This woman, man and town could be anywhere, but in fact they are nowhere—at least nowhere factual. They are found only in The Sundial Field, a short film released this autumn by Chelsea Point Pictures and featuring the work of two Los Gatans: director/producer Cary Cremidas and writer/producer Joni Thissen.

On Oct. 7, their 22-minute flick took home the award for best short film—out of 1,500 submissions from around the world—at the Hollywood Movie Awards during the annual Hollywood Film Festival, which helps emerging filmmakers get discovered and makes the winners eligible for the Academy Awards.

The pair was honored again in late November, when The Sundial Field made its Bay Area premiere in San Jose at an invitation-only event hosted by former San Jose Mayor Tom McEnery. It has since been screened publicly in Los Angeles. San Jose was the more fitting venue, since the film was shot in the greater Bay Area, using local talent.

"The abundance of a very skilled and talented cast and crew in the Bay Area could easily fill the shoes of any Hollywood set," says 34-year-old Cremidas, a Bay Area native himself, who, aside from directing independent films, also works for other companies as a photographer and cinematographer.

The cast he praises includes actors Mark Larkin, Kerry Anne Seldin, Jennifer Baeseman, Dana Bergeman and Peter Bayham, with production assistance from Steve Norfleet and musical composition by Los Gatan Jeff Hofmann.

Thissen, 32, met Cremidas through his father, Bob Gliner, who was a professor of sociology at San José State University when Thissen was there pursuing her master's degree in sociology. Thissen soon learned of Gliner's other interest—documentary filmmaking—and discovered that Gliner's son Cary was a filmmaker as well.

"I've always had an interest in film. I got my first Super-8 camera when I was a little girl. I always had a strong interest in people and how the world works," says Thissen, who also holds a bachelor's degree in English.

"This is my first complete script that's been produced. It was very challenging, because you have to be really particular about not only the dialogue but the whole story," she explains. "You have to get the story across using visuals and dialogue—it's not something that will be read. It's all in my head and clear to me, but I have to detach myself and see if it will make sense to others."

Thissen is doing even more of that with Ancora, a longer film she is writing that brings in some major characters and themes from The Sundial Field. Ancora, too, will be shot in the Bay Area, Thissen says, although she and Cremidas are still looking for backers to help make it happen. In the meantime, they are both enjoying their award-winning film's day in the sun.

"It's a drama and a love story with a magical twist," Thissen says about The Sundial Field. "It has a very classic style but a unique quality as well. And it deals with hope, which I think is very refreshing, considering the political and economic situation America is facing."

For more information about The Sundial Field or to view video clips, visit www.chelseapoint.com.