WANETAH
WALMSLEY
I am somewhere in between a wake-up call and a dream.
ACTOR DANCER FILMMAKER CREATOR DIRECTOR WRITER MUSICIAN SINGER SONGWRITER ARTIST
A lottery win thrusts a couple into a tumultuous journey as conflicting agendas threaten their newfound wealth and long-term love.
"One shot. One iPhone. 10 minutes and 42 Seconds of Continuous Chaos and Comedy."
Bamboo
Bamboo is a remarkable plant, quietly spreading its roots underground for years, then surging several feet in a single day. In much the same way, secrets brewing beneath the surface, once exposed to the light, can emerge, reaping profound and transformative change in an instant.
Actors: Na'Ni Caliste, Trenise Gray, Jason Edwards
Cinematographer: Waffle Bordelon, Andrew Mayeux
Produced by: Jason Edwards
Devil’s In the Details:
I graduated with a degree in Liberal Arts (Theatre, Dance) from Northwestern State University, but that hasn’t stopped interviewers from asking how much I enjoyed my time in Evanston, IL. It always gives me the perfect chance to serve up some lemonade, using Natchitoches, LA—home to Steel Magnolias (and NSU)—as my icebreaker. A few years ago, an actor friend and I arrived at a rehearsal wearing the same purple Northwestern hoodies. The only difference? Hers came with a few extra zeros.
Actors: Emily Byrnes, Joseph Chapman
Cinematographer: Waffle Bordelon, Andrew Mayeux
Produced by: Jason Edwards
1994
In 1994, the United Nations declared it the 'International Year of the Family.' Seemed fitting for the South, where teen pregnancy rates were as high as the summer heat, with Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana consistently leading the way. I was in seventh grade when the prettiest, most athletic eighth grader at my school (therefore in the world) had a baby—courtesy of a high schooler. By my senior year, I watched a sophomore cheerleader quietly get pulled from the game, her weight gain suspiciously confined to her stomach.
My mother often reminded me that I was the last child she would ever raise. Looking back, I'm obviously appalled at the idea of kids having kids, though it's almost absurd how it began to feel normal back then. And now, I find myself without words to fully capture the emotion I feel about girls—women—today losing the right to autonomy over their own bodies. Gen Z may love their nostalgia, but reproductive rights should not be lumped in with 'Seinfeld' and 'The Simpsons.'
Actors: Milton Crosby, Maggie Scallan
Cinematographer: Waffle Bordelon, Andrew Mayeux
Produced by: Jason Edwards
Daddy's Death Coin
Does a tree fall if no one's online to hear it? It’s fascinating, and a bit tragic, how something created to connect us has ultimately disconnected us—how something designed to offer significance has made many feel insignificant. The more we try to dismiss it, the more relevant it becomes. For me, social media isn’t inherently good or bad; just as fire can cook your dinner or burn down your house, it's simply a tool, and it’s up to us to choose how we use it. Regardless of what you think, social media stands as one of the most ironic inventions and malfunctioned creations ever made. The irony is stark: in striving to be seen and heard, we've somehow become more invisible.
Actors: Maria Piacun, Ronald Chavis
Cinematographer: Waffle Bordelon, Andrew Mayeux
Produced by: Jason Edwards
The Date Debate
“Dating is simple: Find someone good enough to make you feel good enough, and you'll feel good enough to find someone good enough.”
In a culture where dating feels more like a high-stakes job interview, it’s a wonder anyone makes it out of the house anymore. I mean, why bother scaling Everest if you can't do it in heels? My film explores this madness, proving that sometimes, the biggest challenge isn’t meeting the right person, but meeting the right expectations.
Actors: Milton Crosby, Maggie Scallan
Cinematographer: Waffle Bordelon, Andrew Mayeux
Produced by: Jason Edwards
All By Myself
"All By Myself" is the first film I ever made, well, all by myself. Not to downplay the tragedy of the pandemic, but it sparked my discovery of a deep love for creating my own content. To keep myself sane, I spent hours learning TikTok—swearing I was among the first pioneers of the platform's adult takeover, braving its clunky editor as if it were uncharted territory. Although my cat, Kimchee, was great company (and my lovely co-star), my Canon Rebel T5i fatefully became the Wilson to my Chuck Noland (from Castaway). This time in my life was pivotal in realizing that I was beyond relieved not to have to audition, and it ignited the idea that I could pursue my dreams on my own terms, pioneering a path free from gatekeepers.
Written, directed, and shot by Wanetah Walmsley, Co-starring Kimchee Walmsley (R.I.P., my girl)
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