Free Spirit

A New York City un-love story.

Watch The Trailer

Trailer

Story

A young man sees a girl on the train and in a moment of madness, follows her. Thus begins a night of wandering through New York City as he pursues—what he’s unfortunate enough to think might be—the girl of his dreams.

They talk and walk as the young man tries to win her over. Brief triumphs of connection are followed by crashing disasters. The girl constantly throws red flags at him while he tries to pretend he doesn’t see them. They argue, make gestures of peace, get lost, fight again, reconcile tentatively, go bicycle riding and engage in public indecency. When they are finally alone inside together, the girl reveals she’s not as free as she seems.

FREE SPIRIT is an ode to the possibility of a summer evening, a romantic comedy inspired by early Woody Allen and the French New Wave about the mirage of what we think we want and how narrow a window of time we have to realize we could love somebody. It is a film for anyone who has ever seen a stranger on the train and wondered: could they be . . .?

Cast & Crew

FRANCESCA ROOT-DODSON
Writer, Director, “Girl”

Francesca Root-Dodson is a writer, actress and filmmaker who lives in New York City. She graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia University with a degree in Creative Writing. In 2013, her short story “Strayers” was a finalist for the Nelson Algren Award and published in the CHICAGO TRIBUNE; she is currently at work on her first novel, entitled THE BLUE ROOM. In 2016 Francesca shot her first feature film, FREE SPIRIT, which is currently in post-production. Her episodic series ROSELAND—a dark comedy about a delusional drug addict who thinks the world is ending—is currently in development. Both ROSELAND and the feature adaptation of STRAYERS were finalists for 2016 Sundance Labs. As an actress, she has appeared in the Oscar-winning short “God of Love,” and will be in the upcoming feature films PRIVATE LIFE and THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY. On television, she can be seen in the current seasons of GOTHAM, THE BLACKLIST and DECEPTION.

MAX ROSENAK
“Guy”

Max is an actor, writer, director and educator based in New York City. Regional acting credits include: Twelfth Night (Pittsburgh Public Theater), Swimmers (Marin Theatre Company), Bad Jews (Magic Theatre), Orpheus Descending (Intiman Theatre). New York: 6969 (59E59 Theatre), Help Me to Make It (New Ohio Theatre). Film/TV: La Mission (2009 Sundance Film Selection), Laurence, Seducing Charlie Barker, “Tosh.0”. He is a founding member of the Seattle-based company The Williams Project, where he performs each summer. In addition to his acting work, he teaches Voice & Speech at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and Anthony Meindl’s Actor Workshop. He is currently directing a feature documentary about his brother: WE FOUND DAVID ROSENAK. Education: BFA, Boston University. MFA, The American Conservatory Theater.

For more infmormation on Max head to his Website or The Williams Project

Megan Kapler
Producer

Megan Kapler joined two-time Academy Award winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple's production company Cabin Creek Films as a full-time associate producer in 2014. Her projects with Cabin Creek include, HOT TYPE: 150 YEARS OF THE NATION (2015) about The Nation magazine, MISS SHARON JONES! (2015) about soul singer Sharon Jones' recent journey overcoming pancreatic cancer, which premiered at TIFF and recently received a Critics Choice Award nomination, SHELTER (2015) which had its television premiere on Al Jazeera America and tells the story of veterans helping veterans and KILLING THE COLORADO (2016) for Discovery Impact. Megan is in pre-production on a comedy series entitled Great Times and is shifting from documentaries to producing and directing narrative features.

YONI SHRIRA
Cinematographer

Yoni Shrira is a Los Angeles based cinematographer. He got his start in photography and documentary filmmaking which he credits with giving him a strong sense of story and intuition. He decided to continue his training at the American Film Institute where he has studied under many acclaimed cinematographers. Yoni has currently shot two narrative features and many documentaries, shorts, music videos and commercials. When he’s not on set, he’s in the street with his Leica m6, honing his eye through his passion for street photography.

DON WONGPRAPAN
Producer

Don Wongprapan attended the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, graduating with a degree in Film and Television. Upon graduation he worked as a casting assistant, agent’s assistant, producer’s assistant and manager’s assistant, though thankfully not at the same time. In addition to his courses at NYU, Don took part in the Writers Boot Camp, winning a fellowship in 2011. He has written a spec pilot for Rosie Perez and pitched a spec with MMA/action star Cung Le. He is an executive at Authentic Talent and Literary Management where he has worked for the past thirteen years, joining the company when there were only four employees.

OR BEN DAVID
Editor

Or Ben David is an Israeli video editor based in New York since September 2016. His award-winning work includes the series FALSE FLAG (2015), an eight episode thriller that premiered at the Berlinale and won the audience award at Series Mania before being acquired by Canal+ and Fox International and screened in 127 countries. He edited the first and second seasons of the romantic drama LIHIYOT ITA, acquired by Amazon and Channel 4. In 2017 he edited a new series for Sony International called ABSENTIA, starring Stana Katic and Patrick Heusinger.

He has also edited award-winning films including MOUNTAIN (2015), which premiered at the

Venice Film Festival and was screened at the Toronto Film Festival and AFI Festival; the American fantasy film RUBY STRANGELOVE (2014); the coming-of-age drama OFF WHITE LIES (2011), which screened at the Berlinale, Palm Springs Festival and Busan Film Festival.