Lead actors Celesta DeAstis (Liza) and Bobby Moreno (Darryl) turned in standout performances – as seen in these stills from the film. These shots also capture the mood of the short – a fine balance of tension, humor and poignancy.

Tonya Agurto (producer/co-writer) and Grant Janes (director/co-writer/editor) are proud to release their first dramatic short through Cool Red Star Films.

An entertain­ment executive with over 15 years experience in international licensing and brand development at a major studio, Tonya Agurto wanted to garner some experience on the creative side of the business. So she set out to independently produce a short film with the goal of broadening her skill-set and laying the foundation for larger film and TV projects in the future. With this in mind, she secured a 60K budget, launched Cool Red Star Films and got to work conceptualizing “Towed” along with her husband, co-writer and director, Grant Janes.

Commercial director, graphic artist and animator, Grant Janes has helmed numerous campaigns for agencies such as Ogilvy, JWT and McCann – and for brands including Adobe, IBM, Kodak and Hewlett Packard, among many others. A talented writer as well, Grant is represented by Industry Entertainment as a screenwriter in Hollywood. With “Towed,” his inaugural narrative project, Grant hopes to establish his profile in the industry as a director as well.

A short film about getting your life back in gear.

Liza’s life is in a downward spiral. A recent break-up leaves her temporarily stuck and living out of her car – with no money, no gas, and seemingly no way forward. Parked in a tow zone and stalked by a persistent tow truck driver, a cat-and-mouse game ensues until Liza receives assistance from the most unlikely of sources, allowing her to get her life back in gear.

• Shot on Arri Alexa
• Aspect Ratio: 2:39:1
• Filming Locations: Los Angeles
• Year Produced: 2015
• Running Time: 14 minutes

Celesta DeAstis is honored to be part of “Towed.” A driven, energetic, and experienced young actress of Italian descent, Celesta’s resume boasts several commercials and documentaries for HBO, Nintendo, UE Boom, and Gazelle – amongst others. Her first movie, “Banana Leaves,” made its debut at the Pan African Film Festival of Los Angeles in 2009 – and went on to play in movie theaters throughout Africa. Celesta’s TV credits include Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana” and “A.N.T. Farm,” and ABC Family’s “Melissa and Joey,” among others. Celesta has also done several modeling and print jobs including an appearance in the Sprite Christmas 2009 campaign.

In addition to “Towed,” Celesta is also the lead in the newest Asylum production movie, “Hacked,” premiering later this year. Celesta has trained with some of the industry’s best, including The Second City in Chicago and L.A. acting coach, John D’Aquino.

Bobby Moreno hails from Austin, TX and Elmont, NY. He received his BFA in Acting from Texas State University, and has lived in New York City ever since. His film/tv credits include “How He Fell In Love,” “Kings,” “Law & Order,” “One Life To Live,” “The Good Wife,” and “Private Romeo.” Notable stage credits include “Year of the Rooster” (Drama Desk Nomination – Best Featured Actor – Ensemble Studio Theatre), “Hand to God” (EST), “Grand Concourse” (Playwrights Horizons), “Luther” (Clubbed Thumb), “Invasion!” (The Play Company), and “Al’s Business Cards” (At Play).

Bobby is a lifetime member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre, a Freestyle Mondays Battle Champion and a member of the Indie Theatre Hall of Fame. Currently, he is the emcee for the hip-hop group BiFocal Triclops, and plays rhythm guitar in The US Open. His next appearance on stage will be at NYTW in the new musical “Lazarus,” by David Bowie and Enda Walsh.

“Towed” was shot over three days and nights in May, 2015 in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of East Los Angeles. Cool Red Star Films wants to thank Carinne Meyrignac for taking these incredible set photos.