YOYOs
You're On Your Own
•
You're On Your Own •
A film about
Family
Disagreements
Politics
Being Misunderstood
Survival
Nature
Growing Up
Coming Together
Family Disagreements Politics Being Misunderstood Survival Nature Growing Up Coming Together
Liberal sisters Dinah and Abigail return to their childhood homestead in rural Virginia after a long estrangement to pay respects to their (supposedly) dying conservative father - and get bamboozled into running the survivalist camp for kids that their parents founded after the sisters flew the coop.
Meet the Team
Our team grows every month as we get closer to filming!
Lexi Graboski
Writer / Producer / Actor
Lexi Graboski’s TV & Film credits include American Crime Story on FX, the pilot Dirty written/directed by Jeff Meek, the horror feature The New Hands written/directed by Brandon Scullion, and several short films and web series. She has performed around southern CA with Will & Company and across the country with Playfair. Behind the camera, Lexi wrote and produced several comedy shorts with her all-female sketch team The Sissy Space Cats, as well as her short film Uphill which screened at the Reel Recovery Festival in 2015. In 2016 she produced Reasons to be Pretty and Reasons to be Happy at the Two Roads Theater.
Michal Sinnott
Writer / Producer / Actor
Michal Sinnott is a classically trained storyteller. Her narrative feature, 'Unpacking,’ as co/writer-director-producer recently hit streaming platforms after winning 17 awards (including Best of the Fest, Rising Star Director, Best Ensemble, and Best Actress for Michal) in 25 fests (including Cinequest, RIFF, and Sedona International). She’s acted in 75+ roles for companies/institutions like ABC, Sundance and The Whitney Museum of American Art. She’s best known as the voice and performance-capture artist for Tracey De Santa in the multi-billion dollar phenomenon Grand Theft Auto V.
Lynda Reiss
Director
Lynda, who was born in New York and raised in England, is a multi award winning director. Her short films show range from drama to dark comedy and one of them was Oscar qualified in 2019. Her entire career has been a 25 year Master Class in prep, production, and finding rapid solutions to last minute requests while still telling the story, on such projects as American Beauty, American History X, Stranger Things, True Detective, and Winning Time. Lynda is a fellow of the Sony Pictures Diverse Directors Program, the Black Magic Collective Filmmaker Advancement Initiative, and a fellow of the Women in Film Transitioning Creatives Mentor Program.
Chelsea Fenton
Line Producer
Chelsea Fenton, a Canadian-American Producer and member of the Producers Guild of America was born in Toronto, raised in Dubai, and is now based in Los Angeles. She has produced nine features and multiple shorts, music videos and brand content spots with budgets ranging from $50,000 to $5,000,000. She has successfully navigated production logistics such as working with a bear, pyro and explosives, extensive VFX and stunts, cast/crews of 200+ people, aerial filming with helicopters, and working within various states to acquire tax credits and rebates towards production.
Heather Waters
Producer
Heather Waters is an award-winning producer, director, and writer known for her visionary leadership in film, music, and the arts. She is the Founder & Producer of the Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF), Founder of the arts & tech company, the Indie MIX, and Co-founder of Creative World Awards (CWA), a leading development company serving writers worldwide. Waters’ body of work spans narratives and documentaries. Her most recent film, A Mother’s Promise, is an award winning 1920’s short making its run on the festival circuit with an accompanied feature in development. She is thrilled to be a producer on the upcoming feature film YOYOS, set to shoot in Virginia this summer.
Julia Cassidy
Co - Producer
Julia Cassidy is an Emmy Award-winning producer with a track record of over 25 years in the industry. Beyond specializing as a showrunner in unscripted series, she spent 11+ years in development and over six years as Head of Creative at (Sony-owned) Embassy Row. In addition to leading a production company, she has a genuine love of story-telling, teamwork, and cultivating the growth of individuals. She brings creativity, innovation, and industry knowledge to every project she undertakes. Additionally, she is a dedicated advocate for the autistic community.
