GRACE
Short Film

Project Type: Short Film
Project Status: Pre-Production
Writer/Director/Producer: Lesley Fera
Producer: Glenn Milley Producer: Lola Noh
Director of Photography: Kat White

LOGLINE

When a middle-aged woman with Down syndrome learns her mother has died, she embarks on a quest to attend the funeral in Los Angeles, enlisting the unlikeliest of travel companions.

SYNOPSIS

It’s morning at Williams House, a board and care facility in Arcata, CA. GRACE (35, pure sunshine with a soft edge) wakes up to the familiar sights and sounds of her home. Grace has Down syndrome. Grace’s sister, BONNIE (41, Type A, inordinately responsible), visits her unexpectedly to share the sad news that their estranged mother has died. Grace asks to attend the funeral in Los Angeles, but Bonnie explains why they can’t go—she finally landed a new job and can’t risk losing it. Later that night, undeterred, Grace decides to embark on a journey to attend her mother’s funeral.

While Grace rests her swollen feet at a gas station, MATT (32, tatted, world-weary, rough) pulls up to pump gas. After his credit card gets declined, Grace asks him for a ride to LA. He declines, but when Grace winds up in his passenger seat, offering him cash for gas in exchange for a ride, he caves. Once on the road, Matt tells Grace he’ll only take her to Santa Cruz, which is where he’s headed. But as their friendship blossoms, Matt changes his tune and eventually decides to drive Grace to LA.

Things go south when Matt receives a Purple Alert and discovers the police believe someone abducted Grace. A distraught Matt reveals he’s on parole and knows how this will look to law enforcement. To help fix the mess she created and assuage Matt’s fears, Grace calls Bonnie. The next day, Bonnie arrives to pick up her sister. Instead of being upset, Bonnie is grateful to Matt and relieved to find Grace safe.

Matt and Grace must say their goodbyes — forever changed. Through their journey, Grace imparts love and acceptance, gifting Matt the self-forgiveness he needs to move on with his life. And Matt shares unexpected wisdom that changes Grace’s trajectory - and even Bonnie’s - forever: we never need to say goodbye to those we love.

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DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

My goal with this film is twofold: to shed light on Down syndrome by paying homage to a dear friend’s daughter, whom I adore, and to help others heal from grief. My friend’s daughter, Grace, is a bright light in an often bleak world; I wanted to repay her for the unconditional love she gives so freely to so many.

Between 2017 and 2020, I lost my mother, father, only sibling, and dog. The stages of grief are intensely real. It’s taken me years to accept the lesson that Grace embraces by film’s end —our loved ones “are closer than breathing, nearer than hand or feet.” (Lord Tennyson). It’s my wish that this film will be a salve for those who have lost someone dear to them.

In a world that’s increasingly numb and disconnected, where demonizing the “evil other” is unfortunately commonplace, now more than ever, I believe we must create stories that restore our empathy and remind us of our shared humanity. GRACE is one of those stories. I hope that this film inspires people to look beyond first impressions to the wounded soul beneath, as we’re all wounded souls in some way, yearning to connect and be loved.

MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT

GRACE is a humor-laced drama that follows a woman’s journey toward emotional liberation despite perceived limitations. The story celebrates the unlikely kindred spirits who come into our path, surprising us with their goodness. The film explores themes of grief, loss, forgiveness, kinship, sisterhood, and a sense of belonging.

In a world that’s increasingly numb and disconnected, where demonizing the “evil other” is unfortunately commonplace, now more than ever, I believe we must create stories that restore our empathy and remind us of our shared humanity. GRACE is one of those stories. I hope that this film inspires people to look beyond red or blue to the wounded soul, as we’re all wounded souls in some way, yearning to connect and be loved.

Meet The Filmmakers and Actors

Lesley Fera

Writer/Director/Producer
Lesley Fera is a Native Californian whose creative work spans several mediums, including theatre, television, and film. Her passion for screenwriting blossomed during her three-decade acting career, where she appeared in some of television’s biggest hits—including PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, 24, and SOUTHLAND. A “Black List Recommended” writer, Fera’s work centers on flawed, unimportant souls with huge, wounded hearts who are on the brink of transformation. Her writing has been recognized by Script Pipeline, Final Draft’s Big Break, Roadmap Writers, TrackingB, PAGE, and Stowe Story Labs. Fera has advanced in two network fellowships: the NBC/Universal Launch TV Writers Program and the Warner Bros. TV Workshop. She has had development meetings with Thunder Road Pictures, Eat the Cat, Weed Road Pictures, Echo Lake Entertainment, MarVista, and FOX Entertainment. Fera has a BA from CSU, Fullerton, and an MFA from Florida State University Asolo Conservatory.
Lola Noh

