When a student's sculpture is deemed 'vulgar,' she takes drastic measures to prove its worth.
Dean Peter Byrne, the head of an art school, is interrupted in his office by Reign, a determined but emotionally unstable student. She brings with her a sculpture—hidden under a tarp and encased in a red wagon—that she has worked on for years. Her request is simple: for the piece to be included in the school's upcoming Gallery exhibition. However, Peter, dismissive of her work, tells her that the committee has rejected it, deeming it "vulgar" and "disturbing." As Reign pleads, revealing the deeply personal and controversial nature of her sculpture, tensions rise between them. The Dean suggests she alter her piece to make it more acceptable, but Reign, driven by a need to express her truth, refuses to compromise. Their verbal sparring escalates, and in a moment of frustration and rage, Reign binds Peter to a chair and demands that her sculpture be accepted. As she confronts him with the painful sacrifices she made to create the work—fighting through adversity and using discarded materials—Peter, caught between professional decorum and personal guilt, struggles to maintain control. The tension reaches a boiling point when Reign reveals that her work was motivated by a darker, more personal history, forcing Peter to confront uncomfortable truths about their past. In a shocking final act, Reign’s obsession with her work leads to violent consequences, culminating in a tragic and haunting confrontation that leaves Peter alone, reflecting on the twisted dynamics of power, creativity, and personal trauma.
Kymberly Harris - Director / Writer / Filmmaker
Kymberly Harris is an accomplished director, writer, and the founder of Firsthand Films. With a robust educational background, she holds an MFA in Acting and Playwriting from the Actors Studio, an MA in Theatre from Illinois State University, and a BA in French from Knox College. Harris has directed numerous acclaimed theatre productions, including "The Effect" by Lucy Prebble, "Fool for Love" by Sam Shepard, and "Seminar" by Teresa Rebeck, among others. Her work in film is equally distinguished, with notable projects such as "I Heard Sarah," which won the Robert Rodriguez Award and is distributed by Good Deed Entertainment, and "Now and Never," which received the Rising Star Award at Paramount Pictures CineGearExpoLA 2023, and several awards for her feature screenplay “The Man Inside. As the founder of TheatresCool, she directed contemporary and original plays, supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council and other prestigious organizations. Her previous venture, Fresh Bread Productions, saw her producing plays in NYC at renowned venues like The Public Theatre and Cherry Lane Theatre. Harris is praised for her deep understanding of character psychology and her ability to facilitate truthful, character-driven performances. Esteemed figures such as Al Pacino and Laverne Cox have lauded her innovative and passionate approach to storytelling. Harris teaches film at Loyola Marymount University.
For inquiries, Kymberly Harris can be contacted at:
310.895.8404
firsthandfilmscontact@gmail.com
https://www.kymberlyharris.me/
