Molly Independent Short Film

A short film fiscally sponsored by From the Heart Productions, all donations are tax deductible.

It’s a wedding, a day people dream about their entire lives. For Molly, our bride, it’s a chance to fulfill a different dream, one that’s been in the works since high school: to take molly for the first time on the day she gets married so that it can be chemically and metaphorically the happiest day of her life. Little does she know, the journey into euphoria will take an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon her husband-to-be, Dick, hooking up with her best friend and maid of honor, Kristen. As the effects of the substance playfully amplify her emotions, Molly finds herself navigating a surreal carnival of chaos, complete with encounters with Dick’s hilariously cringe-worthy brother Charlie and culminating in a showdown with Kristen. “Molly” is a light-hearted exploration of the fragile dance of relationships, sprinkled with unexpected twists that add a touch of hilarity to the pursuit of happiness.

"I was struck by the idea of being able to choose the happiest moment of your life. What if the chemically happiest day of your life was, in reality, the worst day of your life? How can you go on living knowing you’ll never be that happy again? We wrote “Molly” to explore what happens to someone who takes the pursuit of happiness too far – pleasure seeking in all the wrong directions. Although we can temporarily induce joy with drugs or money or adrenaline, true happiness is found in meaningful interpersonal relationships. An equally funny and sad meditation on what happens when you put your faith in the wrong people." - Griffen Hamilton

"This proof of concept is an extremely condensed version of the feature we have written, which is inspired by my time at USC. The party culture at USC has been an issue for decades, we wanted to write a story inspired by this culture without creating something that would rip open emotional wounds for viewers. Ecstasy is the keystone of this piece because the body’s physiological response to taking Molly is so unique. In layman's terms, we all have a reserve of happy neurotransmitters that we’ve built up over the course of our lives. Molly burns through that reserve all at once. So, the first time you do Molly will be the happiest you’ll ever be – as you never build back a reserve as big as your initial stockpile – resulting in intense euphoria followed by severe depression." - Jordan Villegas

Our vision for “Molly” centers on the idea that her high is like a waking dream; we’d capture this nonsensical, dream-like quality by shooting the entire short in a one-shot, which will be done hand-held so we feel like we’re on this ride with Molly. The coloring, haze, and lighting will also reflect the intensity of Molly’s high.

The story we created from this captures the tragedy of everyday life – how the people we love can be the ones to hurt us the most. It’s an exploration of female friendship and self-compassion. Having the lead be high grants our creative team permission to play with the world in a way we couldn’t otherwise. Everyone who has signed on is extremely passionate about this story and excited to flex their creative and technical skills on this abstract concept!

For more info, follow us on Instagram! @molly_shortfilm

Meet the team!

Jordan Villegas, Director/Writer

Jordan Villegas is an alumna of USC’s theatre and film schools. She’s an actress, writer, director, and producer when literally no one else will do that job. This summer she acted in and co-produced a new work, "Cigarettes are my Personality" in SoHo Playhouse's Lighthouse Series Festival. She has been touted as “very funny and wicked smart” by anonymous sources.

Griffen Hamilton, Director/Writer

Griffen Hamilton, a screenwriter, earned his BFA from Chapman University. Having worked on America's Got Talent and for companies like Funny or Die, Hearst, and Clubhouse Pictures he knows he has cultivated a knowledge of the "biz." His passion lies in crafting media that seamlessly blends elements of grief and comedy. Having lost his brother freshman year of college, and his father senior year, it drew him to helping others with laughter. His ultimate aspiration is to make his dad and brother proud, meet Greta Gerwig, and one day win the title of Sole Survivor.

Kelly Chen, Producer

Kelly Chen is a creative and line producer based in Los Angeles, CA. As a LA native and producer of over 5 years, Chen continues her work to diversify sets above and below the line, cultivating a supportive environment and creating opportunities for POC and specifically women of color to step into positions of leadership within production.

Kristen Gao, Director of Photography

An aspiring cinematographer originating from China, Kristen Gao refined her craft at Chapman University, specializing in cinematography. Passionate about storytelling and drawn to the authenticity of naturalism, she adeptly brings narratives to life through her visual artistry. Her work resonates with audiences, inviting them into immersive worlds rich with genuine emotion and depth.

Jackie Cheng, Production Designer

Jackie grew up in Shanghai, China, but is now pursuing a BFA degree in Film Production with an emphasis in Production Design at Chapman University. She hopes to enhance stories representing diverse cultures and marginalized communities through set design. After graduating, she aspires to expand the horizons for POC women filmmakers in the entertainment industry.

Miles Shapiro, Assistant Production Designer

Miles Shapiro, an aspiring stand-up comedian from Boston, Massachusetts, has been on a journey to discover his purpose. He feels he's found it through his work on multiple Chapman productions as part of the art team. Additionally, he holds a BFA in Screen Acting.

Lila Victor, Production Manager

Lila Victor is a graduate of Oberlin College with a French and Creative Writing degree. She is a freelance food & drink and events journalist for the Westside and Valley Current, with an interest in entertainment including writing, directing, and producing. Recently, she worked as a production assistant for the short film “Cut Off.” She also has experience with copyediting, screenwriting, and using StudioBinder.

Sabrina Lassegue, Casting Director

Sabrina Lassegue is a writer, director, producer, model, actress, and philanthropist located in Los Angeles & NYC. She trained for acting at Juilliard, the American Musical Dramatic Academy in both NYC and LA and UCB. She is best known for her short, "Along Came Sundae" and her creative directing work at Adolescent Content for brands like Meta, Extra Gum, Taco Bell, & Walmart. She recently made her feature directorial debut.