BRING VALLEY TRANSIT TO LIFE
Our film is cast and the crew is ready! However, we are still accepting donations to meet the production budget, and welcoming volunteers as extras or background players. Please donate and/or fill out the background player/extra survey below!

ABOUT THE FILM

It’s never too late to come of age.

When an elderly man and teenage girl find camaraderie on public transit, the unlikely friendship that sparks leads to a summer discovering the world through new eyes, enabling each to mend bonds with loved ones at home and prepare for their next life transitions.

Valley Transit captures the places and rituals that connect us across the Upper Valley, from summertime tubing on the White River to the Norwich Fair to mile-high cones at Fore-U, and tells the story of intergenerational friendships and the chance encounters that transform us along the way.

NEW MODEL FOR FILMMAKING

Valley Transit is also the launch of a different kind of model for independent filmmaking. As the vehicle for JAM’s first Summer Feature Film Intensive (SFFI), the production doubles as a unique educational opportunity for aspiring student filmmakers in the Upper Valley to work alongside a professional crew from the region. Students will earn professional screen credits, while gaining on-set experience on a film bound for festivals and theatrical release. As a nonprofit production made possible by charitable donations from individuals, the Byrne Foundation, and Mascoma Bank, revenue earned by the finished film will kickstart future local filmmaking through JAM. In-kind contributions of locations and services by local businesses and organizations, including Salt Hill Pub, Advance Transit, Shyrl’s Diner, Fore-U, Hartford Parks & Rec, and others, are making this ultra low-budget indie film production possible. Thank you to all our generous supporters!

TIMELINE

• Pre-production: present – July 17
• Production: July 17 – Aug 16
• Post Production: Aug 16 – Winter 2027

KEY PEOPLE

CREW

• Screenplay by writer/director Samantha Davidson Green (UCLA MFA, Film Directing, Plainfield, NH)
• Director of Photography Quinn Thomashow (AFI MFA, Cinematography, Strafford, VT native)
• Producer Wei Dai (USC MFA, Stark Producing Program, Orford, NH)
• Art Director Jordyn Lich (Dartmouth College ’20, Enfield, NH)
• Production Designer Cedar O’Dowd (Colorado College ’21, White River Junction, VT)
• Unit Prod. Manager Phil Noble (Emerson ’24; Thetford, VT)
• 1st Assistant Director Anna Flaherty (Skidmore ’27, Hartford, VT)
• 2nd Assistant Director Liam Kelly-Thompson (Bowdoin ’28, Hanover, NH)
• Title Design & SFFI Coordinator Noah Mauchly (Kingston Univ. ’21, Lebanon, NH)
• Graphic Design & Publicity Ana Liu (Center for Cartoon Studies MFA ’24, White River Junction, VT)
• Soundtrack featuring UV musicians, including Phin Choukas, Hans Williams, Allison Fay Brown, Sir BabyGirl, and more!

CAST

• Alicia Sanyal (Hanover High ’22, UCLA ’26; “Lizzie”)
• Richard Noble (Parish Players, Thetford, VT; “George”)
• Noah Schutzius (Ithaca College ’29, Claremont, NH; “Woody”)
• Reeve Green (Northwestern ’29, Plainfield, NH; “Drew”)
• Robyn Noble (Parish Players, Thetford, VT; “Mary”)
• Paul Ashton (Boston Univ. ’28, Lyme, NH; “Leo”)
• Adelaide Giambruno (Lebanon High School ’28, “Aida”)
• Allison Fay Brown (UVM alum, Hartford, VT native, “Chloe”)
• With more than 35 additional local and regional actors and background players!

PANAVISION NEW FILMMAKER GRANT

Exciting news: we recently received a Panavision New Filmmaker Program grant!