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Cast & Crew 

CREDITS

A Film by Vintage Moxie Flix 

Director/Writer/Producer:  Susan M. Carr

DP: Jesse Shoop 

Jesse Shoop is a cinematographer born and raised in the Seattle area, and a student at Shoreline Community College. There he met Grace, Daniel, Viola, Corbin and Sean, who are now his good friends and key collaborators. They have made many films together and continue to grow as filmmakers.

Unexpected Grace is the most ambitious project Jesse has shot to date. It's gotten him one step closer to the dream of being able to do film full time, and improved his ability to express feelings with a camera. Jesse would like to give a big shout out to Tony Doupe, Debra Pralle, Kris Boustedt, and George Watt for opening doors for him, and so many other students at Shoreline. He would also like to thank Susan for trusting him and being committed to this project to the very end.

Editor/1st AC: Daniel Edelen 

A filmmaking obsessive, Daniel Edelen frequently finds himself particularly enamoured by stories that use the medium of motion pictures to its greatest potential. He sees it as a unique and exclusive opportunity to describe something indescribable, and it is in this view that all of his projects are born. Through unusual technical concepts and ideas, Daniel seeks to tell stories that capture the human experience in ways only film can.

Daniel's passions started off in audio, but as he became more passionate about creative expression, his interests expanded into camerawork, writing, and of course editing. At a young age where he once produced short films through Lego stopmotion and video games, he now has the privilege to work hands-on with other people that have the same drive as himself.

Early in his life, Daniel's father, an audio engineer, gave him the technical knowledge and resources to familiarize himself with audio as well as video, while his mother taught him the artistry and respect of writing and storytelling. Now, Daniel believes movies to be virtually anything and everything, but he also firmly believes that first they are sound, pictures, and creativity. In everything he creates, he aims to make the most of all three.

Music Composer:  Tara Forth

Tara Forth (she/her) is a versatile composer, singer, multi-instrumentalist, voice actor, sound designer, foley artist and producer based in Seattle. She is currently serving as an advisor for the Seattle Composers Alliance after serving as President for six transformative terms. In 2024, Tara was honored with a Pacific Northwest Indie Award for Best Composer.

Tara's work includes musical soundtracks for award-winning features and short films, custom commercial music, trailer scores, voiceover, audio repair, and music licensing.

In addition to musical experience and training, Tara's aptitude in creative direction, tech, business strategy and marketing makes her a valuable partner in crafting impactful and memorable audience experiences.

CAST

Susan M Carr (Grace, Suzy, Natasha) 

Ralph Levin (George)  

Ralph is a retired elementary schoolteacher who loved cinema as a kid and learned to love theater as an adult.  He took improv classes, which made him a much better and happier teacher.  Since retiring he has taken further improv classes with Jet City Improv.  He readily accepted the part of George, and learned he couldn’t play himself. 

Matt Dela Cruz (Painter #1) 

Matt Dela Cruz is a first generation Filipino-American performance artist and educator based in Seattle, WA. He is a graduate of Circle in the Square Theatre School in New York City, an alumni of University of Washington’s undergraduate drama program and he recently completed his Masters in Teaching degree at Seattle Pacific University. While he’s performed for most of his artistic career, he has gone onto writing and producing his own works. He had the opportunity to present Mr. D.C. (his first written solo show) in New York City in June 2019 through Pan Asian Repertory and had a short run in Seattle of his second solo show called Tita Ester (a solo show he wrote centered around his Filipina mom). 

Performance wise his recent roles included: playing Bosley in Pork Filled Productions’ Bloodletting, playing Friar Laurence in Theatre Battery's production of Romeo and Juliet and being part of the ensemble cast of Inside Voices! (an improv musical produced by Jet City Improv). He is also an occasional cabaret artist, recently premiering his own solo cabaret show called Make it Pop! through the Seattle Cabaret Festival this past June.

Amit Rosenberg (Painter #2) 

Amit Rosenberg has been acting in the Seattle area since 2018, when he first began taking classes at Freehold Theater. Credits include Theatre Black Dog’s production of The Importance of Being Ernest, Valley Center Stage’s Arsenic and Old Lace, and BAT Theatre’s Fallen Angels.

