I’ve always loved stories about people being stuck. Whenever we find ourselves stuck physically or emotionally, it’s often because of poor decisions we’ve made in our lives: decisions involving money, significant others, careers, kids and everything in between. It’s these moments that often act as emotional fulcrums in our lives – when we’re finally forced to confront the choices we’ve made that have landed us where we are.

Liza, in “Towed,” is at such a crossroads. At the beginning of the film she feels as though the world owes her something. Recovering from a recent breakup and finding herself parked in a tow-zone and out of gas, she reacts indignantly when the Tow Truck Driver attempts to take her car. It’s this same attitude that landed her in a run-down part of L.A. with no money, no gas, and seemingly no way forward.

As the story progresses, Liza realizes the Tow Truck Driver is simply doing his job and that the rest of the world cares little for her personal problems. It’s only after accepting that she needs to give up her old way of thinking – as symbolized by her stalled car – that she can allow for real change in her life, as well as a very surprising resolution to her problems.

Writing and filming “Towed” was tricky. The chemistry between the two leads – between Liza and the Tow Truck Driver – had to be palpable. And yet the Tow Truck Driver had to be, at least initially, perceived as a real threat: “Jaws” circling the boat.

Also, the on-screen action had to be literal and engaging – while the themes of change and self-awareness had to stay “under the hood” (to run with the metaphor of the stalled car). No one wants to watch a sermon on “emotional growth.”

I hope I succeeded in walking this fine line. While we faced numerous challenges (time, budget, etc.), I knew if I always hewed closely to the core of the story – the relationship between the two leads and how their interaction re-directs both of their lives – I would have a short film that an audience would thrill to.

Cool Red Star Films wants to thank everyone involved in this project. We couldn’t have pulled it off without a great team!

Directed by		Grant Janes
Written by		Tonya Agurto
		Grant Janes
Produced by		Tonya Agurto
Director of Photography		Sean Conaty (imdb)
Production Design		Jeremy White
Casting		Rebecca Gushin (imdb)
Unit Production Manager		Joseph “J” Virdone (imdb)
Additional Photography		Greg LeFevre (imdb)
Set Director		David Atash
Production Sound		Kelly Wright
Wardrobe		Mallory Bradley (imdb)
Art Production Assistant		Max Hom
Gaffers		Greg LeFevre (imdb)
		Ted Rysz
First Assistant Camera		Leonard Walsh
		Spencer Goodall
Second Assistant Camera		Mimi Phan
		Devon Taafe
Key Makeup Artist		Judy Haft
Key Grip		Lee Winborn (imdb)
Best Boy Grip		Justin Langston
Best Boy Electric		Andrew Simone
		Zak Ettlinger
Production Assistants		Hunter Bowen
		Brian Ott
		Ben Westley
		Zach Chamberlin
Edited By		Grant Janes
Credits Sequence		Grant Janes
Supervising Sound Editor, Re-Recording Mixer, Dialogue Editor		Fred Paragano (imdb)
Sound Effects Editor		James Miller
Foley Supervisor		Nick Neutra
Foley Mixer		John Guentner
Foley Artist		Noel Vought
Foley Editors		Andrew Mayer
		Casey Barker
Music By		Fight Mannequins
“Hex” Vocals		Tonya Agurto
“Hex” Background Vocals		Michael Culhane
“Hex” Vocals Sound Mix		Joerg Stoeffel
Publicity		Tracy Balsz
Still Photography		Carinne Meyrignac
Post Production Sound Services		Paragon Studios, LLC
Foley Services		Post Creations, Inc.
Mixing Facility		Blackrock Audio, Inc.
Motion Graphics		District Bureau, Inc.
Extras Casting		Extra Extra Casting
Extras		Trish Mertesdorf
		Blaine Vedros
		Gabriel Berber
		Carlos Chavez
Catering		Vicky’s Restaurant
		Jennie Cook’s
Special Thanks		Brian Metran
		George’s Drive-in Burgers
		Zumba of Boyle Heights
		Joyce Kim
		David L. Hovey
		Frank Bancalari
		Salvador Venegas
		The Vanishing Angle
		Lynn Kressel
		James Thornton
		Tim Crabtree
		The City of Los Angeles
		The People of Boyle Heights