. She began writing, producing, and performing live in her teen years before studying Theatre at Chapman University. She went on to create and star in the acclaimed musical web series, DESTROY THE ALPHA GAMMAS, which made her a Webby Award Honoree and a Streamy Award Nominee. In 2014 she formed Villainess Productions and wrote/produced/starred in several award-winning shorts before graduating to her first feature.IG @leahmckendrick

LIZA ANONYMOUS is presented by Brooklyn Quarter and Kampfire Film