The first time I met Jaren Childers, I had her bumped off.
Someone had to die. I don’t know why, but someone had to go, and that straw fell to Jaren.
It’s her fault, really. She responded to a casting call. I wanted to film a new short video series, The World’s Shortest Rom Coms. To be fair, I let her fall in love over and over and over again before we had her killed. Okay, maybe she was jilted a few times for that other girl. Who I also had killed. But she got to experience some love and kisses on her way out.
Before anyone reports me to the authorities, let me explain.
I make movies. And I write stories about a dark, scary place called Dead Park. Jaren not only reached out when I posted my casting call, she recruited four other actors to come along for the ride – including the second dead girl and one of her own killers.
Sometimes you meet creative talents that bring out the best in you. I really enjoyed working with Jaren. Her enthusiasm for acting is contagious, and like me, she’s a networker. Every film shoot is a chance to do just that, and she and her acting colleagues embraced that fully one summer day.
Jaren and I have collaborated on a number of things since that day. Some for my day job and many for Dead Park. She’s the one who will give you a guilt trip if you click the page for my Amazon links. Yeah. Fine. Go ahead and buy from Amazon and not me. Give them more of your hard-earned money.
The 2023 graduate of Campbellsville University is working hard to find acting gigs where she can. She’s also giving tours of the Angel’s Envy Distillery, so if you happen to meet her there – tell her I said hello.
I’ve got at least one more short film I hope to shoot with Jaren (and Macy – you know, the other dead girl?) in the near future. This time, I think I’ll let them live. I’m grateful to both of them for sharing their talents, and especially Jaren, who became a full-fledged producer on The World’s Shortest Rom Coms with all her efforts to make that film shoot happen.
You can check out the Rom Com series below. It’s less than three minutes, so seriously, watch them all and enjoy.
Thanks, Jaren, for being a great friend and a willing victim.
