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SHORT STACK: Lost and Found


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Agora

L-R: At the state fair, an African American girl in pigtails stands alone in a crowd of taller bodies that are only visible from the waist down. The African American girl stands next to a smaller Caucasian boy who is yelling into a bullhorn. There are trees with lush, dark green leaves in the background. A woman wraps her arms around her small blonde son. Out of focus in the foreground, an African American girl’s arm and hand are visible; the hand holds a bullhorn.

“The messages of this film are very basic, but I think they are universal—selflessness, camaraderie and resilience in the face of obstacles.” —Filmmaker Chris Newberry

The Short

Shot on location at the Minnesota State Fair, AGORA is based on a childhood nightmare that transcends time—losing your parent in a crowd. In AGORA, an eight-year-old girl wanders lost amid oblivious adults and bizarre attractions. When she serendipitously meets a younger boy who is also lost, the children instantly form a bond and together hatch a clever plan to find their parents.

Filmmaker Bio

Headshot of filmmaker Chris Newberry, a smiling Caucasian man with closely shorn hair.

Chris Newberry
Writer/Director/Producer/Editor

Chris Newberry is a graduate of Northwestern University, the holder of a Masters Degree from Goldsmiths College at the University of London and the recipient of a Jerome Foundation Media Arts Grant. His 1998 short film 20/20 Vision enjoyed a national festival run after earning a Best of the Fest Award at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival. The film also received national media attention when its featured player, wrestling-star-turned-pop-culture-icon Jesse “The Body” Ventura, was elected governor of Minnesota. Newberry, who lives in Minneapolis, is in postproduction for his fifth short film, Sweet Caroline, and is developing long-form projects. He also works in commercial production and design.

Cast Bios

Mahogany Ellis-Crutchfield
(Little Girl)
 Mahogany Ellis-Crutchfield works as an actor and model. Mahogany was eight years old when Agora was produced.

Payton Von Eschen
(Little Boy)
 Payton Von Eschen is a fourth-grader who was four years old when Agora was produced.

Luis E. Sanchez
(Injured Man)
 Luis Sanchez is a Twin Cities-based actor who has appeared in three of Chris Newberry’s films, including his most recent, Sweet Caroline.

Ashley (Borne) Newberry
(Fair Worker #1)
 Ashley Newberry is a physician by trade but enjoys acting on the side. Director Chris Newberry is Ashley’s husband.

Ron Johnson
(Fair Worker #2)
 Ron Johnson is a Minneapolis-based filmmaker and actor and has collaborated frequently with Chris Newberry.

Pamela Anderson
(Mother)
 Pamela Anderson is a semi-professional actor and mother of three. Her third child was born just a few weeks after Agora wrapped shooting.

Torin Anderson
(Brother)
 Torin Anderson is a semi-professional actor and model, and the real-life son of Pamela Anderson. Torin was five years old when Agora was filmed.

View film credits >>

Get the Video/DVD

DVD and VHS copies of AGORA are available from:
Chris Newberry
Email: chrisn@minnesotamovie.com
Phone: 612-940-5603

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