SHOW INFO

“While sheltering in place at my childhood home in Ronkonkoma during 2020, I began to investigate the legend of the “Lady of the Lake”. During my research I was unable to find information that supported it as truth other than what has been recorded for the last 200 years and believed by family, friends, and my local community. Today, the town of Ronkonkoma is decorated with symbols and references of “the Princess”. The community believes a variety of versions referencing the story as a curse and/or legend. The legend says that one of the tribal Chiefs forbade his daughter from being with her lover, who was from another tribe. Different stories say that the two lovers committed a “Romeo and Juliet” style suicide, while others say she took her own life in mourning. As a result, her sorrowful spirit kills one man every year. I believe this to be a misconstrued western version of the stereotypical ideas we tend to associate with indigenous people. As a filmmaker, I’ve always wanted to share my beautiful memories growing up in Ronkonkoma. In line with my interest in identity formation and personal experience with grief’s effect on the family, I wrote the psychological thriller, The Legend of Ronkonkoma: The Lady of the Lake. The main character, Jamie Schultz, happens to have lineage that is traceable to the original people of the lake. As a filmmaker I strive to create entertaining stories that also bring awareness and create conversation surrounding social injustices. I combined the supernatural component with a family suffering from a tragic loss while being haunted by this “legend”. I am challenging the racial injustices that exist in our own backyard and challenging the truths that hide behind the legend.”

- Director and CEO of Capprecielli Productions, Maria Capp

PRODUCER’S MESSAGE

With a strong desire to create socially relevant and family entertaining content, Maria Capp D’Agostino (Ronkonkoma resident from 1969 -1990 and Connetquot High School class of 1981) and her daughter, Raffaela Capp, founded Cappricielli Productions to produce projects that the family could work on both in front of and behind the camera. After producing many award winning music videos and short films, Cappricielli produced its first feature Reach. Maria co wrote the award winning screenplay and served as producer. Returning to the family's roots in theater, the one act play, Pizza & Whine conceived and written by Raffaela, co-written by Veronica (Maria’s niece and Sachem East High School alum) and directed and written by Maria appeared on The Hudson Guild Theatre stages in both New York and Los Angeles. With the play's success, the film was adapted for the screen with its announcement for 2021 release. Four Cousins and a Christmas is the first of a trilogy in development along with the young adult thriller, The Legend of Ronkonkoma: The Lady of the Lake.

CREATIVE

MARIA CAPP (Director) Award-winning work: director, producer, writer and acting coach span 20 + years. Maria strives to be an example to other females entering the industry that age and gender DO NOT matter. Produced the award-winning music video HURRICANE featuring Emmy award winning rapper CHRIS REDD (Saturday Night Live), won Best Music Video Award, Grand Jury Award for a Performance Artist (RAFFAELA). Indie film REACH was nominated for best feature, best screenplay and best female producer at the Westfield International Film Festival and had its world premiere at Dances With Films. REACH’s screenplay was selected as best in the Hollywood & Vine Film Festival and Garrett Clayton was recently honored at the CATE festival as best leading actor in a feature. In line with REACH’s message “the power of kindness”, Maria’s high school comedy DIVOS! was released during the global pandemic and she completed the documentary, Find An Identity while writing the feature script, The Legend of Princess Ronkonkoma. Returned to her stage roots: produced, co wrote and directed the one act, PIZZA & WHINE and after its world premiere in NYC and LA, adapted it to the screen. Four Cousins and A Christmas is Maria’s feature directorial debut. MarVista Entertainment is handling worldwide sales.

KO CREATIVE (Producer) Kristi Kilday is a film and television producer as well as Chief Executive Officer of KO Creative, a full service production, post production and creative advertising agency specializing in film and television properties. Kristi first joined creative advertising agency Global Doghouse in the summer of 1998 as an assistant in the accounting department, learning the inner workings of a creative agency and quickly working her way up through the ranks to project manager in 1999. In June of 2000, she was promoted to director of operations where she oversaw all day-to day operations of the agency. In 2001, Kilday was promoted to Vice President and in 2003 purchased Global Doghouse from its previous owner, rebranding the company to KO Creative. With over 15 years of successful, award-winning advertising campaigns, Kristi wanted to expand the company again – this time into content creation. Partnering with television networks, digital aggregators and independent writers and directors, Kristi began producing as well as line producing a weekly TV series on BET Networks, producing award winning film shorts, securing distribution deals for feature films and developing TV pilots that have been picked up to series. Using her well-honed marketing skills, Kristi started packaging full length feature films. In September 2017, Roads, Trees and Honey Bees started a 12 day production. By mid-October, Kristi had secured an international sales agent based solely on a compelling trailer and key art. As of the end of 2017, sales to half a dozen international territories have been secured and three domestic distributors are interested in acquiring the film. Kristi’s philosophy is simple – create high production value, marketable content while using cost saving mechanisms that ensure the investors a solid return.

LIZ LEWIS CASTING PARTNERS (Casting) has been casting and securing talent for film, television, commercials, voice overs, and theater for over 20 years nationwide. While maintaining a boutique feel, LLCP seeks out distinct and extraordinary talent, uniquely tailored to each project. Whether it is a big budget feature, a national commercial, a television series, or a small indie film, LLCP devotes the same attention to detail to each and every project. With major offices in New York City and Los Angeles, we cast in all markets nationwide. The team at LLCP comes from vast areas of entertainment such as theater, comedy, real people, dance, and film. Along with their diverse experience comes an expansive network of contacts and resources nationwide and skill for bringing in new and untapped talent. Our team collaborates on each project, providing a unique selection that can’t be matched anywhere else. LLCP’s experienced casting directors allow actors and non-actors to feel comfortable enough to give a great audition and showcase their talent. Known to be one of the friendliest casting offices, we truly believe that you should love what you do. LLCP’s vision is the be the premier partner that creatives turn to for talent and opportunity. http://www.lizlewis.com/

JEFFERY ALAN JONES (Composer, Sound Design) is a prominent composer and sound designer. Jeffery has over 150 films to his credit and most recently winning Best Sound Design at the Queen Palm Film Festival for his work on the film, “Sound.” This year he also premiered “Crown Vic,” at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, Starring Thomas Jane. Jeffery won the Grand Jury Award, Best Narrative Feature at the 2017 SXSW Film Festival with his music and sound design for the film, “Most Beautiful Island.” He also made a splash at The Sundance Film festival in 2017 with his film, “Bitch,” Directed by Marianna Palka. A recent winner of the Los Angeles Composer Competition, Mr. Jones was commissioned to conduct his orchestral composition "Cinema Fantastic" with the National Chinese Symphony Orchestra in Beijing, China. Mr. Jones was also a winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Award with his song, "My Dream,” and has also composed and arranged music for Miss Diana Ross. Mr. Jones received his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Masters of Music in Composition with honors from the California State University, Long Beach, and an artist diploma in Composition and Piano Performance from the Dick Grove School of Music. His studies have also included film composition at the University of California at Los Angeles.