Producer
Lola Noh is an actor/producer who has “lived many lives” in and out of the film industry. Her experiences as a gymnast, teacher, student advocate for children with special needs, and Asian American woman have shaped her desire to create environments where people can thrive. She is drawn to telling stories that start conversations and open perspectives through universal truths. As an actor, her gymnastics background enabled her to bring Amy, the lovable gorilla in CONGO, to life. Her journey then led her becoming a co-founder and a former board member of The Collaborative, an actor owned and run non-profit that supports artists in their career pursuits through community, education, production, and networking. Two of her most notable projects as producer: the Emmy nominated web series CTRL ALT DELETE starring Ed Begley Jr., and the heartfelt feature 2 LIVES IN PITTSBURGH featuring Annie O'Donnell, gave her the opportunity to revisit working with children and advocating on their behalf. Some of her other producing credits include award-winning short films MADE PUBLIC starring Jeanine Mason & Josh Zuckerman, SAVED ROUNDS directed by John Finn, as well as the features LOVE AND BASEBALL and BANGING LANIE. She has produced over 25 projects and is currently in post-production with the LGBTQIA+ short SKIN TAG, and in pre-production for sex positive ONLY FUN and GRACE a beautiful story centered around a woman with Down syndrome.
Glenn Milley

Producer
Emmy®-winning television producer Glenn Milley, a four-time nominee, has built a successful unscripted career over 17 years, producing for major brands like Amazon Prime, CBS, Fox, Hallmark Media, Hello Sunshine, and NBC. He won his first Emmy® in 2021 alongside Jada Pinkett Smith for Red Table Talk, the #1 Facebook Watch series that reached over 1.5 billion views. Currently, he serves as Executive Producer of two podcasts, and has several scripted projects in development, including The Committee, a quarter-finalist in the 2023 Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest. A Brooklyn native now based in Los Angeles, Milley has been a Television Academy voter since 2015 and a PGA member since 2021.

Kat White

Director of Photography

Kat White is an award-winning cinematographer working in narrative, music video, and commercial content. She is especially driven to tell stories about anti-heroes, underdogs, and marginalized characters. Her work has appeared in publications such as Glamour, Entertainment Weekly, AltPress, Billboard, FADER, Refinery29, Complex UK, Kerrang!, NME, and Stereogum, and has been viewed by millions of people online. In 2021/2022 she was honored to be selected as an ASC Vision Mentee.
Jamie Brewer

Actor
Jamie Brewer is an American actress, model, and disability advocate best known for her work on the anthology series AMERICAN HORROR STORY. She made her television debut in 2011 as Adelaide “Addie” Langdon in AMERICAN HORROR STORY: MURDER HOUSE, and went on to portray multiple characters in later seasons of the series. In 2015, Brewer became the first model with Down syndrome to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week, and in 2018 she made history again as the first woman with Down syndrome to star in an Off-Broadway production — AMY AND THE ORPHANS — for which she received the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. Beyond her artistic achievements, Brewer is a vocal advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She has held leadership roles in organizations such as the ARC and helped lobby for legislative change regarding the use of derogatory language in Texas law. Versatile and boundary-breaking, Jamie Brewer continues to inspire through her acting, modeling, and advocacy work.
Samantha Sloyan

Actor
Samantha Sloyan is an American actress known for her compelling performances across television and film. Her breakout screen roles include the recurring character Jeannine Locke on the political drama SCANDAL (2012–2014) and Dr. Penelope Blake on GREY'S ANATOMY (2015–2016). In recent years, Sloyan has become a frequent collaborator with filmmaker Mike Flanagan, starring in acclaimed genre-series like MIDNIGHT MASS (2021), THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (2022), THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (2023) and most recently CARRIE (2025). Renowned for her versatility—from character-driven drama to intense horror/thriller fare—Sloyan continues to build a distinctive and varied body of work.
David Coleman

Actor
David Coleman was born in New Jersey in the mid 80s, right around the time the video cassette recorder went mainstream in the American home. VHS empowered a rogue babysitter to show young Dave such gems as “The Shining,” “Terminator 2” and “It.” The experience gifted him with a lifelong need for therapy, but it also gave him a profound love for stories and cinema staked a huge place in his heart. Coleman went on to pursue a film degree at Temple University, and eventually pursued acting studies in New York City with the late legendary teacher Wynn Handman and, most recently, with Terry Knickerbocker. He starred in Jonathan Demme’s mumblecore film “This Time Tomorrow,” the CBS show “Blue Bloods,” and as the title villain in MGM’s reboot of “WarGames” (Tribeca Film Festival). After meeting John Patrick Shanley, Coleman went on to stage Shanley’s newest play in Los Angeles. Coleman recently directed and starred in “The Wake,” which is his latest collaboration with Shanley. The short narrative film is Coleman and Shanley’s joint effort to bring the heartbeat of New York theater to the big screen.