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From the Director:
This story started with the intention of exploring the idea of what justice would look like if we only thought in terms of right and wrong - free from the influence of politics, clout, discrimination, etc. I found myself wanting to tell a story centered on a character with a strong IQ and EQ, which led to creating a young ADA bound by the logic of law to contrast against a professional superior she's compelled to prosecute for personal reasons.
The dual vision of strong female characters and a rock-solid ensemble appealed to me from the very beginning. I also wanted to explore how different people involved in one case navigate through what their own definition of "right" is.
Speaking on behalf of the creative team, it is our hope that this film will encourage those who have directly or indirectly been made to feel that their stories and their feelings are ignored. We believe any victim of any kind of abuse is worthy of justice, validation, and closure, and we salute them and the people fighting for them.
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With the clock ticking for major film festival submission deadlines, we need your help to bring this project to completion. We need to raise $10,000 to put WORTHY through post-production and submissions to specifically targeted film festivals. The funds raised will go directly to editing, sound mixing, coloring, original music, film festival submission entry fees, and Indiegogo campaign hosting fees. Here is our breakdown:
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KALLY KHOURSHID as ADA Ruth Bryant
Kally was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in Boca Raton, Florida. She holds collegiate and professional training in multiple performing arts disciplines. Kally has been the lead in over 20 films, including Revoked (winner, “Best VR Doc/Empathetic Film” at Cinequest Film & VR Festival; showcase selection, Festival de Cannes’ Marche Du Film), The Operator (winner, “Best U.S. Short Film” at Catalina Film Festival), and more. Kally is a passionate advocate of the arts as means to bring important issues to light, challenge perspectives, encourage understanding, and reignite hope.
TOM JENKINS as Judge Kevin Lestin
Born in Kentucky and raised in West Virginia, Tom's parents always said, "Son, you have nowhere to go but up!" After honing his acting in Florida, and an appearance on Nickelodeon's, Clarissa Explains It All, Tom made the big move to Los Angeles. He is now a veteran of over 50 commercials with national brands such as Allstate, Activia, Ford, Rite Aid, Toyota, Kay Jewelers, and Hallmark. Tom also has several network television appearances, including Criminal Minds and Days of our Lives, as well as numerous film shorts under his belt. Tom is always looking to lend his common-man affability to any role.
MATTHEW HANCOCK as DA Alvis Morris
Matthew Hancock is an L.A. transplant who hails from Columbus, Ohio. He enrolled at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, then at Adelphi University, where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. In addition to film, his theatre work has earned him a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, a LA Stage Raw Award, and nominations for LA Stage Alliance Ovation, Broadway World Los Angeles, and NAACP Theatre Awards. His work in the short film Martyr recently earned Matthew a Best Actor nomination at the California Women’s Film Festival.
SANDY RATHER as Kansas Smith
Sandy Rather is an actress/singer from Houston, Texas and a graduate from Stella Adler’s Art of Acting Studio in Los Angeles. She received her BA in Theatre from Centenary College of Louisiana. During her time in LA, she has played some of her favorite roles, such as: Afak in Othello & Otis, Cordelia in Lear’s Daughters, Meg/Ketch in Our Country’s Good, Jaques in As You Like It, and Fabiana Aziza Cunningham in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. She is grateful for the continuous love and support she receives from God, her family, friends, and mentors. She would like to thank Mike Vaughn and the amazing cast and crew of “Worthy” for the tremendous opportunity to tell such a hauntingly beautiful story.
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MICHAEL V. HERNANDEZ writer/director
Michael is a Trinidadian-American writer and director from Miami, currently residing in Los Angeles. Growing up both in Miami and the Caribbean, Michael has been exposed to many richly diverse cultures and people from such vibrantly different walks of life. From Bollywood to Asian films to American movies and beyond, he is grateful to have experienced time and time again how cinema is a powerful and meaningful way to connect to the people and world around us.
Michael earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree from Florida State University, after which he held positions as Creative Director of Marketing, Media Director, Graphic Designer, Editor, and Director of Photography, the culmination of which in 2012 materialized into his career path as a film director. He utilized his skills and years of experience to bring into full realization the production company CreativeDuet Media. Over the last six years he has continuously worked as a director for music videos, commercials, industrials, marketing campaigns, and narrative short films. Worthy is the first of four next-level projects his team is undertaking to not only solidify their presence in the narrative film world, but also to inspire and challenge audiences in the real world
BRIAN M. TANG cinematographer
Brian M Tang is a cinematographer and director based in Los Angeles. Originally from New Jersey, Brian has been a freelance cinematographer whose work has reached millions of views and collaborated with numerous companies and directors on narrative short films as well as music videos and feature length films. Brian’s latest feature is called “The Last Whistle” starting Brad Leland (Friday Night Lights) and Jim O’Heir (Parks and Recreation).
AHMED ARIFIN composer
Ahmed Arifin is an award-winning film composer. Born in Bangladesh into a musical family, Ahmed has been surrounded by music since his very conception. He started with tabla (a south-Asian percussion instrument) and continued on to learn guitar, piano, and drums. His music career began while he was still in college, scoring various of films while completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Recording Arts at Full Sail University. Since moving to Los Angeles, Ahmed has composed for numerous renowned music houses working on studio films, trailers, and beyond.
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We tremendously appreciate contributions of any size - even a dollar! Alongside contributing monetarily, the most valuable thing you can do to help us out is spread the word and share this campaign with your family, friends, and colleagues. You can directly share this campaign to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms with the icons at the bottom of this page.
From the entire WORTHY team: We thank you for your support!