The Story of Dropout Films
Dropout Films Productions began with a simple class assignment; make a short film. Quarantine and the pandemic presented us with many obstacles, but luckily our friend group was divided between two households, which made it easier to film together safely. So we rented some equipment from our teacher and got to filming! The impact of that experience was astounding. Getting to create our very own movie reminded us all just how much we love to do the work, and from there, Dropout Films emerged!
In the fall of 2020, David De La Barcena, one of our founding members, suggested that we each write a screenplay over winter break so we could begin production in the spring. As of 2022, we have eleven company members across three branches, located in Los Angeles, Austin, and New York City!
Disclaimer: No one actually dropped out.
The Team
Actors | Writers | Directors | Producers
Neiman Moore
Neiman Moore is a writer, director, and cinematographer. He is known for writing and directing Out of Touch (2022) as well as photographing The Polaroid (2022), Mari (2022), Genuinely (2021), and I Think I Love You (2022). Neiman is interested in character-driven and genre-bending stories. He is currently developing another short film.
Sophie Anne Miller
Sophie Anne Miller is an actor, director, and writer known for her work in I Think I Love You (2022), Mari (2022), and Genuinely (2021). Sophie loves telling stories that hit close to home; the gritty, the beautiful, and everything in-between, especially the messy. She wants to leave people in a state of curiosity and contemplation. Not all stories have a happy ending.
David De La Barcena
David De La Barcena is an actor, writer, and director known for Raising Dion (2022), Panic (2021), and Mari (2022). His love for storytelling stems from growing up on classic sci-fi films. “I want to transform who can tell science-fiction stories, and who exactly those stories are about.” David is an advocate for diversity in storytelling, and he actively pursues that with every project he tackles.
Katrina Gaedcke
Katrina Gaedcke is an actor, writer, and director, best known for Out of Touch (2022) and Mari (2022). She has a great passion for psychology, which has led to her love of telling stories that explore the many facets of the human psyche. Katrina believes that every project presents an opportunity to better understand herself and others. She also hopes to someday put her martial arts experience to use in an action/adventure film.
Jared VosWinkel
Jared VosWinkel is an actor and writer known for his work in Out of Touch (2022). He currently represents Dropout’s Texas branch and assists the LA division by writing scripts, and designing merch. He hopes to return to Los Angeles and act with his friends.
Mahagany Adair
Mahagany is an actor known for her work in The Polaroid (2022) and Jo (2022), and she is looking to explore writing and directing. Mahagany has been involved with narrative sci-fi and romantic stories which she greatly enjoys. Moving forward, she wants to break into horror and comedy roles.
Nya Garner
Nya Garner is an actor and artist known for her work in I Think I Love You (2022), Out of Touch (2022), and Genuinely (2021). She loves coming-of-age stories that center around the female experience. She's excited for all that's coming to the Dropout Films universe.
Hayden Daniel Cox
Hayden Daniel Cox is an actor and writer known for The Polaroid (2022), I Think I Love You (2022), and Jo (2022). Hayden is passionate about telling thoughtful coming-of-age stories about life, death, and all the little messy bits in between.
Caroline Beagles
Caroline Beagles is an actor/model based in NY. After making appearances in Mari (2022) and Genuinely (2021), Caroline was accepted as a collaborator in DF and hopes to continue to support and create our projects as an actor, producer, content creator, and crew member. She’s interested in projects that do something uniquely radical: movies that challenge, shock, awe, stun, weird-out, wire-up, or just plain astound.
Austin Smith
Austin Tyler Smith is a writer, actor, and director from Houston, Texas. He wrote and directed The Polaroid (2022), Dropout’s first official project. His next project, ‘are you there?’, is currently in development.
Ricky Rodriguez
Ricky Rodriguez is a recent addition to the Dropout crew! He’s an actor and writer based in Los Angeles. Not only is he an avid runner, he loves long walks and despises handstands. Ricky also tries to avoid writing bios as much as possible!