WRITTEN BY NYA CHAMBLESS
Drawing inspiration from a real-life friendship during Nya’s elementary years, “My Guardian Angel,” stands as a poignant testament to the power of love and friendship. This short film not only celebrates growth and inclusion, it also serves as a beacon for the “Out of Grief Comes Art” movement. Nya used her grief to weave together themes of resilience and creativity, while also fostering awareness of childhood cancer and encouraging empathy and understanding in children — of all ages.
We are thrilled to announce, thanks to the incredible support from everyone, including a significant contribution from the Armbruster Family Foundation, we’ve raised the initial $20,000 needed to start filming.
Now we enter the second phase focused on post-production, followed by distribution and festivals. The cherry blossom branch represents our growth—more flowers will bloom as we complete each phase.
We invite those who wish to contribute to join us in turning grief into art and promoting understanding among children. Every donation brings us closer to sharing this important story with the world.
After befriending a unique and stylish classmate, a bright and positive schoolgirl tries to unravel the mystery of her new friend’s bullied existence.
My Guardian Angel is a G-rated, family-styled, coming-of-age film targeted toward elementary and middle school demographics.
Kirina, a vibrant and optimistic elementary school girl, embarks on a new chapter filled with hopes of adventures and lasting connections as she transitions to a new school. Upon eagerly meeting her teacher and classmates, she encounters Aurora, a unique and stylish theatre enthusiast battling illness, and an instant bond forms as they share a passion for the arts. Yet, amidst their budding friendship, Kirina witnesses the unjust treatment Aurora faces from their peers. Determined to be a beacon of support, Kirina courageously stands by Aurora’s side, refusing to let negativity overshadow their limited time together.
At its core, their story exemplifies the essence of true friendship: recognizing the beauty in others and fearlessly advocating for them, regardless of the circumstances.
We’ve reached the halfway mark in our fundraising for “My Guardian Angel,” thanks to your incredible support! Discover the inspiring talent of our writer-director, Nya Chambless, whose profound poem from the 3rd grade echoes the film’s themes of empathy and resilience. Join us in bringing her heartfelt story to life! Read more…
My Guardian Angel Writer/Director interviewed on ABC 7 Suncoast View on June 17th, 2024 in a segment titled, “Teen produces film supporting cancer families“
A wonderfully positive, bright, and empathetic girl who sees the world from an optimistic point of view. She believes that everyone she encounters will become lasting friends.
Little does she know that her own strong belief system will be challenged and when it is, she will learn life’s harsh realities.
A unique and stylish theatre kid who seems outgoing, but really is careful with whom she shares her feelings. She keeps to herself in the classroom, but outside of school, she reveals a creative and artistic personality. She just wants a friend who will love her regardless of outward appearances.
Conceited and manipulative, with a “silver spoon” mentality because her relative is the school principal. Mara acts the queen bee, imposing her will on the playground.
A follower and admirer of stronger personalities, Paige is a girl who doesn’t know where she fits in, so she naturally gravitates toward more “A” type people. She believes she has a voice, but it really is a mimic of those around her.
Daria Droteva is a young actress known for her work in both film and television. She first discovered her passion for acting at the age of five after participating in a local musical theatre production. By age nine, Daria had already appeared in several film and television series, including her roles as Ceci inOuter Range, Chloe inFamily Portrait, and Abby Blagg inKiller Relationship with Faith Jenkins. In addition to acting, Daria is fluent in Russian, sings in her school choir, plays the piano, and enjoys tumbling. Daria aspires to take on more complex dramatic roles and hopes to someday explore directing.
KatieMakovecis a fifth grader from Winter Haven, Florida. She is very proud to be cast as Aurora in My Guardian Angel. This is her second short film. She started performing in musical theatre at Theatre Winter Haven at the age of seven. Some of her favorite roles were Young Anna in Frozen Jr and Matilda in All Shook Up Jr. She is active in her school’s concert choir and was recently selected to participate in the FEMEA Central Regional Honor Orff Ensemble.
At just 10 years old, Brindisi Capri has already made her mark in acting and modeling. Starting at age 6, she gained experience through commercials, industrials, and print work.In 2023, she transitioned to film acting, discovering a deep passion for the craft. Her debut was in the thriller The Rows, directed by Seth Daly, where her endurance and dedication led to a standout performance. Brindisi has quickly built a reputation for taking on challenging roles with remarkable depth and authenticity.
Eva stands for “giver of life,” and she lives up to her name. As an academically gifted child, singer, and actress, Eva Wisniewski is well-spoken beyond her ten years and confident on the stage. Eva likes coding, math, crocheting, and animals. She has a dog, two cats, and a corn snake. She wants to be a lawyer when she grows up.
Victoria Flounders is a Sarasota-based actress, devoted mother of three, and a senior in the Theatre Performance program at the University of South Florida. With a deep passion for theatre, honed through her training at the State College of Florida Theatre Program, Victoria has brought a diverse range of memorable characters to life, including the sharp-witted Dr. Dorothy Watson inMiss Holmesand the whimsical Peter Pan inPeter/Wendy. Her love for storytelling has led her to perform on stages across Sarasota. With a special appreciation for stories that resonate with young audiences, she is grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a heartfelt and meaningful production.
