DIRECTOR

Elisa is a director with roots in the creative landscape of Parsons School of Design in New York. Drawing from her background in architecture, her films are marked by a distinct spatial sensitivity and a sculptural approach to storytelling.

With Common Ground, Elisa deepens her exploration of identity, space, and memory—using the intimate language of film to engage with cultural and religious themes that are often complex or unspoken. Her work seeks to create quiet yet charged spaces where questions of tradition, belonging, and belief can unfold with nuance and emotional clarity.

PRODUCERS

Founded by Roya Alidjani and Tiana Cantu, Ladytrap Productions is a production company dedicated to contemporary, audacious storytelling that resonates with the unheard and the underserved.

Their mission is to amplify the voices that often go unnoticed. They champion writers, directors, and filmmakers who dare to defy conventions, showcasing their unique visions and boundless creativity. Their short films have screened at prestigious film festivals such as Tribeca Film Festival, Woodstock Film Festival, Frameline Film Festival, and more.

CINEMATOGRAPHER

Violet Smith is a New York and Los Angeles-based cinematographer with a distinct visual style grounded in both narrative and short-form storytelling. A graduate of NYU Tisch’s Kanbar Institute of Film and Television with a concentration in cinematography, she brings a bold, intuitive approach to the camera.

Violet is known for blending experimental composition with grounded narrative, crafting emotionally rich visuals that challenge traditional form and push the boundaries of story and image.

SET DESIGNER

Natalia Ferrara is a Production Designer and Props Master with a love for character. With a writer and director background, she dives deep into character framework and creates visual details of their world to help further their stories on the screen.

Raised in Los Angeles and now based in NYC, she has a taste for both coasts, but loves designing stories that take her out of these cities and to somewhere new to explore. Natalia has a BFA in Film from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and is most recently known for her work on the feature films Born to Lose and The Ladder.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Rebekah Strauss is an NYC-based writer, director, and 1st Assistant Director. She currently works as a freelance 1st AD on sets of all scales from independent features to short film, commercial, and music video productions.

Her previous credits include notable brands such as Nike, Macy’s, Viarae, Spectrum Reach, etc. At her core, Strauss is most passionate about narrative filmmaking and is excited to bring the Common Ground story to life.