Kickstarter

Welcome and thank you for reading our story!

After three years of hard work Dressing Up is finally in post-production!

Dressing Up is a short comedy shot in spectacular Seattle with local actors, crew members, artists, vendors and locations. Your contribution will help us complete the final stage of post-production including color correction, sound design, music licensing and festival submissions.

We have 30 days to hit our goal! THANK YOU for helping us complete this delightful and inspiring film!

Story Line

Dressing Up is a short comedy about Jenny, a timid office assistant with a pushy mother and a shady boss. Jenny and her best friend Kat find out their entire department is going to be unfairly laid off. In a desperate attempt to save their jobs and do the right thing Jenny and Kat dress up as consultants using the box of clothes Jenny’s mom was giving to Goodwill - full of vintage dresses, wigs, shoes, glasses and purses. After a couple of close calls with the company executives, Jenny saves the day and finds out she likes dressing up, standing tall and speaking up.

Project History

Dressing Up has been in development since 2009 when screenwriter Sandra Ahola first brought the beat sheet to the Eastside Screenwriters meeting where Ilona Rossman Ho was also a member. At that time it was titled Outside Experts. Ilona loved the story concept and worked with Sandra to craft it into a charming, upbeat comedy.  In 2010 Outside Experts was one of five finalists for the Seattle IFP Spotlight Award but unfortunately did not win. In Spring 2011 Outside Experts won a 4Culture Award which allowed pre-production to begin in the Summer of 2011 and production in Fall/Winter of 2011. Shooting was completed in January 2012.

Meet the Cast

Marianna de Fazio (Jenny) is a local Seattle actor whose work spans stage, film and voice-over. She received her MFA in acting from the University of Washington and is now a proud employee of Theatre Puget Sound. She would like to thank everyone involved for the opportunity and support and for letting her explore her inner "Jenny".

Laura Hanson (Kat) has appeared in numerous independent films and theater productions. Her most recent on-screen credit: a SIFF favorite and 2012 SXSW Narrative Audience Award Winner, Fat Kid Rules the World.  On stage, she had the opportunity to work with internationally-acclaimed playwright, Israel Horovitz, in his play, My Old Lady, with Harlequin Productions. Her credits also include many corporate/industrial videos, commercials and voice-overs. Laura is so thrilled to be involved in this fabulous project with such an incredible, dynamic production team, cast and crew ("they were amazing!"). 

Christopher Coombs (Lester) has a background in intimate theater, honing his craft in the basement theaters of Los Angeles and performing to critical acclaim in such plays as The Only Game In Town, Speed-The-Plow and as John the Baptist in Salome.  He also studied in Los Angeles under the tutor of legendary acting coach Gregory Serrao Bach.  Christopher is currently producing and directing the short film Uncle Jimbo for release in spring of 2013.

Lee Ryan (Mom) has appeared in dozens of television commercials, lead roles on stage (comedy and drama) and been the principle in scads of corporate/industrial video productions. Besides an actress she is also a voice artist, writer, playwright and speaker.  Currently she is marketing her play, “A Record Christmas” all over the United States and is writing the sequel, “A Record Christmas, Too”.

Photo Credits: Gabriela Cociuba, Matt Harrison, Christopher Julian, Jansen Hillis, Jess Martinez