ABOUT US

Avni's (she/her) filmmaking debut was a music video of her little cousins set to Royals by Lorde, which she directed in sixth grade.

Avni is a film producer, director, and writer and loves coming-of-age stories. She made films with friends throughout high school, produced, directed, and co-wrote a three episode comedy show with UNC Student Television called General College, and interned at Katahdin Productions in Los Angeles last summer.

Avni independently produced, co-directed, and co-wrote the short film Sticky Feet - assembling and managing a 30+ person team of student writers, crew members, marketing students, and cast. Sticky Feet was Avni’s first adventure in codesigned films and she is eager to create more. She graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a degree in Communications (Media and Technology Production) and Economics in May 2023.

Shelby's (she/they) love for filmmaking was discovered through her passion for acting. Starting her acting journey onstage, she eventually transitioned to acting in front of the camera.

One of her acting coaches encouraged her to learn about filmmaking in all its aspects. She now loves all the ways she can continue to tell stories from behind the camera.

Shelby has written, produced, directed, and edited her own media and aids in her friends' projects as well. Helping in the creation of Sticky Feet taught Shelby how accessible filmmaking can be if you are intentional. She hopes to continue this mission of making the entertainment industry more accessible, especially for those who are afforded little opportunity. She graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a degree in Communications (Media and Technology Production) and a minor in Global Film in May 2023.

AVNI SINGH

SHELBY ARMSTRONG

Lila (they/them) has always been an artist, from making potato stamp prints with their grandmother at age 7 to creating a full body of sculptural work at age 20.

Lila is a senior at UNC Chapel Hill and is currently double majoring in Studio Art and Communications (Media and Technology Production). Their graphic design journey started in highschool when they were put in charge of their school theatre program’s instagram. Since then, Lila has worked with UNC’s chapter of OSTEM (Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), SAMA (Studio Art Majors Alliance), and Sticky Feet Productions. During the making of Sticky Feet’s first film, Lila served as both lead graphic designer and photographer.

Lila identifies as gender non-conforming and queer, both identities fueling their art making practice. After graduation, they plan on working towards a career in art education.

LILA ROBERTS

ADVISORS

CASEY PUGH

started Star Wars Uncut, a crowdsourced online film project. Pugh broke down Star Wars: A New Hope into 473 individual 15 second pieces. He announced an open call on the internet for anyone, filmmaker or not, to choose a segment and film their own version of it, just for fun. Pugh collected the segments from filmmakers all over the country and compiled the 473 pieces together into a finished film. His fan-made project won an Emmy in 2010.

SAMATA NARRA

former SVP of Comedy Development and Programming at Fox Broadcasting Company, former SVP Equity and Inclusion at Warner Bros. Discovery, accomplished independent film producer, Live Tinted investor.

MICHAEL PALM

Director of COMM Graduate Studies, Associate Professor at UNC Chapel Hill. His research explores historical, critical-theoretical and political-economic perspectives to interrogate the shifting relationships between technology, work, and everyday life. Advisor for Avni’s independent study course in co-designed filmmaking in Spring 2023.

We’re expanding our team.