Instagram Story Save

I normally don’t share this in public, but this feels like the right moment to be a little more brave with my insecurity and vulnerability…

Growing up, I didn’t really have my parents around for many, many years. My parents split when I was 6, and not long after, my mom went south to pursue business opportunities, hoping to build a better future for us. I blamed her for years before I could finally forgive and reconcile thanks to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I understand now she made the best decision she knew how at the time, and she has realized now that a child needs a mother more than money.

During those years, I was passed between different households on my grandmother’s side—staying with aunts, uncles, and relatives, whoever had time to take me in. In a culture where harsh discipline was seen as “education,” my little body was often covered in purple and blue bruises from being beaten by different people.

I remember what it felt like to feel abandoned… to wonder if I was loved. I remember crying and screaming when I was beaten, hoping someone would come rescue me, but no one did.

No kid should have to carry that.

This June, I get the chance to show up for kids who carry that same weight.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity through my community at Reality LA to volunteer at Royal Family KIDS Camp (RFKC)—a summer camp for kids (ages 6–12) in the foster care system.

For one week, they get to feel something different: love, safety, joy… a space where they can just be kids and know they matter and are worthy of love.

I’m raising $750 so they can attend completely free.

If you’re able to support, even just a little, you’re helping create a moment a child might carry with them for the rest of their life. And if you can’t donate, sharing this means more than you know.

💛 How to donate:
1. Link in bio
2. Select “Donate one time”
3. Enter amount + complete payment
(Skip the extra step for Reference on pic)

Thank you for helping give these kids a week of pure joy and love that can truly shape their future 🙏

Yes, that’s me - An alcoholic redneck, complete with Southern accent in COMFORT FOOD premiering at the CAAM Festival. Thank you director/ writer @reena.dutt for letting me get down and dirty in your beautiful 2 character film ☺️

That’s a WRAP!!🎉 congratulations CSUN Advanced Cinematography 2026 Spring class 🎬 It’s been an honor and a privilege to walk through this season together with yall, and it’s truly beautiful and inspiring to see the voices and stories of all of you as artists💗✨

Special shout out to all my TAs aka team of 🐐
@_wendell450_ @lillianarice.dp @shot_by_xavier @nolancrew @xiao_0yu @rayelmundo Matthew Tribble @oweegee.png @srenik.m @perozostudios @junyifilmland

WINNER: HollyShorts Comedy - Best TV

WINNER: HollyShorts Comedy - Best TV

Thank you @hollyshortscomedy x @hollyshorts for celebrating Wander Women! ⭐️

NEW SCREENING at HollyShorts Comedy Film Festival! May 2nd at 7:30pm. Ticket link in Bio. Would love to see you there!@hollyshorts @hollyshortscomedy #HSCFF26

I AM SO THRILLED. @caamedia has been one of my favorite festivals in the country supporting non-traditional stories by API filmmakers. Their spirit is a gift to our industry. COMFORT FOOD has been selected to premiere in one of their six shorts programs (“Old Roots New Branches”) and we are so very honored. Stay tuned for more info, but check out our block Sunday 5/10 at 5:45pm

https://caamfest.com/2026/programs/old-roots-new-branches/ If you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to see you.

Writer/Director @reena.dutt
Producers @kajriakhtar @thatfriendlyng
EPs @gardnergrout @seawolffilms @monkeymankumar @archanamisrajain
Starring @juneangela_official @shalini_bathina
UPMs Maxwell Kagan @chenning_yy
1st AD @alicine__
DP @ino.dp
Production Design @itsrjactually
Art Director Fernando Acuna
Set Dressers Ethan Gomez Leilani Weitherall @zach._.parkerr
@zoegameros Chloe Smith @ella_garber Duncan Rattray @sashaaaa_t
Food Stylist @emilijadelgadillo
Prop Master @nandar_mmt
Cam Op @mynameisyifan
1st AC @jacob_mariani
2nd AC @salenfriend
Steadicam @kojikojimasteadicam
Key Grip @j_logan_alesso
BBG Andy Poulsen
Grip/Swng Christopher Dominguez Hye Young Ra Yorick Moran Garcia
Still Photography and BTS sethlonborg @ava.deleon24
Gaffer @bluestockinchic Seth Fuller
G&E Swing Michael Prieto
Sound Mixer @creighyanchar Jesse Lopez
Boom Operator @morgan_chan
VFX Supervisor @anoop_surya
MUH @the_face_couture
Costume @reenaray
Set Medic Eric Robledo
Script Supervisor @danakoops
2nd AD @japhetdadon
PAs @allymlardner Andrew Wilden @a_duel River Thompson Jack Perry Claudia
Alex Wilden
Craft Services and Catering @crafty.tj

Dan and Noe at J.L.Fisher! You guys are always just so incredibly kind to us and preparing so much demo and goodies❤️ Thank you again for hosting the field trip for my students at CSUN cinematography class, we are so grateful of your generosity and care for education of the next gen filmmakers ❤️✨🙏 @danhammond007 @fisher_dolly_world @jlfisher_inc

Camera Op workshop at CSUN advanced cinematography class 2026 Spring❤️ Super grateful for our star guest speaker @jonkeng with us again with his gear head so we could have our fun competition of who operates the wheels the best among our students and congrats to the winner @jamesshort.film 🏆 and huge thanks for the support from guests @maryma11 @baooole @jerry.hyj 🙏❤️

Gratitude on cute BTS 📷 by a super talented current student @jaidagerona ✨✨✨

Camera Op workshop at CSUN advanced cinematography class 2026 Spring❤️ Super grateful for our star guest speaker @jonkeng with us again with his gear head so we could have our fun competition of who operates the wheels the best among our students and congrats to the winner @jamesshort.film 🏆 and huge thanks for the support from guests @maryma11 @baooole @jerry.hyj 🙏❤️

