PHOEBE LARK (the movie)
The Team
Jennifer Smith
WRITER / PRODUCER / DIRECTOR
Javier Gonzales
PRODUCER
Johnander Rabal
COMPOSER
Kevin Christoffersen
DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE
Kevin has been working in just about every form of media for nearly 3 decades - producing content internationally across 4 continents while living in 5 countries. He is an Educator and Development Executive of, 'Film StartUp.' In this role, Kevin guides filmmakers through the A-to-Z feature film development process with workshop courses, development labs, webinars, and consultations. He has presented lectures at NYU, The Gotham, Cineworks, Filmshop, Brooklyn College, Stage 32, HRTS and PANO amongst many other film festivals and organizations. A strategic partnership with Largo Films has introduced artificial intelligent analytics into the casting, financing, and distribution strategies within the dynamics of each of the features he advises and consults on.
Kevin was Executive Producer of World Television (WTV) in Switzerland managing large scale live broadcast event productions for Fortune 500 companies, United Nations agencies and NGO's including the annual WEF Davos Conference.While operating on both sides of the Atlantic, he continues to form new industry partnerships along the way.
Website:
Country music has always helped me through struggle. Years ago, I was a single mother who worked and attended law school at night, pursuing my dream of becoming a military prosecutor. I left my two young children with a babysitter for one case I tried. As the jury deliberated on a Friday afternoon, the judge ordered everyone to stay until they reached their verdict. The jury didn’t come back until midnight. I had called to tell the babysitter, but when I reached her house at 1 am, she was on the phone, reporting me to Child Protective Services for abandonment.
MY VISION : At its core, Phoebe Lark is a story about finding one’s voice — literally and metaphorically. Phoebe, a struggling single mother, battles grief, financial hardships and personal fears as she discovers healing and hope through her music. The film offers a relatable, emotionally charged narrative designed to resonate with a diverse audience, particularly fans of music-centered dramas like "A Star is Born" and "Walk the Line". The integration of live music performances, the journey of self-discovery, and the intricate relationships within Phoebe’s life position this film to appeal to both mainstream audiences and niche enthusiasts of musical dramas.
Website: www.jennifersmithwriter.com/
Javier is a Mexican-American, El Paso, TX-based, Emmy-winning and Sundance Grand Jury Prize- winning Producer whose films and series have been selected for the Cannes, Venice, Sundance, Toronto, South by Southwest, New York, Rotterdam, TriBeCa, Fantastic Fest, Morelia, Glasgow, Hot Docs, Stockholm, Denver, Sitges, Los Cabos, True/False, Miami, Cartagena, Fantasia and Deauville Film Festivals. Javier has spent the last twenty years working in various production capacities throughout the American and Mexican film industries.
Javier is fluent in Spanish, English and German. Javier has been a guest lecturer for the film program at the Rhode Island School of Design and the Netflix supported New Producers Academy.
Website: http://www.jagfilms.org/about
A Nominated Music Composer for Film & TV. His scores include credits for Feature Films, TV, Documentaries, Commercials and music production for well known artists signed with Interscope & Warner Music Group. Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, he attended his local Classical Conservatory for Piano and composition from the age of 5. He made the leap to the US and he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music in 2016, with a Major in Film Scoring. His music is characterized by a variety of influences from modern electronic and intimate soundscapes to full orchestral. He enjoys exploring new sounds and experimenting with different styles to create memorable and unique scores. He is now an established film composer in LA, currently working on a Rock Climbing feature-documentary.In March 2023, Johnander was invited as a guest speaker at the NYU Music Networking Workshop.
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what it's really about
Phoebe Lark’s story explores the price of ambition, the struggle for second chances, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.
It is also about the temptations of fame, the weight of past mistakes, and the risk of losing the people we love the most.
The main Universal themes are resilience, sacrifice, and the pursuit of self-worth.