"Arm and a leg" is a short narrative film project written in 2023, shot in 2024, and completed in 2025. The film stars Eliza Bent and Dennis Grimes, featuring Robert Melton and Catherine Carrigan in supporting roles. The film was shot in Highland Park and Chicago, IL, and funded in part as a "Senior Directing" thesis at Northwestern University.

With this film, I tried to address the bubbling up of buried psychological wounds through bodily expression.

AKA it's a trans metaphor, but in the sense that broadly trans phenomena can be kind of be experienced by anyone. I think many of us have experienced the removal of our selves from ourselves, and the terror of the journey back. From alienation to connection, from thinking to flailing, the humiliation of trying something, glimpses of freedom. This movie is also kind of about whiteness, wealth, marriage, the dispiriting phenomenon of "remote work", the tragedy of the cishet, winter, and salad.

AKA per the Chicago International Film Festival: "Suffocated by the confines of suburban culture, April finds catharsis in wild, uninhibited physical movement. Her struggle for self-expression is empathetically depicted through claustrophobic visuals that reflect her oppression."

My stellar team and I had a rollicking time making this happen. I'm so proud. Hope u enjoy.

CREDITS

STARRING - Eliza Bent (APRIL), Dennis Grimes (TODD), Catherine Carrigan, Robert Melton

Produced by
Tristan Baumeister
Madie Giaconia

Cinematography
Haoshu Sascha Deng

Production Design
Lola Selby

Sound Design
Nick Kapp

Color
Nick Kapp

Associate Producer
Veronica Silvosa

1st AD
George Segress

Post-Production Consultant
Dia Walker

B Camera Operator
Sienna Cammarota

1st ACs
Sienna Cammarota
Jankhna Sura

2nd ACs
Jankhna Sura
Zachary Read
Nicholas di Girolamo

Gaffer
Declan Franey

Key Grip
Nick Leahy

Grips
AJ Dickerson
Nicholas di Girolamo
Zachary Read

Sound Mixer
Mac Gleason

Boom Op
Nick Kapp
Sophia Su

Ambisonics Recordist
Sophia Su

Script Supervisor
MJ Gudino

Costume Assistant
Saffron James

BTS Photographer
Lilly Reed

SFX Makeup
Madie Giaconia

Assistant Editor
Iggy Toro

Score composed by
Sam Clayton