William Martinez
Liam Rocher Conrad
Franco Machado-Pesce
A CLose Shave
Written and Directed
By
Gabriel E. Solorzano
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FELIPE
William Martinez
A dynamic actor known for his recurring roles on Grey’s Anatomy, Law & Order: Organized Crime, FBI, and The Blacklist. He was also featured in Netflix’s Kaleidoscope. His breakout role came at 14 when he starred as Blue Espinosa in the feature film Heroes of Dirt, solidifying his passion for acting in film and television. William recently had the lead role in the Oscar-nominated short film A Lien and will be recurring in Apple TV’s upcoming series Your Friends & Neighbors. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, William studied Marketing and Information Systems while honing his craft at the Pittsburgh Film Institute. Since fully committing to his acting career, he has built a strong presence in television, film and commercials. Fluent in Spanish, William is passionate about bringing diverse and authentic stories to the screen. He is dedicated to roles that challenge stereotypes and advocate for greater representation of Latino actors in the industry.
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CARLITO
Liam Rocher Conrad
A bright and energetic seven-year-old actor taking his first steps into the film industry with his on-screen debut in A Close Shave. A naturally expressive performer, he brings charisma and heart to this role, and had a wonderful experience collaborating with the cast and crew during production.
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YOUNG/TEEN FELIPE
Franco Machado-Pesce
Born in Caracas, Venezuela and raised in the United States. He is a trained actor who has studied with great teachers at The Barrow Group, Atlantic Theater Company, the Actors Studio Drama School, and AMAW. Franco is also proud to have a BA in Screenwriting from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts where he fell in love with screen acting. Notable credits include acting under Moises Kaufman in his workshop of “Las Aventuras de Juan Planchard,” Pablo in Riverside Theatre’s production of “Native Gardens” and Nick in New Cosmopolitan Ensemble’s production of “Edgar & Annabel.” Film credits include: “A Close Shave”, “Tharros”, “Magnus Rex”, & “Learning Love” He is represented by Multi-Ethnic Talent and Buchwald.
@francoamp -
GABITO THE BEAR
Gabito
A plush ambassador for the director’s late father when his children were far away turned jet-setting scene-stealer, Gabito traveled from Managua, Nicaragua to Miami to New York, and finally to set — all before heading home via Providence, RI — for his screen debut in A Close Shave. He is now currently back home on the beach in Nicaragua.
Director’s Statement
A Close Shave began as a deeply personal reflection on the things a parent passes down — and the absences that speak just as loudly. My father was absent for much of my life, not entirely by choice, and there were milestones we never shared. One of those was the seemingly simple act of teaching me to shave.
In telling this story, I wanted to explore shaving as more than a routine — as a metaphor for patience, care, and the quiet guidance we learn (or teach ourselves) over time. It’s about how the smallest acts can carry the largest echoes of connection, forgiveness, and growth.
Bringing this film to life was both a tribute to his memory and an attempt to understand the spaces between us — spaces that so many Latino families know too well in this day and age, when distance is imposed rather than chosen. My father passed away in November of 2021, he never got the chance to come back.
We hope A Close Shave invites viewers to reflect on their own inherited lessons — the ones taught, the ones missed, and the ones we are still learning.
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Gabriel Eduardo Solorzano
WRITER/DIRECTOR
A Director/Writer based out of Brooklyn, NY. His most recent works include his short film, “The Conversation”, which he wrote and directed in the spring of 2019, and “Happy Thanksgiving!”, for which he won the award for Best Actor at the Austin Comedy Film Festival in 2020. He spends his time in between his personal projects in the lighting side of film, working on everything from music videos to feature films and a decade long career on the SNL Beast unit. When not on set, he spends his time outdoors, reading, writing, and traveling.
@gabesolo13 on Instagram
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Nathan Krauss
CINEMATOGRAPHER
A Director of Photography and Gaffer based out of Brooklyn, NY. He can often be found smiling on a film set. With a decade of experience, Nathan specializes in narrative storytelling and beauty lighting. Notable among his cinematography work is The Victorias (dir. Ethan Fuirst), winner of the Documentary Jury Prize at Aspen Shortsfest ‘22 and acquired by The New Yorker Documentary. Outside of work, Nathan loves to play board games and read science fiction. He is passionate about creating awesome images and strives to participate in storytelling that is empathetic and inspiring.
@nwkrauss on Instagram
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Sergio Caballero
PRODUCER
Brazilian by birth, Spanish by blood, and a New Yorker by choice. Caballero’s goal as a filmmaker is to amplify diverse perspectives through underdog stories — stories about reluctant heroes who find unexpected ways to succeed in the face of adversity. His films have been screened at Oscar-qualifying festivals worldwide (Palm Springs Shortfest, Vienna Shorts, Sitges FF, DWF, NYI Children’s FF).
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Max Rohr
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
An Art Director/Set Builder/ all around art department team player living and working in New York City. He was born in Hawaii, by way of California. Most recently you can find his Art Direction on the award winning short film “Sekiro" directed by Zen Pace. When not on set he spends as much time as possible in the ocean swimming, by the grill cooking for friends or near a window reading a book.
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Nicholas Sossi-Romano
FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
A freelance Assistant Director based in New York, working in a variety of film mediums -- narrative features, commercials, documentaries, music videos, and even photoshoots and live events. Trained under industry veterans, Nick has a strong narrative background, supporting production on the AD team for 6 features and countless shorts. In addition, Nick has worked with major brands like Nike, Bayer, Verizon, Timberland, and ShopRite and top artists like Cardi B, Ice Spice, Norah Jones, A$AP Rocky, and AJR to bring their projects to life. Nick runs a set with the core tenants of being an AD in mind, keeping crew safe and on time, while not forgetting to respect the cast and crew and try to keep a positive energy going for everyone around.
