Principal Matters, a short film directed and produced by F. Carl Hansen and written by Natalie D’Alicio, follows the story of two high school teachers, Lydia, played by RespectAbility Entertainment Lab Alumna and an associate producer of the film Diana Elizabeth Jordan, and Sofia, played by D’Alicio, who are trying to fight back against their awful and egotistical boss, Principal Nelson (Michael Charles Vaccaro), after he cuts funding to the school’s art and music program.
In the film, viewers learn that Sofia is losing her job next year because the newly appointed Principal Nelson, a job that should have gone to Lydia if the board weren’t sexist, has cut funding for the arts and music program. After Lydia also loses the vice principal position to Brandon Collins, a guy that thought school ended at twelve according to Sofia, Lydia and Sofia plan to sabotage Nelson in order to get him fired. With the help of the other faculty and someone who dated Nelson, they scope out dirt on Nelson, so they can save the school and their jobs.
Though it’s only a short film, I could see Principal Matters turning into a television sitcom. It has a classic sitcom feel to it that the audience will be familiar with, with a diverse cast that comfortably slips into their roles that makes it fresh. One stand-out feature of this film is the acting and chemistry between Jordan and D’Alvaio. They share great chemistry on screen and their characters are hilarious. Vaccaro, as well, really sells the narcissistic Principal Nelson. The dialogue is funny and well-written. It feels snappy and well-timed. The film already has a professional look to it that could transition over to a sit-com easily.
Besides some of the talented disabled actresses we see on screen such as Jordan, Megan Clancy who plays Callie Brand, and Shannon Dieriex who plays Leslie Miller, there is also talented disabled crew members behind the camera including director of photography, another RespectAbility Entertainment Lab alum, Nasreen Alkhateeb.
The film was produced as part of this year’s Easterseals Disability Film Challenge (EDFC), an annual five-day competition, founded by Nic Novicki, in which filmmakers must create original three-to-five minute films based on a different theme each year with this year’s theme highlighting buddy comedy.
