The Aces

Writer/Director - senior thesis film

In the spring semester of my sophomore year, I took a class on the history of the Italian mafia as told through film. After learning about the dynamics of the mafia, I was instantly hooked. I came up with the idea for this script through that class - college poker meets the Italian mob in an edgy nail-biter short film.

Making movies isn’t a one-man show, though. I had to find enough people, nail down the locations, get equipment, and, honestly, an onslaught of other tasks. I knew if I wanted to do this, I would need to rely on the community of filmmakers around me. To say the least, they came through for me.

We spent eight months in pre-production and on script rewrites, which culminated in three days of filming. Close to fifty people came to set every day, twelve hours a day to help me create my dream. I am thrilled to be in the distribution phase now, seeing our hard work pay off.

I am endlessly proud of this film and the people who came together to help me create it. Here are some behind-the-scenes photos from our set!

Film crew filming outdoors at night with purple and blue lighting, a woman in a red dress standing near a black car, surrounded by crew members and equipment.
Filmmakers setting up a shot with a camera and a kitten in a cozy indoor environment.
People sitting around a table playing a game with chips and glasses of drink, with a woman wearing a big hat distributing chips.
A young man with dark hair and a serious expression is seen through a camera viewfinder at night, with a dark background and a faintly visible building in the distance.
A woman with glasses and short brown hair, eyes closed and lips slightly parted, touching her face with her hand, surrounded by other people in a dimly lit setting.
People setting up photography equipment outdoors, including a large reflector and a photo tent, with some individuals holding water bottles and others holding phones, in a park-like setting.
Nighttime film or video shoot outdoors with crew members operating camera and lighting equipment in front of a building entrance, surrounded by trees.
Filming crew sets up equipment in a bedroom while a young man sits on a bed with several other people around, some using phones, in a casual home setting.
People playing a card game at a table with a red tablecloth in a dimly lit room, with a camera on a tripod and bright lights in the background.
Two people standing in front of a large, reflective whiteboard or screen, silhouette against the light coming from a window behind them.
Young man wearing a cap, headphones, and a Hello, my name is tag, looking at a tablet or electronic device in a cafe or casual setting, with posters on the wall, and people working or talking in the background.
People preparing for a photo shoot outdoors near a swimming pool, with two large rectangular reflectors, a woman standing near a tree adjusting one reflector, and two others sitting at a table under a black and white striped umbrella.
People waiting by a poolside area with lounge chairs under a striped umbrella, surrounded by tropical plants, with a visible pool rule sign on a building wall.
People sitting and standing outside a building at night, one person being filmed by a camera operator.
People filming a scene in a room with a large light, a TV, and a window with dark curtains.
Two young women smiling and hugging at night outdoors, one wearing a blue sombrero, in a park or campus setting.
A woman wearing a blue cowboy hat and glasses is holding papers and talking to a group of young people in a kitchen. The group includes a man with curly hair and a crown, a man with brown hair, and two women in the background. The scene takes place i
Filming a scene with a girl lying on a bed in pajamas, with crew members around her, one holding a light, another with a notepad, and others behind the camera, in a bedroom setting.
Two young women smiling and hugging each other, one wearing a blue cowboy hat, holding a sticker, with a group of people and camera equipment in the background.
Two women on a film set, with a camera on a tripod. The woman on the left is wearing glasses, a black graphic t-shirt, and has her hair tied back. The woman on the right has long hair, glasses, and is wearing a white graphic t-shirt.
People gathered around by a poolside, some taking photos and others sitting or standing, with a person sitting on a lounge chair and a person in a white shirt holding a camera, in a sunny outdoor setting with greenery and pool equipment nearby.
People gathered around a pool with a waterfall feature, with lounge chairs and umbrellas in the background, near an apartment building surrounded by tall trees.
Close-up of a woman smiling and laughing outdoors, wearing glasses and a sleeveless, crocheted top with a green strap visible.
A man wearing reflective sunglasses and a green and white cap with the logo 'Wailea G.C.', standing outdoors on a sunny day with a tree and blue sky in the background.
Side profile of a young person wearing sunglasses, standing outdoors with palm trees and a building in the background.
A young man with brown hair wearing a white shirt and a young woman with wavy blonde hair sitting outdoors near a black metal fence. The woman is dressed in a white sleeveless top and has a necklace with a green pendant. She appears to be engaged in
A woman operating a professional ARRI film camera outdoors, with a person in the background.
Young woman with long blonde hair and a white blazer, standing outdoors near a blue lounge chair, with her eyes closed.
Group of five young adults standing outdoors in a circle, engaging in conversation, with trees, a mailbox, and a white vehicle in the background.
People standing in front of a bright purple and pink light with one person sitting on the ground.
Three young men sitting at a dining table during a poker game, with poker chips, playing cards, glasses, and a carafe on the table, and two women reflected in the window in the background.
A young man with short, light-colored hair, wearing a white t-shirt and a gold chain, sitting outdoors at night near a large green plant, with a house in the background.
Three young people are standing next to a black car at night, engaged in conversation. One person, a woman with long blonde hair and a red top, is facing another woman with a hat and open back top, who is leaning into the car. A young man in a light-
People on a film or photo shoot set outdoors, with lighting equipment and a camera on a dolly, under trees and an arched building.

