My name is Bruce and I am the director of ‘The Fallacy of You’. This is my first real attempt at directing, producing, and writing my own short after I moved to LA about a year and a half ago to pursue filmmaking as a career.

I wrote the script knowing I wanted to illustrate the complexities of romantic experiences and deviate from the typically-glamorous depictions that are so prevalent in Hollywood. The real spark for the film was when I was chatting with a girl on a dating app who had agreed to meet up when she was back in the U.S. from traveling abroad. However, on the day that she said she would be back in the country, she ended up unmatching with me. I was no stranger to having things fizzle out with someone I was into, but this time hurt me a lot harder than before. I felt an extreme amount of mental whiplash after all of my feelings suddenly turned out to be unreciprocated. That was because, psychologically, I was totally wrapped up in the imagined version of how our planned date would go–I would fantasize about the place I would take her to, the questions I would ask her, and the feelings I would potentially develop. The climax of the film seeks to illustrate this sudden reversal of fortunes by having the audience go through the same feeling of shock and surprise that I felt. Moreover, the conversation that the film’s lead character, Adam, has with Tina afterwards is actually based on my own journal entries that I wrote during my personal fallout.

I hope viewers are left with a resonance for their own times where they felt let down romantically–not by the other person, but rather by their own mind’s illusion about the idea of what might have been.

Role: Adam (Lead)

Raised in Appalachia, Jacob Laney understands that storytelling shapes our own life stories, making us feel seen. Collecting a handful of acting awards in high school, he pursued professional training in Atlanta under Carey Lewis’ SHINE Program. This summer, Laney jumpstarted his acting career independently, booking nearly 20 series, film, & commercial roles. His positive energy, coach-ability, and love for production, lend well to his budding career as a full-time actor.  

Role: Zahra (Lead)

Role: Tina (Supporting)

Ria Lazo is a Los Angeles-based actress who began her journey in the industry at just 12 years old, training at the renowned Helen Anzalone Studios, where she quickly discovered her passion for acting. After taking a break to pursue a career in Marketing, Ria made the bold decision to return to acting this year. In just a short time, she has already secured high-profile commercials, booked lead roles in multiple independent films, and signed with a talent agency. Ria is currently honing her craft at AGB Studios, where she trains under the guidance of celebrity coaches such as David Deluise, Anneliese van der Pol, Jennifer Stone, and Blake Michael, among others.