UNLOCKED

A short film by Maria Palacio

Unlocked is about a young woman, Isa, who is confronted by her boyfriend for her peculiar need to lock doors. This becomes the catalyst of Isa opening up to her boyfriend about a childhood trauma.

Unlocked highlights the uncomfortable conversations surrounding trauma and mental health. It is a vignette of just one of the many challenges and responses to trauma. My intent is to invite the viewer to the discussion.

Who are the characters?

Isa

Isa (she/her) is a 30-year-old professional young woman who values relationships and herself. She's been on a self-love journey and after going to therapy for the first time, she has come to recognize and face a traumatic experience when she was a child. Opening to her boyfriend brings on a new challenge for her.

Will

Will (he/him) is a 32-year-old is a professional artist/musician. He values the connection he has with his girlfriend Isa but at times he can come across as not an understanding partner. Isa shares a traumatic experience with him that he doesn't know how to process, and his response can easily hurt Isa.

Meet The Cast

Tieisha Thomas
as Isa

Tieisha Thomas is NYC native hailing from Queens, New York. She discovered her love of music at a young age through the influences of her vibrant Caribbean culture. She attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of the Arts for Voice and received her Bachelor's Degree in Theater from SUNY Buffalo State.

She continues to nurture her passion for the arts on and off the stage and offers one on one classes for young adults and budding artists looking to further their discovery of themselves through theater. When she’s not performing, she enjoys creatively developing her own original content, dancing and snapping crab legs at her favorite seafood spot!

Off Broadway: HERCULES (Public Theater) CHRONICLE X (The SHED) Virtual Cast: 'GETTING THERE', 'SHARED SENTENCES'

Television: Initiative 29 Series (HULU), Crack the Case (NBC Peacock Kids) Movies: B-BOYS BLUES (dir. Jussie Smollet) 'NYC is DEAD', 'HELP YOURSELF'

“Your gifts will make room for you” - Hattie McDonald

Gabe Calleja
as Will

A New York City native, Gabe attended Bucknell University where he graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering, but don't let that fool you. While there, he spent most of his time on the stage starring in shows such as The Lovesong of J. Robert Oppenheimer (J. Robert Oppenheimer), Black Comedy (Brindsley), and Radium Girls (Arthur). Unable to resist the temptation of a life on stage, Gabe moved back home where he began pursuing acting full time. He enrolled in The Acting Studio Meisner Conservatory where he continued his training. His most recent New York stage credits include R.U.R. (Domin), Anne Frank Lives (Peter/Frank) and, most recently, Buscando a Copi (Didier), where he had his theater debut in Spanish and won the Fuerzafest award for best supporting actor. As of late, he joined forces with FacetoFaceFilms as an ensemble member and creative partner. With them, he has reveled in a prolific Zoom career with notable performances in Hillary and Clinton (Bill Clinton) and Rabbit Hole (Howie)