Tommy Beale (Assailant #1) 

A recent UW graduate, Tommy is excited to explore the Seattle performance scene. Having trained at International Stunt School in 2023, he discovered a love for stunts and stage combat that he’s been feeding ever since. You can find him onstage at a local theater or see more of his training on his Instagram: @tomebale

Ian Stone (“Hot Stuff) 

(no bio provided) 

Pat Salembier (Assailant #2) 

Pat Salembier  is an actor and improviser originally hailing from Ottawa, Canada. Through Seattle’s vibrant Improv scene, Pat has found a wonderful community of artists and can be found at theaters around the city making up jokes on the fly.  When not engaged with acting or Improv, Pat spends his time playing Dungeons and Dragons and hunting for the best croissants in the city.

Anna Banana (Pretty Parlor Owner) 

Sarah Fitzpatrick (Therapist) 

Sarah Fitzpatrick has spent most of her life pursuing theatre and the arts. As a performer, teacher, director, storyteller, presentation coach, and mom, she continues to seek creative collaborations with others. Susan M Carr and Sarah have done many visual storytelling projects together over the years. Sarah loves this magical story!  

Hailee Knudsen (Grey Sky Gallery Receptionist)

(also crew, bio below) 

Mary McPage (911 Operator) 

Eric Newman (Seattle Policeman)  

Eric has been a performing artist even before moving to Seattle in 1983. Although most of his experience has been on stage, he welcomes any opportunity to work in front of the camera....thank you, Susan!

Tina Nikolova (Nurse) 

Tina Nikolova  is a singer/songwriter who also has a passion for acting. She’s been acting as long as she has been singing. She grew up in Eastern Europe where she did most of her acting training and performances. Outside of acting, she is a songwriter releasing music. 

Meredith Binder (Shiela)

Kaelyn Langer Mendonca (Frances) 

Kaelyn Langer Mendonca is a multi-hyphenate artist with 30 years of experience as an actor, director, arts administrator, educator, and artistic leader in New York and Washington State. Her passion lies in creating complex characters and telling important stories that resonate with audiences. A native New Yorker and now based in Seattle Kaelyn thrives in collaborative, open, and brave spaces. 

David Hintzman (Chief)

John Williams Lynch (Assailant #3) 

John has been a Seattle actor for many years in addition to being an actor/combatant and Stuntman.  He has certified in all 8 weapons with The Society of American Fight Directors. He is an active member of the SAFD since 1997.  He trained with The American Stuntman’s Association in 2002, in addition to training with The British Academy of Stage and Screen, London in 2008.  During the pandemic John continued his training with Freehold theater lab. As well as honing his skills in combat, he received training in intimacy choreography. 

John has also taught stage combat for Seattle Children’s Theater acting intensive and for the North shore and Seattle School districts.  John has choreographed fights for many local theaters. Those include Driftwood Theater, Burien Actors Theater, Renton Civic, Snoqualmie Forest theater, Everett Historic, West of Lennon Theater, Green Stage, Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan, Recycled Shakespeare Theater North Bend Theater and Seattle Musical Theater to name a few.  Enjoy the show! 

Sean Campbell McCoy (Assailant #4)

(also crew, bio below) 

CREW

Sean Campbell McCoy (1st AD)

Sean Campbell McCoy was  born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, and has traveled a fair amount, but always ended up back amongst the eerie grandeur that is Washington State.

Sean’s passion for writing led him to screenwriting, and while working in the industry he found he had a talent in assistant directing. He uses skills culled from cooking  in numerous kitchens to balance numerous tasks and keep communication open/clear with film teams and takes pride in facilitating the final output on screen.

Sean spends most of his time at home with his amazing partner and two cats. An avid collector of physical media (vinyl, blu-ray, books, comics) and modern/retro video games, he spends far too much money on boutique toys and pop culture trinkets. He also enjoys seeking out obscure films reviewed on Letterboxd, or that a friend of a friend mentioned in passing. 

Script Supervisor: Melina Kirsch 

Melina  is a filmmaker based in the Seattle area, who is drawn to using larger-then-life genres to explore what drives our inner worlds. She has worked as a production designer on multiple films, and has been a script supervisor on far more. She can also be found as a writer, on films such as “Death Sentence,” and “Revenge of the Lesbian Vampire,” the latter of which won an honorable mention for Best in City at Seattle’s 48 Hour Horror Film competition in 2022, as well as Best Art Direction.

