Willow Creek Road: A Short Film and Festival Journey

Beginning, Building, and Heart

Don’t you love seeing a vision or dream progress and come into form?
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Willow Creek Road started as a homegrown idea for a short film. The road of connection between New York–based actress/writer/producer Jenna Ciralli and myself, a Montana-based actress, began through a casting director here in Montana, Tina Buckingham. From our first conversation, Jenna and I hit it off like two long-lost souls with a million things to catch each other up on. Down to my toes, I felt goosebumps telling me this was something good.

We wouldn’t meet face-to-face until about six months later; through phone calls we built a strong foundation. As she developed her idea, she asked for my help in shaping early decisions and the trajectory of the film. Jenna, myself, and her stepbrother Bayard moved forward to create a crowdfunding video for Kickstarter to support pre-production and filming.

Willow Creek Road changed significantly in its direction through filming and editing, challenging every inch of my creative DNA until I finally surrendered into what the project wanted to be.
 
The film secured me a supporting actress role as Joey, along with an Executive Producer credit for fundraising, behind-the-scenes support, and assisting with visibility and outreach for the project.
 
Through Jenna’s perseverance in pressing Willow Creek Road into the light, the film began to be received at festivals around the country. In that process, I stepped more fully into my voice... sharing my perspectives thoughtfully, learning to put my pride in check, strengthening my acting skills, and developing a deep admiration for the filmmakers and actors crafting their stories.

The friendship and sisterhood that grew between Jenna and me—walking through the fires of creation, navigating challenges, and encouraging each other—is something I deeply value as we both continue forward in our artistic lives.
 
It’s become a kind of steady, supportive energy that has shaped both of our courage.

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BOZEMAN International Film Festival

MINT Film Festival - Billings, Montana                                                       Photographer: Kenneth Jarecke

South Dakota Film Festival, Aberdeen                                                         Photographer: Greg Gilbertson

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Recent Developments

Willow Creek Road played at the Oxford Film Festival in Mississippi.  It’s slated for screening at the Seattle International Film Festival March 7, 2019 and March 16, 2019 at the New Filmmakers Film Festival in LA, and at the Maryland International Film Festival. It will premiere in the Holly Shorts Monthly Screenings in Hollywood in April 2019.

The film has received accolades for cinematography, best actress-Jenna Ciralli, and has been a festival choice for award at the MINT Film Festival and Monmouth Film Festival. (Full list of awards and film festivals are found in my Film Image Gallery -Willow Creek Road )

Reflection + Moving Forward

I’m excited to carry this experience forward into more auditions, more films, and continued exploration of producing.
 
My encouragement to you, especially if you’ve been following this journey, is to remain on your path.
 Stay in faith.
Keep choosing actions that move your work, your creativity, and your life forward 🌟
 
Celebrate your progress and allow success to settle into your bones —it calibrates you for more.

                                Much love  -Mary

PS  You can follow our film and its continuing journey on the Facebook page (Search:  Willow Creek Road Film) or just click on our film name here