Synopsis

A grieving woman lies on her bed in a very beige studio apartment. A dated clock radio wails at her and gives her the inspiration she needs to get up. As she moves through her morning ritual, we discover she's afraid to leave her house, and has built a community from the inanimate objects in her home. The coffeemaker and the lamp keep her company in an isolated world. Then the doorbell rings. It's her daily food order, delivered by someone new...A big hug of a man who lights up her whole heart. After he leaves, she is gripped with fear: what if he doesn't bring her delivery again? She is faced with the choice to let him leave her life forever or walk through her sadness into the real world.

Screenwriter's Statement: Senta Moses

After a year of unimaginable loss, I found myself coping with loneliness by turning the inanimate objects that surrounded me into a community. These objects - my coffee maker, printer, car - filled my days with the conversations I needed, even if they only happened in my head. Or did they?

I wrote A Peculiar Morning to face my fears and, as someone who looks to humor as a means to survive, I included amusing moments and a spirit of hope. I even financed the film by selling an extremely sentimental piece of jewelry - something that I thought I’d wear for the rest of my life. I wanted to infuse joy into a symbol suddenly filled with sadness. And I determined that like in life, the best thing I could do was to surround myself with a smart, talented, funny crew of women. Together, we created a film that acknowledges there is no timeline for emotions of grief and that the best we can do is walk through them with grace and maybe a little whimsy. I’m proud of what we accomplished, and thank you for taking the time to watch A Peculiar Morning.

Director's Statement: Emmylou Diaz

Director Emmylou Diaz was drawn to this story after a long stretch of personal loss—infertility, miscarriage, and the sudden death of her mother when she was six months pregnant. So, naturally, she made a seriocomic film about a woman whose best friends are her household appliances.

Our film’s main character avoids pain by keeping life small and predictable, not realizing that her grief has been in control all along– quietly dictating the boundaries of her life. What she calls safety is simply a cage she’s learned to live inside. The story explores what happens when someone finally dares to open

the door—even just a little—to connection, messiness, and change.

Visually, our film draws inspiration from off-beat indie comedy-dramas like Lost in Translation, Her, and Little Miss Sunshine, where emotional shifts are reflected through subtle framing, color, and tone. We used a shifting aspect ratio to reflect our woman’s emotional journey: her tight, enclosed world opens as she reconnects with life.

A Peculiar Morning was made with an all-female crew and creative team, which brought a spirit of openness, vulnerability, and playfulness to the process. That same energy runs through our story—where heavy themes are explored with humor, tenderness… and a touch of magic.

Crew & Cast

EMMYLOU DIAZ (Director) constantly seeks the edge in her storytelling, whether she’s exploring complex relationships, dysfunctional families, or the absurdities of everyday life. She’s a multi-hyphenate talent—director, writer, producer, and actor—who began her career on the smash CW dramedy Jane the Virgin. Starting as a writers’ assistant, she quickly made her mark, co-writing and producing two episodes during the show’s award-winning first season, before being promoted to staff writer for season two. Since then, Emmy has worked as a CoExecutive Producer on acclaimed projects, including an Untitled Thriller for Amazon and The Watchful Eye for Freeform/Hulu. Other credits include Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, Charmed, and Station 19. Emmy’s passion for storytelling is rooted in her background as a performer– she holds an MFA in Acting from the American Repertory Theatre Institute at Harvard. In front of the camera, she recently starred in the indie feature California Scenario, set to release later this year. Emmy currently serves as Advisor to the Humanitas New Voices Fellowship and is co-chair of the WGA Latinx Writers Committee. Having directed several micro-shorts as an alum of the LA Directors Lab, A Peculiar Morning is Emmy’s short film directorial debut.

SENTA MOSES (“Woman”/Writer/Producer) kicked off her career at six months old with a diaper commercial showcasing her naked bottom. At five, she got her SAG card shaking a tail feather in The Blues Brothers then at seven, sang her heart out in the touring company of Annie and even managed to crack a tooth on stage. Senta was one of the McCallisters in Home Alone and has appeared in the films Ten Years Later, Boiler Maker, D.C. Cab, and Things Are Tough All Over, to name a few. She has guest starred on numerous TV shows including

Little Fires Everywhere, Faking It, Jane The Virgin, NCIS, Greek, The Mentalist, and Everybody Loves Raymond, and is incredibly proud of her work on the Emmy-winning Beakman’s World which prepared her to prevail over the science category of Trivial Pursuit.

On the other side of the camera, she co-wrote/produced the web series, Badge of A Quitter, which won “Best New Media” at the Burbank International Film Festival. Despite her continuous work, most of Senta’s fans know her from My So-Called Life, where she played “Delia Fisher”. Sets have always been her happy place and she believes it should feel like fun in the sandbox with your friends.

ALYSON SILVERBERG (Producer) is an accomplished Casting Director and emerging

Producer whose career spans film and television. She has been instrumental in shaping some of

the most successful television shows and introducing influential characters that have remained

in the zeitgeist for over two decades. Now, she is channeling her deep industry experience into

producing, with a strong focus on creating compelling female-driven narratives for both YA

and adult audiences. Mentored by renowned Casting Directors Sharon Klein and Patrick Rush,

Alyson began her career working on Dawson’s Creek, Everwood, and The O.C. before

launching her own casting company in 2004. She co-founded Ross/Silverberg Casting, where

she helped assemble the ensemble cast of Greek and contributed to numerous other television

projects. Later, she established Alyson Silverberg Casting, discovering fresh talent for hit shows

such as Baby Daddy, Jane The Virgin, Shadowhunters, and Harlan Coben’s Shelter, further

solidifying her ability to bring dynamic characters to life. Collaborating closely with producers,

directors, and executives, Alyson has gained invaluable insights into storytelling and content

development. Now expanding her creative influence, Alyson’s first producing venture, A

Peculiar Morning, spotlights the nuanced experiences of women in storytelling. With a deep

love for complex, authentic female characters, Alyson’s transition to producing is a natural

evolution of her commitment to bringing meaningful, resonant narratives to the screen. Alyson

lives in Los Angeles with her partner John and their puppy Max, always seeking new creative

opportunities.