Watch the trailer!

Click Here

Accolades for The Aces

  • Silhouette of a person sitting on a rock in front of a sunset or sunrise over a body of water with trees in the background.

    Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival

    Official Selection

  • Take Film Festival

    Official Selection

    Best Cinematography

    Best Supporting Actor

  • Logo for Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival, featuring a stylized leaf design inside an oval shape.

    Marché du Film

    Screened in “Louisiana Lens”: a showcase highlighting Louisiana filmmakers

Department Heads

  • A smiling woman with long dark wavy hair, wearing a patterned top, in a home setting with a refrigerator in the background.

    Emerson Boutte

    Producer

  • Black and white photo of a smiling woman with a backpack outdoors, winter landscape with snow-covered trees and mountains in the background.

    Nina Embaugh

    Director of Photography

  • A young man with curly dark hair, a small goatee, and earrings, smiling at the camera, in a room with windows and a table in the background.

    Vinicius Silva

    1st AD

  • A woman with short blonde hair wearing sunglasses, a white shirt, and a chain necklace, sitting on a chair outdoors with a dark leafy background. She has an earpiece and is holding a cord in her hand.

    Sam Short

    Gaffer

  • Young man in a baseball cap, tennis shirt, and gloves, smiling, standing indoors next to a door. He has headphones around his neck and is holding a water bottle. There are hanging accessories and bags on the wall behind him.

    Ethan Hood

    Sound Mixer

  • A black and white photo of a woman smiling, with shoulder-length wavy hair, in an indoor setting with modern lighting and decor.

    Mackenzie McLeod

    Key Grip

  • A woman with glasses and long dark hair, smiling and resting her chin on her arm, is seen through a cutout or frame in a decorative, patterned background.

    Amber Boutte

    Production Designer

  • Portrait of a young woman with braided hair, nose and lip piercings, smiling, wearing a jacket and choker, outdoors in black and white.

    Dash Gunn

    Props Master

  • A young woman with wavy blonde hair taking a selfie inside a car in black and white.

    Kaya Merry

    Costume Designer

  • A young woman with wavy hair and makeup, wearing a necklace and a tank top, taking a selfie in what appears to be a restaurant or cafe setting in black and white.

    Alleigh Rae Kaluza

    Makeup Artist

  • Black and white portrait of a young woman with long wavy blonde hair, wearing a dark top, smiling lightly at the camera.

    Ella Labaj

    Composer

  • A young man sitting alone in stadium seats, facing forward with a neutral expression.

    Brandon Carpenter

    Editor

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