cherry-colored funk world premiering at 34th florida film festival
CHerry-Colored Funk
Narrative Short
2025
This is the big one.
Lifetime schemer Winston Lee has just changed his name to Roberto Ferrari and opened Roberto’s Italian Ice and Gelati - his ticket to wealth and respect. Unfortunately for Ferrari, instead of customers, a rotating cast of outraged characters is about to walk through the front door, each on a mission to settle their grievances. Set to the beat of an enigmatic DJ set blaring over the store speakers, Ferrari is forced to navigate the onslaught while desperately trying to cling to his dream.
Lifetime schemer Winston Lee has just changed his name to Roberto Ferrari and opened Roberto’s Italian Ice and Gelati - his ticket to wealth and respect. Unfortunately for Ferrari, instead of customers, a rotating cast of outraged characters is about to walk through the front door, each on a mission to settle their grievances. Set to the beat of an enigmatic DJ set blaring over the store speakers, Ferrari is forced to navigate the onslaught while desperately trying to cling to his dream.
DIRECTED BY
Chelsie Pennello
Written BY
Chelsie Pennello & Corbett Blair
STARRING
Michael Tow
Laura Hetherington
WITHCraig Coletta
Ian Lyons
Melissa LaMartina
Celeste Oliva
original SCORE BYCorbett Blair & Bradford Blair
FILM FESTIVALS
Florida 2025
San Luis Obispo 2025
FilmFest DC 2025
San Luis Obispo 2025
FilmFest DC 2025
WATCH THE teaser
STILLS
Director’S Statement
The American dark comedy genre has been historically dominated by white men and is almost exclusively written about white characters. Cherry-Colored Funk is my re-interpretation of the genre that I love. The film is an intersection of my upbringing in a middle-class Asian American community and my admiration for the humor and social commentary in films like The Big Lebowski, Punch Drunk Love, and Uncut Gems.
At the heart of Cherry-Colored Funk is an examination of the capitalist ideal of success and an empathy for those it entraps. In the desolate strip mall veins of American suburbia, Roberto has become obsessed. He’s the mythical self-made man, the outsider who rose to the top, the modern day cowboy - or so he thinks. In the process, he’s alienated everyone around him and ends the day with a bloody nose. He doesn't quite have what it takes. Despite his best efforts, peeking from beneath this front is a naive delusion. His only success of the day is experienced through his DIY security camera system while stuck in his backroom office. Even in victory, he will only ever be a voyeur to his own dream.
THE TEAM
Directors of Photography
Robin Groulx
Edited by
Chelsie Pennello
Corbett Blair
Production Designer
An-Phuong Ly
Costume Designer
Valerie Truong
Composers
Corbett Blair
Bradford Blair
Producer
Melissa LaMartina
Robin Groulx
Edited by
Chelsie Pennello
Corbett Blair
Production Designer
An-Phuong Ly
Costume Designer
Valerie Truong
Composers
Corbett Blair
Bradford Blair
Producer
Melissa LaMartina
Exec Producers
Chelsie Pennello
Corbett Blair
An-Phuong Ly
Robin Groulx
Chelsie Pennello
Corbett Blair
An-Phuong Ly
Robin Groulx
Assc Producers
Sammy Yoon
Emai Lai
Art Directors
Kate Walker
Tyler Cogburn
Makeup
Sharon Macorol
Hair
Sammy Yoon
Emai Lai
Art Directors
Kate Walker
Tyler Cogburn
Makeup
Sharon Macorol
Hair
Monisade Fabunmi
Additional Cast
May Chen as Jessica Lee
Dominic Vashuk as Zeus Lee
Autumn Breaud as Young Woman
Angus Taylor as Little Boy
Chung-Chin Pennello as Mama Lee
Additional Cast
May Chen as Jessica Lee
Dominic Vashuk as Zeus Lee
Autumn Breaud as Young Woman
Angus Taylor as Little Boy
Chung-Chin Pennello as Mama Lee
1st AD Nathan Colby
Gaffer Jeff Fitzgerald
1st AC Jiwon Baeq
Gaffer Jeff Fitzgerald
1st AC Jiwon Baeq
2nd AC Brett Wineland
Sound Mixer Matt Blackerby
DIT Kevin Marshall
Trinity Op Zac Gaetano
Grip
Sam Song
Vinh Le
Sammy Yoon
Jake Binstock
Alex Kane
Ryan Clark
Alex Au
Color by RCO
Colorist Natasha Wong
Color Producer Sheina Dao
Sound Design & Mix Alex Kane
Rerecording Mix Corbett Blair
VFX Anthony Jacoway
Graphic Design Tyler Cogburn
Motion Graphics Alex Oshiro
Sound Mixer Matt Blackerby
DIT Kevin Marshall
Trinity Op Zac Gaetano
Grip
Sam Song
Vinh Le
Sammy Yoon
Jake Binstock
Alex Kane
Ryan Clark
Alex Au
Color by RCO
Colorist Natasha Wong
Color Producer Sheina Dao
Sound Design & Mix Alex Kane
Rerecording Mix Corbett Blair
VFX Anthony Jacoway
Graphic Design Tyler Cogburn
Motion Graphics Alex Oshiro
Fight Cord Travis Hockswender
Blocking Design Jackson Hill
BTS Video Joseph Le
BTS Photo Cameron Laque
Blocking Design Jackson Hill
BTS Video Joseph Le
BTS Photo Cameron Laque
Prod Asst
Graham Pearson
Chris Cumber
Chris Jun
Vocals Erika Blair
Violin Anna Kong
Trumpet JP Wogaman II
Saxophone Spencer Rider
Bass guitar Shelby Logan Warne
Modular Synth Robin Groulx
Special Thanks to
Tom Pretl
Susan Moorenko
Hisaho & Wade Blair
Chung-Chin, Gene, & Julian Pennello
The DC Commmission on the Arts and Humanities
Graham Pearson
Chris Cumber
Chris Jun
Vocals Erika Blair
Violin Anna Kong
Trumpet JP Wogaman II
Saxophone Spencer Rider
Bass guitar Shelby Logan Warne
Modular Synth Robin Groulx
Special Thanks to
Tom Pretl
Susan Moorenko
Hisaho & Wade Blair
Chung-Chin, Gene, & Julian Pennello
The DC Commmission on the Arts and Humanities