Art Director:  Chrystal Kain

Who is Chrystal Kain? We all kinda wonder that, like a multitool, she works in many different ways. If you are in search of this wild species, you may find her throwing herself into walls, or rolling around on the ground, in her natural habitat of stunt performing.

Occasionally you can find her on sets like “Unexpected Grace” with her gunslinger belt and a whole bunch of gaff tape. [they call her “Sticky”] Along with a big grin on her face and the eagerness to help.

Makeup: Hailee Knudsen 

Hailee is a hair, makeup, and special effects artist who enjoys art and creativity who is pursuing a career in film and theater work to feed the soul. Hailee enjoys collecting positive experiences and new possibilities.

PA: Ayla Carda

Ayla Carda has been an active filmmaker in Washington State since 2016, beginning her journey as an actor before expanding into a variety of roles behind the camera. Her passion spans across short and feature films, web and TV series, music videos, and documentaries. She is grateful to have received recognition for her work, including the "Let Girls Learn" award at the 2022 ConnectHER Film Festival and the "Emerging Filmmaker" award at the 2024 Seattle Film Summit.

PA: Jones Borges

Originally from Brazil, Jones now calls Seattle home after spending three years touring across California. A dedicated heavy metal fan and guitar player, Jones has performed in bands like Salute Brutality, Pangea, and Born Without Blood. His passion for music led him to explore various roles in the commercial, television, and film industries, including work in production, lighting, and grip departments. Always eager to learn, Jones enjoys taking on new challenges in production and live event work.

Jones currently works in Seattle at Town Events; a local live events production company, working both in front and back of house handling everything from set-up to tear downs, and everything in between, he continues to seek new opportunities to grow in television, film, and live event production.

Sound:  Michael Kleven & Trevor Murray

Sound Mixer Michael Kleven works on a variety of sound-for-picture projects. As a young man, Michael worked primarily in the theater as an actor, modern dancer, and director at Western Washington University and Fairhaven College. His work-study job at the campus radio station, KUGS, foretold where his career would take him. His path led to the other side of the camera, or microphone, such as it were. Kleven has worked on diverse projects, from feature films to corporate projects involving C-suite executives to award-winning documentaries, commercials, and other short-form content. He prides himself on recording the best mix possible and congenial relations professionally and on set. He is also an active documentary film director. His film, “Khu.éex' the Magic of Noise,” will begin its festival run shortly. 

Trevor Murray is a Texas State University graduate with a bachelors of fine arts in theatre and has spent years creating and honing his craft. He passionately continues a pursuit in entertainment which drives him to help create high-quality motion picture content with a dedicated and passionate team. Focusing on fostering a creative and professional environment as a location sound mixer, nothing stands in the way of this driven creative mind.

Boom Operator: Viola Citizen 

Viola is an actress, writer, and filmmaker. She’s been working in digital film production since she was fifteen. Her short film “Dread” won a Silver Key award at the 2021Southern Nevada Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

Gaffer: Corbin Weitenhagen 

By the end of Spring 2025, I will have graduated The University of Washington with a Bachelor’s in Cinema Media Studies. Professionally, I find myself Gaffing and working in the camera department the most. Although, when I read a script that I find compelling, I do not hesitate to assist in the creation of the film in any way shape or form.

Gaffer: Gracia Wesson

Gracia Wesson is a Seattle-area gaffer who is passionate about both the creative and technical aspects of film lighting. Like most indie filmmakers, Gracia has directed their own short films and in 2024 graduated from Shoreline Community College with an Associate in Digital Film. Since then they have lended their skills to both narrative and commercial work in the PNW.

Fight Director: Geoffrey Alm

Geoffrey has been a professional Fight Director locally, nationally, and internationally for over 35 years.

Photographer: Jessy Parr 

Jessy Parr is a stills and BTS photographer based in Seattle. She shoots and develops film in her free time, and has a deep passion for restoring damaged photos. She’s learning harmonica, much to the dismay of her neighbors. 

Special Thanks to:

Sag/Aftra Film Agreements, Billy Gallo,  Seattle Film Office, Grace Wang, Seattle Opera Company,   Geoffrey Alms, Kevin Inouye, Flora Goldwaithe, Fircrest Residential Habilitation Center,  Nancy Iredale, Gray Stone Gallery, Pretty Parlor, Joanne Fabric’s, Trophy Cupcakes, Expansive Workspace, Aaron of Easy Song Licensing, Cami Kintara.