“What happens after the rug gets pulled out from under you? You just hit the floor?”
In June 2021, actor & writer Anna Clare Kerr’s last remaining grandparent passed away suddenly. In July, she began writing Shoulder Season.
Shoulder Season is a short narrative film about living with grief, dementia, and the memories we would prefer to keep.
What is Shoulder Season?
Shoulder Season follows Mayellen, a lost and recently divorced woman in her 30s, who has been tasked with packing up her late grandmother's beach cottage before it is listed for sale. When a neighbor with dementia brings up old memories, Mayellen has no choice but to confront her grief directly.
Shoulder Season was filmed in March 2024 in Connecticut and received it’s world premiere at the Norwalk Film Festival in January 2025.
Meet the Production Team
Sierra Schnack, she/they
Director
Sierra Schnack recently made their short film debut with 808, which was called "expertly directed by Schnack" (Autostraddle). Sierra's goal as a creative in any capacity is to foster environments and plots that not only reflect the intricacies of the human experience within reality’s confines, but create work that challenges it.
Anna Clare Kerr, she/her
Writer, EP, Actor
Anna Clare Kerr (she/her) is a SAG/AEA actor, writer, producer, and creative. As both a writer and artist, Anna strives to bring a whimsical and honest voice to the unnamed things close to our hearts. NYU 2015.
MJ Bernier, she/her
Producer
MJ Bernier is a NYC-based Filmmaker specializing in independent narrative filmmaking and television. Her focus is in pushing the boundaries of traditional norms in film and TV and highlighting the voices of fellow women and queer artists.
JJ Maley, he/they
Producer
JJ Maley is an actor, writer, producer, director, and consultant. JJ stars in COMMAND Z, directed by Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven, Contagion) alongside Michael Cera, Roy Wood Jr., Liev Schreiber, Chloe Radcliffe, and more. He is a Tony Award Winner for A Strange Loop and 4 Time Tony-Nominated Producer.