“Waiting for Vera” by Stephen Whipple
A lone, elderly oil painter prepares to begin a new painting. After readying his materials, he waits for a final, key ingredient.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
“My aim for this film was hope without sentimentality.
We shot Waiting for Vera in June 2024, six months into Israel's war campaign in Gaza and well into the current Russo-Ukrainian War. I felt frustrated and conflicted by the news and the ongoing, horrendous circumstances. I felt helpless as an onlooker, so I did the only thing I could:
I made something. I wanted to make a film that would acknowledge the ruptured reality we live in, one which often feels so bleak, while at the same time providing some amount of levity. I didn't want to negate how irreparable life so often feels, but I also didn't want to overlook the beauty that has the ability to recenter us when everything around us seems worth despairing over.”
-Stephen Whipple
CREDITS
Writer, Director, Editor// Stephen Whipple/ @s_p_whipple
EP// Aaron J Bean/ @iamaaronbean
EP// Marcel Munoz/ @cine.marcel.munoz
Producer// Danielle C Celaya/ @filmbydeez
Ist AD// Caitlin McFadden/ @caitlinwmcfadden
DP// Jesse Schroeder/ @jessevisual
Ist AC// Leah Wellman/ @wellman leah
2nd AC// Vasyl Broda/ @v.broda_
Key Grip// Greg Boris/ @greezygregory
Grip// Brandon Scales/ @bjscales7
Sound Mixer/Boom Op// Brendan Reilly/ @brenrei77
PA// Shae Parker/ @toushae
PA// Stuart Blue/ @stuartbluart
Colorist// Jacob McKee/ @jalob
Sound Designer// Justin Streck/ @jstreck
Sound Designer// Joel Bear/ @joelbear
Composer// Julia Gjertsen/ @julia.gjertsen
CAST
Painter// Teddy Sutphin @teddy.sutphin
Woman on Radio// Bethany Lee @bethany_lynne
Father on Bench// David Yoon
Mother on Bench// Kristen Yoon
Little Girl on Bench// Sophie Yoon
Girl with Play Balloon// Charis Yoon
Boy with Play Balloon// Barnabas Yoon
Woman with Basketball// Danielle Celaya @filmbydeez
Woman Passing By// Katelin Dirr @kate.lin.soph
Man on Bench// Brian McCreadie @brianmecreadie_
First Woman on Bleachers// Lorena Velazquez @lore_v3
Second Woman on Bleachers// Marly Prom @gnarly_marlyx
Woman on Distant Bench// Sarah Sutphin @ meltingflower
Father Passing By// Elias Vazquez @elithevideoguy
Mother Passing By// Tanya Vazquez
Little Girl Passing By// Eloise Vazquez
Baby in Stroller// Juliette Vazquez
FRIENDS
Nicole Bayani/ @nicolebayani
Tanner Castro/ @tannercastrofilms
Domenic Campo/ @domcampo_
Ann Chong/ @annvfilms
Alan Dembek/ @alandembek
Craig Hard/ @jusenufisplenty
Mike Herbert/ @mikerayherbert
Chauntel Ingalls/ @chauntellouisedesigns
Cheri Janisse/ @chericheney
Julie Jasmin/ @jjasmininteriors
Brian Johnson/ @brianmecreadie_
Armin Korsos/ @armincreates
Jake LaPiere/ @jake_lapeire
Suzanne McCarthy/ @suzanne_mecarthy7
Lazarus Rios/ @lazleaders
Alik Sakharov
Donn Schroeder/ @donnvisual
Dan Silver/ @thedansilver
Caitlyn Spiritus/ @spirituscaitlyn
Peter Staudinger/ @grovefilm
St Procopius Catholic Church/ @st_procopius
Ed Titus/ @eddiext
Elias Vazquez/ @elithevideoguy
Daufenbach Camera/ @daufcam
Primal Grip/ @primalxgrip
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