@nsossiromano on Instagram
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Brian Swaaley
EDITOR
A writer and editor living in Brooklyn, NY. He received training at the Manhattan Edit Workshop and has worked on a number of documentary and narrative projects. He previously wrote and performed music with The Bits, a NYC-based indie band.
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Alex Thiel
SOUND DESIGNER
An actor, musician, and filmmaker based in New York City. As a sound designer and re-recording mixer, his work has been featured at Tribeca Festival, Nitehawk Shorts, and NoBudge, to name a few. As a director of music videos, he has worked with artists like MSPAINT, Thomas Dollbaum, and Flags. As an actor, he has made lead appearances in music videos and independent theatre productions in New York. He is a composer and recording artist under his own name. He can usually be found at any of the city’s independent rep screenings, or shooting live music and world travels on his MiniDV handy-cam.
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Igor Yachmenov
COMPOSER
A film composer, hailing from Ukraine and currently based in New York City, known for blending Eastern European musical traditions with modern cinematic soundscapes. Igor's music is all about storytelling and visual journeys. Examples of his work can be found on his site and many streaming platforms.
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Harrison Rusk
GAFFER
A NYC-based lighting technician with experience in narrative indie-films and commercial work. His latest film credit was on “Anora” as Key Grip. He is always looking to create career-long relationships in the industry and is passionate about the craft of image-making.
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Jean-Luc Boon
KEY GRIP
A NYC based grip/dolly grip. He loves to lift heavy things outside of set. He hates to lift heavy things on set.
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Taki Horiuchi
SET DRESSER
A Brooklyn-based creative originally from Seattle. Raised by two artists, she developed a deep appreciation for materials, textures, and creative processes from an early age. After initially pursuing a career in accounting, Taki returned to her creative roots and now brings her artistic sensibility and attention to detail to the world of film.
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Emily Tomasi
PROPS STYLIST
A prop master whose catalog of work includes feature films, short films, and music videos. With an approach to props that is both research based and imaginative, Tomasi takes pride in finding or fabricating the right pieces to help create convincing worlds. She is always keen to collaborate with filmmakers and work on exciting projects like A Close Shave.
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Gunnar Nagle
SOUND MIXER
An artist and audio engineer living in Brooklyn, NY. Hailing from North Carolina, Gunnar began his career working in recording studios prior to his audio obsession leading him into the world of production sound and narrative film.
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Amanda Pepin
MAKEUP DEPT HEAD
An IATSE 798 makeup artist with over 20 years of transforming faces, hair, and the occasionally “dead” Blood & Beauty babes. A mother, explorer, and unapologetic Red Bull enthusiast, she feeds off the creative visions swirling around her—on set, in nature, or in everyday life. Motherhood lit a fire under her, pushing her to be the best for her daughter (and teaching the patience needed for glitter clean-up). Whether perfecting a bride’s glow, crafting a believable character on set , or painting a canvas, Amanda brings passion, humor, and artistry to every project she touches.
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Danielle Wilson
MAKEUP DEPT
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Evelyn Ziropoulos
SFX MAKEUP
A NY/NJ based multimedia Make-Up Artist. She specializes in beauty, special effects, and hair styling for film, photography, and theatre productions. Her work is heavily rooted in both 2D and 3D mixed media arts. Additionally, her experience as a performer creates a common collaborative ground for all departments to intertwine and reach the depth a project requires.
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Lauren Delligatti
ASSISTANT CAMERA
A photographer and filmmaker based in NYC with a background in Media Production and Fine Art. She worked as 1st AC on this project, assisting with slating, lens changes, and camera builds. She’s grateful to have contributed to such a thoughtful and collaborative project and to support the camera team in bringing the film’s vision to life.
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Max Frega
G/E SWING
Max’s journey has woven through multiple roles in Production—each position expanding their versatile skillset. Balancing ambition with collaboration, Max co-founded Milkshake NY with two longtime friends, creating a platform not just for personal growth but for championing the visions of fellow filmmakers. Driven by a dream to direct their own film, Max thrives equally in helping friends bring their stories to life, blending technical expertise with heartfelt dedication in every project they touch.
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Alex O'Brien
STILLS PHOTOGRAPHER
A portrait and event photographer based in NYC, capturing emotion in its purest form for nearly sixteen years. With a love for improv and an animated spirit, she brings out your most authentic self while creating a meaningful bond and unforgettable experience. Her work has led her to photograph some of her favorite bands—including Pierce the Veil, Bless the Fall, Sombr, and 10CC—as well as rising Netflix reality stars from Owning Manhattan. Always seeking fresh challenges, Alex thrives on projects that push her creativity in new and exciting directions.
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Liz Kaufer
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
A third year student at Pace University, majoring in Digital Cinema and Filmmaking. Through her university, she and her classmates created a documentary “Harmony of the Azores”, which won Best Student Film at both the Cine Paris Film Festival and the Portugal Indie Film Festival this year. Though still in school, she looks to gain more time and experience on set whenever she can, in order to continue to learn and to one day become a DoP.
@lizkaufer -
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Daniel Soares
BODY DOUBLE
Photos by © ALEX FOX PHOTOGRAPHY