Gratitude on cute BTS 📷 by a super talented current student @jaidagerona ✨✨✨

Camera Op workshop at CSUN advanced cinematography class 2026 Spring❤️ Super grateful for our star guest speaker @jonkeng with us again with his gear head so we could have our fun competition of who operates the wheels the best among our students and congrats to the winner @jamesshort.film 🏆 and huge thanks for the support from guests @maryma11 @baooole @jerry.hyj 🙏❤️

Gratitude on cute BTS 📷 by a super talented current student @jaidagerona ✨✨✨

Camera Op workshop at CSUN advanced cinematography class 2026 Spring❤️ Super grateful for our star guest speaker @jonkeng with us again with his gear head so we could have our fun competition of who operates the wheels the best among our students and congrats to the winner @jamesshort.film 🏆 and huge thanks for the support from guests @maryma11 @baooole @jerry.hyj 🙏❤️

Gratitude on cute BTS 📷 by a super talented current student @jaidagerona ✨✨✨

Camera Op workshop at CSUN advanced cinematography class 2026 Spring❤️ Super grateful for our star guest speaker @jonkeng with us again with his gear head so we could have our fun competition of who operates the wheels the best among our students and congrats to the winner @jamesshort.film 🏆 and huge thanks for the support from guests @maryma11 @baooole @jerry.hyj 🙏❤️

Gratitude on cute BTS 📷 by a super talented current student @jaidagerona ✨✨✨

Camera Op workshop at CSUN advanced cinematography class 2026 Spring❤️ Super grateful for our star guest speaker @jonkeng with us again with his gear head so we could have our fun competition of who operates the wheels the best among our students and congrats to the winner @jamesshort.film 🏆 and huge thanks for the support from guests @maryma11 @baooole @jerry.hyj 🙏❤️

Gratitude on cute BTS 📷 by a super talented current student @jaidagerona ✨✨✨

Camera Op workshop at CSUN advanced cinematography class 2026 Spring❤️ Super grateful for our star guest speaker @jonkeng with us again with his gear head so we could have our fun competition of who operates the wheels the best among our students and congrats to the winner @jamesshort.film 🏆 and huge thanks for the support from guests @maryma11 @baooole @jerry.hyj 🙏❤️

Gratitude on cute BTS 📷 by a super talented current student @jaidagerona ✨✨✨

Recent workshop with my students from CSUN Advanced Cinematography 2026 spring class 📷 by @jaidagerona from current class, well captured!!! 🫶

Recent workshop with my students from CSUN Advanced Cinematography 2026 spring class 📷 by @jaidagerona from current class, well captured!!! 🫶

Recent workshop with my students from CSUN Advanced Cinematography 2026 spring class 📷 by @jaidagerona from current class, well captured!!! 🫶

Recent workshop with my students from CSUN Advanced Cinematography 2026 spring class 📷 by @jaidagerona from current class, well captured!!! 🫶

It’s a pleasure to be interviewed by a well-known magazine in China and globally ELLE (睿士) and featured in the article together with AFI alum writer @yanceywang and producer @tianyuyang1025 sharing our Hollywood journey and industry insight🫶✨🚀

It’s a pleasure to be interviewed by a well-known magazine in China and globally ELLE (睿士) and featured in the article together with AFI alum writer @yanceywang and producer @tianyuyang1025 sharing our Hollywood journey and industry insight🫶✨🚀

It’s a pleasure to be interviewed by a well-known magazine in China and globally ELLE (睿士) and featured in the article together with AFI alum writer @yanceywang and producer @tianyuyang1025 sharing our Hollywood journey and industry insight🫶✨🚀

It’s a pleasure to be interviewed by a well-known magazine in China and globally ELLE (睿士) and featured in the article together with AFI alum writer @yanceywang and producer @tianyuyang1025 sharing our Hollywood journey and industry insight🫶✨🚀

It’s a pleasure to be interviewed by a well-known magazine in China and globally ELLE (睿士) and featured in the article together with AFI alum writer @yanceywang and producer @tianyuyang1025 sharing our Hollywood journey and industry insight🫶✨🚀

In the Light of the Afternoon is what I would call a profound visual poet that evokes philosophical exploration of identity with the most peculiar metaphors featuring mirror face, dolls, clowns, and magnolia. What makes it so special is that It’s both a short and part of an art exhibition, I have never seen my film projected as literally part of the art exhibition, it’s really freaking cool!! Thanks to the artist and director @emilybabettegross trusting me with her most wonderfully bizarre vision!

Forwarding✨✨✨

“Central Server Works and Emily Babette Gross presents In the Light of the Afternoon — film premiere and art exhibition. Join us on October 25, 2025 from 6-9pm, for the opening reception at Central Server Works’ DTLA location.
•
Two years in the making, this short film dramatizes the dissolution of self through dream, archetypes, and the uncanny. The exhibition will feature the film as part of an installation in the gallery.
•
In the Light of the Afternoon was written, directed, and edited by Emily Babette Gross, costarring @samfranco__, @crimsondead31, and @madhatter_x. Our director of photography is @ino.dp, music by @_chateau.noir, color by @kootenaycolor, with coproduction by Emily Babette Gross and CSW”

The crew that created this beautiful visual with me: (proud to feature my students in the crew)

Writer/Director. @emilybabettegross
Producer. @tundeoduga
DP. 🪩
1st AC. @jacob_mariani @chrisxmcelroy
2nd AC. @emilia_061202 @ronind_sides
Gaffer. @anton.usikov.dp
G&E. @hyeyoung_ra @piankhi252025