Anne Chapman
Casting Director, CSA
Anne Chapman has a keen eye for finding just the right actor to fit a part, whether it’s a Revolutionary War soldier or a telephone installer. Her boutique casting company specializes in independent projects. Anne’s deep knowledge of Virginia’s actor and crew base makes her a valuable asset as she works closely with directors, writers and producers. Versatile and able to scale her efforts to meet a project’s needs, she has lent her expertise to hundreds of productions such as Lincoln, Harriet, Loving, Big Stone Gap, and many more. Since 2007, Anne has also cast over 100 university short films at VCU, where she serves as an Adjunct Professor.
Jarrod Russell
Director of Photography
Jarrod Russell was raised in Richmond. He recently DP’d the feature film Tapawingo starring Jon Heder and Billy Zane. He cut his production teeth on film, television and commercial projects in and around the mid-Atlantic region. Jarrod’s skill set was honed working simultaneously in both camera and lighting which was an advantage to an up-and-coming Cinematographer. Now based in NYC Jarrod has gaffed shows such as Amazon’s The Peripheral, AMC’s Walking Dead, World Beyond, and Apple TV’s Lady in the Lake in addition to features films that are awaiting release. Jarrod has worked under the tutelage of ten ASC cinematographers including John Toll, Janusz Kaminski, and Lachlan Milne. He’s shot commercials for companies such as Walmart, Tiger Fuels, TEDx, and Hamilton Beach. Grateful for the opportunities he has received, Jarrod looks forward to furthering his role as a cinematographer and continuing his artistic journey.
Danny Caporaletti
Assistant Director
Danny Caporaletti makes movies about life’s mysterious turning points and those magic moments that linger in dreams. His films have screened in Berlin, New Orleans, Toronto, Los Angeles DC, Richmond, and beyond. His most recent short, A Little Sun, won the best short prize at the Fine Arts Film Fest in Venice, California. Danny has taught at VCUartsCinema on and off since 2016. Danny has an MFA in Fiction Writing from the University of New Orleans and is a professor in practice in the Cinema Dept at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he teaches directing and film production. Danny works as a director/producer/AD on a variety of commercial and narrative productions. He recently AD’d the 2024 Tribeca Best Narrative film winner Griffin In Summer. He lives in Richmond, VA with his wife and two amazing children.
Rachel Leggett
Production Designer
Rachel Leggett is a Production Designer/Prop Master/Stop Motion Animator based in Los Angeles, CA. She was born and raised in Ohio and studied forestry before pursuing her career as a filmmaker. Rachel has developed her skills in the film industry through a diverse body of work, including social media spots, shorts, and feature films. Recent projects include Never Hike Alone 2, Super Human Anxiety, and The Stain. Throughout her creative endeavors, she is known to lean into unique challenges ranging from building a life-size elevator to crafting a spa of cheese. As a member of Women in Film, Cool Girl Cinema Club, and a regular at the neighborhood cinema, she loves connecting with the film community. Rachel is excited to be a part of the YOYOs team and get back into the woods.
Diana Hull
Producer
Diana Hull is a producer based in the greater Philadelphia area, with a decade of experience in philanthropic work, including her role as Director of Operations at The Women’s Film Festival. She is also a co-founder of 3 Left Handed Women, promoting films by and for women. Diana holds a bachelor's degree from Villanova University with a concentration in theatre. She is best known for producing LAND OF BAD (Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth, and Milo Ventimiglia) and ONE TRUE LOVES (Simu Liu, and Phillipa Soo). Her films BEAR COUNTRY (Russell Crowe, Nina Dobrev, and Aaron Paul), REFUGE, STALKED, and NOT WITHOUT HOPE(Zachary Levi) are currently in post-production. In addition to YOYOS, she is preparing to film two more features this year: A Better Place and Back to December.