Katherine Michelle Tanner is a multi-award-winning actress, singer, director, composer, choreographer, filmmaker, writer, and teaching artist. She is best known for her performances in the one-woman plays The Amish Project (Off-Broadway and US Tour) and Mann’s Last Dance. Florida audiences may recognize her from productions like Proof, August: Osage County, Hamlet, and The Glass Menagerie. Katherine’s film credits include My Guardian Angel, Bridge to the Other Side, Waiting on Mary, The Crimson Cloak, and the Academy Award-nominated Respire Mon Amie. She has written plays such as Shakespeare’s Lovers, Mann’s Last Dance, and Women of Broadway. She holds a triple major from St. Olaf College and an MFA in Acting from FSU’s Asolo Theatre Conservatory. Katherine is the Founder and Artistic Director of Tree Fort Productions Studio and its nonprofit counterpart, Tree Fort Productions Projects.
Todd Bellamy II is an actor, singer and dancer from Sarasota, Florida. He is a recent graduate of Florida A&M University as a Theatre Performance major and is looking to further his career as an artist. His most notable productions include Fences (Cory), The Waiting Room (Pat Innes), Pass Over (Moses), and Chicken & Biscuits (Reginald Mabry).
Nya Chambless, a Sarasota native, discovered her passion for acting at age 2 after seeing Annie on stage. Her debut was in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Player’s Theatre. Nya’s diverse career includes indie films, commercials, and stage productions, with notable roles in Ruby at WBTT, Once at Florida Studio Theatre, Bridge to the Other Side, Florida Man, Shape of the Past, and the children’s TV pilot The Growing Garden. She also performed improv with LA Connection Comedy Theatre Troupe for two seasons.
Nya has written and directed three short films, including Just Believe, which screened in 15 countries and won 11 international awards. She’s trained with industry professionals such as Nate Jacobs and Bob Marks. Her latest film, My Guardian Angel, was officially selected for the Sarasota and Ft. Myers Film Festivals. Now in 9th grade with honors, Nya continues to refine her skills in acting, filmmaking, singing, and dance.
Jerry Chambless, owner of Illum Productions, has over 20 years of experience in the arts and entertainment industry as an award-winning producer, writer, director, creative director, and animator. He began his career in advertising with agencies like Leo Burnett and Saatchi & Saatchi and worked with General Electric in the industrial sector. In the late 90s, he joined Calabash Animation Studios, collaborating with clients like General Mills, Brach’s, and Starkist earning an Academy Award nomination for a studio short.
Returning to Sarasota in the early 2000s, Jerry focused on directing live-action narratives and branded content like the Growing Garden, No Fear and Drawn to the Broken. He has worked with independent directors producing projects like Bridge to the Other Side, Surviving Lunch, and Beautiful Noise pushing narratives that make an inclusive difference.
In addition to his professional work, Jerry led the IB film program at Riverview High School in Sarasota, expanding it to the only 3-year program worldwide, and taught Film as an adjunct professor at Ringling College of Art & Design for over a decade. Jerry also mentors’ students on professional productions.
Natasha Thornton works asa cinematographer, camera operator, digital and traditional photographer, storyboard artist, illustrator, and film editor. Her projects include music videos, corporate image, short and feature films, commercials, educational media, multimedia projects, biographies, and documentaries.
Adrian Walther, an award-winning film composer originally from Toronto, Canada, brings over 20 years of experience to his craft. Born into a musical family, Adrian’s journey began as a touring and recording musician across diverse genres before transitioning seamlessly into film scoring. His passion for merging music with storytelling is evident in his versatile ability to create emotive soundtracks that elevate the narrative of feature films, documentaries, and advertising campaigns. His dedication to collaboration extends beyond accolades, as he cherishes working closely with directors and producers to enrich filmmaking through music. Adrian also mentors aspiring musicians, sharing his expertise to foster growth within the industry, cementing his reputation as a respected and invaluable figure in film composition.
Christian Huthmacher is an Emmy-Award Winning Animator and VFX Artist who’s professional experience spans work with renowned brands and intellectual properties such as the NFL, Marvel, Star Wars, Nerf, SpongeBob, NASA, The Loud House, LEGO, Transformers, and the Kids’ Choice Awards, through roles at Nickelodeon, Hasbro, and his own freelance projects.
Currently based in Sarasota Florida, Christian is a Professor of Visual Effects whose courses helped Ringling College of Art and Design reach the the rankings of #1 school in the world for Motion Graphics, and #2 in U.S. for Visual Effects.
Troy Logan is an award-winning, Sarasota-based sound designer and location audio engineer. Since graduating from his alma mater, Ringling College of Art and Design in 2022, Logan founded TroyLo Sounds, a one-stop shop for location and post-audio services in Sarasota. Logan is an Avid Certified Pro Tools Specialist whose work spans numerous narrative features, documentaries, and commercials.