Get Happy (Feature Film Narrative)

Get Happy
Feature Film Narrative

Project Type: Feature Film Narrative
Project Status: Pre-Production
Writer, Director, and Editor: Ellie Gravitte
Executive Producer: Sarah Mather
Producer: Lavinia Jones Wright
Cinematographer: Alex Petersen

LOGLINE

When the three Williams children bring their significant others home for an annual family gathering, a chaotic blend of musical performances, botched family meals, and interpersonal dramas threaten to drive the group to its breaking point. But family is family. Right?

SYNOPSIS

GET HAPPY follows the WILLIAMS family over the course of a single day at home, where they’ve gathered for an annual tradition of music and meals around the dinner table. Some call it competition. Others call it quality time.

Meet the family: GUY, the father and head of the house, who looks forward to this day all year long. JOANNA, the mother and a Broadway legend, who cherishes the opportunity to perform in front of anyone. MARIAH, the daughter, spends the entire day sneaking off on solo walks to escape the chaos. ASH, Mariah’s girlfriend, loves spending time with Mariah’s family but would rather be meditating. JOSIAH, the second son and Mariah’s twin, just wants to keep everyone from killing each other. MICHAEL, Josiah’s boyfriend and a remarkable piano player, is thrilled to spend time with Josiah’s famous mother, especially when she starts singing. JUNIOR, first born and the only non-artist in the family, is dead set on winning the day's competition. Finally ALANA, Junior’s girlfriend, is visiting the house for the first time and in way over her head. She begins drinking right after brunch.

What could go wrong?

MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT

A film about family, made by family. Literally.

GET HAPPY is brought to you by writer/director Ellie Gravitte, starring Debbie Gravitte, Beau Gravitte, Charlie Gravitte, Sam Gravitte, and yes - Ellie Gravitte.

Shooting over two weeks in their family house in Connecticut, this cast promises to bring a level of authenticity that audiences have rarely experienced.

The added bonus? 8 classic songs performed by the cast, whose credits add up to over a dozen Broadway shows (and one Tony Award), including the beloved titular song, GET HAPPY.

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Meet The Filmmakers

Ellie Gravitte

Writer, Director, Editor
Ellie Gravitte is an award-winning filmmaker based in New York City. She works as a freelance director and editor in both narrative and commercial spaces, and frequently seeks out projects that center music. She was the winner of the first ever ABC Women’s Initiative, where a commercial concept she pitched was selected for production at ABC Entertainment Marketing.Gravitte was later awarded a national marketing prize for her direction of the campaign. A web series she directed called WAY DOWN was the only series selected to screen at Newfest in 2022. Her dance film, A PLACE FOR US, features six performers from Spielberg’s WEST SIDE STORY and earned its world premiere at Lincoln Center’s Dance on Camera Festival in the spring of 2023. Gravitte is a two-time finalist for the Sundance Development Track and the Newfest New Voices Filmmaker Grant, and is repped at Untitled.
Sarah Mather

Executive Producer

Sarah Mather is a New York-based producer and production executive at Pinky Promise Films, with credits including Executive Producer on WISHFUL THINKING (SXSW 2026, Sony Pictures Classics) and Associate Producer on THE STARLING GIRL (Sundance 2023, Bleecker Street). She also worked on ELEANOR THE GREAT (Cannes 2025). CORPUS, an erotic thriller directed by Corrin Evans, marks her feature producing debut and premiered at Fantasia Film Festival. She also produced WILD DOG (SXSW Sydney, SKFF) and executive produced THE SEARCH FOR MAGIC as part of the Netflix/Dirty Films Accelerator program.
Lavinia Jones Wright

Producer

Lavinia Jones Wright has produced features, documentaries, music videos, and branded content—both independently and with studios like Translation/16 Bars, Cash Studios, Maris Jones Studio, Citizen Skull, and 1030 productions/40 Love. With a background in the music industry, she brings unique insight to projects for artists like Chappell Roan, The Rolling Stones, Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers, and the Mynabirds. Lavinia produced Lovers (Denver Film Festival 2024), The 78 Project Movie (SXSW 2014), and co-created The Jones Family Retro Show, a rock and roll variety show named one of Gothamist's “best things to do in nyc.” She is the co-founder of I Play Different Productions.
Alex Petersen

Director of Photography

Alex Petersen is a Brooklyn based cinematographer, music lover, and dad. His projects have enjoyed success across the festival circuit, with premieres at prestigious festivals like Tribeca and Newfest, as well as multiple projects being acquired by Netflix and HBO. Alex’s experience in lighting departments on several major film and TV productions serves his cinematography work immensely, and makes him the ideal department leader, capable of producing dynamic visuals at any budget level.