Blood is Thicker
Film Screening & Ticket Information
When & Where to See this Film!
FAMILY BUSINESS: 7 films about blood and traditions.
April 23, 2024 @ 7:00PM • Kaufman Astoria Studios – Zukor Theatre
Film Bloc Line Up:
Synopsis
Two sisters living in the same city but completely different worlds reconnect over a meal. A mother suffering dementia pulls them back home but before they can return the trauma of their past must be addressed.
Credits
Melissa Skirboll, DirectorOverdue, My Dinner With Schwartzey, Greetings From Sarajevo, Show & Tell Tango
Melissa Skirboll, WriterSomething Borrowed, Show & Tell Tango, Overdue, My Dinner WIth Schwartzey, Overdue
Melissa Skirboll, Producer
Penny B. Jackson, Producer
Tracy Boak, Producer
Jeanine Bartel, Key Cast, “Jessie”
Melissa Skirboll, Key Cast, “Shana”
Director Statement
I’ve had the opportunity to direct Jeanine Bartel numerous times, both on screen and on stage. Blood is Thicker marks the first tome we’ve acted together and I’m so glad we made this happen.
Taking on so many roles – writer, director, producer, editor – is a lot for one person to shoulder; putting yourself in front of the camera at the same time borders on insanity. Having Jeanine as my scene partner made it possible.
We’ve built up trust and confidence in each other over the years; knowing that I could count on Jeanine to pick up any balls I dropped along the way definitely provided a stable foundation for us to grow our characters from.
We shot this in one very long day with a miniscule crew who were all doing double and triple duty – most of whom I’ve had the privilege of working with before. Building a team like this, a team I can count on and grow with is one of the greatest boons I’ve received from making films. And the only way I’d ever attempt to make something like this little labor of love!
Director Biography
Melissa Skirboll is an award-winning director, writer, actor and producer – for both screen and stage. She was named Female FIlmmaker of the Year in 2022 at the San Angelo Revolution Film Festival, and Filmmaker of the year in 2019 at Vásterås Film Festival in Sweden.
Prior work includes OVERDUE (2022), DOWN & OUT (2023), GREETINGS FROM SARAJEVO (2020), MY DINNER WITH SCHWARTZEY (2018), THE SPY WHO SCRATCHED ME (2018) and SHOW & TELL TANGO (2016). Her films have played at over 100 festivals around the world, garnering 40 awards across all categories.