BARI WINTER (Editor), a Long Island native, began her journey in the world of film at the

School of Visual Arts in New York City, where she quickly became captivated by the power of

editing to shape stories. Now based in Los Angeles, Bari continues to bring her creative vision

to a wide range of projects in television and film, always with the goal of crafting narratives

that resonate deeply and leave a lasting impact on audiences. Bari’s easy-going nature in the

edit bay fosters collaboration and inspires creativity in every team she works with. Colleagues

admire her ability to elevate a story through thoughtful pacing and nuanced edits, ensuring the

narrative shines through in its best light. On every project, Bari’s professionalism and

dedication to the craft make her a trusted and valued collaborator.

SHERRI CHUNG (Composer), Emmy nominated, has been recognized internationally as a

trailblazer in the world of film and television scoring. Her music transcends genre and fuses

inspirations—both traditional and emerging—in support of filmmakers’ visions worldwide.

Sherri recently composed the score for HBO Max/Amblin’s animated series Gremlins: Secrets

of the Mogwai, for which she was nominated for an Emmy for Best Music Direction And

Composition for An Animated Program. Other recent credits include the Peacock original

series Based on a True Story, Netflix’s film Happiness For Beginners, and NBC’s Found.

Frequently recognized for her other television credits, including the CW network series Kung

Fu, Batwoman, and Riverdale, and NBC’s Blindspot, she has also scored numerous feature

films and documentaries. Recent film credits include Warner Bros Studio’s Nancy Drew and

the Hidden Staircase, Tyler Perry’s Divorce In The Black, and The Lost Husband, the

latter of which garnered her a Society of Composers and Lyricists nomination for Best Score

for an Independent Studio Film. Alongside her composing work, Sherri is also a pianist,

vocalist, performer, and songwriter. As an active member of the film music industry, Sherri

serves as Governor of the Music Branch of the Television Academy.

LEIKA WONG (Director of Photography) is a cinematographer and photographer based in

Los Angeles, California. A graduate of Loyola Marymount University, she brings a strong eye

for composition, lighting, and camera movement to every project. Passionate about visual

storytelling, she enjoys crafting compelling imagery for narrative films and music videos.

Leika’s cinematography style includes precise framing, whether through perfect symmetry or

dynamic angles that reflect a character’s emotions—trapped, free, or in transition. She loves

incorporating unique lens flares and prioritizing color palettes in each scene to guide emotion

and enhance storytelling subtly. She also enjoys experimenting with different lenses, including

ones that create mesmerizing swirls, flares, or unique distortions, adding texture and dreamlike

qualities to her visuals. She recently worked as an assistant to Director of Photography Shane

Hurlbut, ASC, on an upcoming Apple TV and Skydance feature. She is eager to take on new

challenges in narrative filmmaking and music videos, always pushing her craft.

MARK GESSNER (“Man”) is a working New York City actor. That was always the dream and

if you’re reading this it’s still coming true. He has worked in film and TV for the better part of

20 years with turns on NCIS: Hawai’i, 9-1-1, The Other Two, Power, Billions, NCIS: New

Orleans, Super Pumped, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, and Benders. His film work included

A Thousand and One, Youth, Little Boxes, God of Love, and It Had To Be You. To

paraphrase James Cagney, a career spent hitting one’s mark, looking the other fellow in the eye,

and telling the truth is a career and a life well spent. Acting on a set with good people is one of

the best parts about being alive. And the people involved with A Peculiar Morning, well, they

just couldn’t be better. It was a privilege to make.

TRISTIAN KINNEY (“Teenager”) is an LA-based actor and artist, currently studying

Theater, Film, and Television at UCLA. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he found his passion

for storytelling in spaces that embrace bold, transformative work. He has been fortunate to

collaborate with artists who share that vision, from starring in the feature film By the Grape

of God alongside Reservoir Dogs’ Kirk Baltz, to working on an upcoming feature with Oscar nominated cinematographer Jomo Fray, known for The Nickel Boys. On stage, he led What It

Iz at the Geffen Playhouse under the direction of Emmy winner Bryonn Bain. He is grateful to

be part of the film A Peculiar Morning, a project that reflects his love for meaningful

storytelling. With deep appreciation for the artists and mentors who have shaped his journey,

Tristian looks forward to continuing to bring impactful stories to life.

PARVESH CHEENA (“Walt”) is an actor, writer, and producer from Chicagoland, now based

in Los Angeles. While studying at Roosevelt University, he made his film debut as Samir in the

Chicago-filmed Barbershop and its sequel, Barbershop 2: Back in Business. Since then, he has

starred as Gupta in NBC’s Outsourced, Sunil in the CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and voiced

Blades in Transformers: Rescue Bots. His recent work includes the reboot of Frasier, The

Conners, The Mandalorian, and Sometimes I Think About Dying. Currently, you can hear

him on Disney Jr.’s Ariel and Disney+’s Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. A proud

union member, Parvesh has served in elected leadership for both SAG-AFTRA and the Asian

Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA). He is also a member of Actors' Equity and the

Animation Guild. He is always happy to be working again with his friend Senta.

Behind the Scenes