The Violinist
2023
Digital UHD video
TRT 15:22

In The Violinist, a conservative Texas state senator reconsiders his anti-abortion views after being forcibly surgically connected to a woman whom he must keep alive with his own body for nine months.

Inspired by a thought experiment from Judith Jarvis Thomson’s 1971 essay ‘A Defense of Abortion’, The Violinist is a character study of a lifelong authority figure suddenly losing his bodily autonomy – a man being forced to reckon with his hypocrisy. Quick cuts between the state Capitol and the Senator’s lonely home and tightly framed mise-en-scène highlight the forced relationship between the Senator and the Violinist. The Violinist is a contemplative and novel pro-abortion satire.




CAST
Senator Dobbs - Bill Wise
The Violinist - Amy Meyers
The Interviewer - Mor Cohen
Dr. Wilcox - Heather Kafka
The Lieutenant Governor - Cyndi Williams
Representative Earle - Diane Worman
The Girlfriend - Jane Schwartz
The Assistant - William Keiser
Kidnapper 1 - Ryan Cheney
Kidnapper 2 - Lucas Loredo 

Protestors 
Morgan Gage
Brad Abrahams
Bella Cheng
Ariel Wood
Paul Anthony Cano Westmoreland the Third
Kerry Maguire
Anique Reese 
Mac Benson
Sofia Westmoreland
Candace McIntyre
Ramtin Monazzah
Benton Kaufman 

CREW
Written & Directed by Katy McCarthy
Produced with an Austin Film Society Short Film Grant
Producer - Kat Broyles
Executive Producers - David Cheney & Pauline Li, Kevin Ivester, Matthew Keesan, and Richard Ross 

Associate Producers - Michael & Robin McCarthy, Cora Currier & Dexter Walcott
Production Company - Insufficient Funds 
Director of Photography - Adam Golfer 
Production Designer - Sam Robinson 
Editor - Katy McCarthy
Music Composer - Matt Kivel 
Line Producer - Juan Selvera 
Assistant Director - Jack Kyser
Production Assistants - Ryan Cheney and Savannah Horrocks 
Art Assistants - Jody Bolt and Maura Murnane 
Camera - Adam Golfer 
1st AC - Carolina Boyan 
Key Grip - Kenzie Slottow
Swing - Andy Volk 
Gaffer - Tony Tafares 
On-Set Mixer - Colleen Zickler 
Boom Operator - Evan Sherer 
Wardrobe - Sam Robinson 
Wardrobe Assistant - Chels Berchon 
Hair/Makeup - Jade Andalon Risa 
Catering - Robin and Michael McCarthy 
Second Life Design - David Cheney 




POST 
Sound Supervision - Joseph Kennemer
Color - Daniel Stuyck 
Music Mix - Tano Brock 
Original Music by Matt Kivel 




SPECIAL THANKS TO: 
Erica Heidepriem 
Representative Jasmine Crockett
Robert Davis 




THANKS TO: 
Odyssey Works
Fortich Clan
Mac Benson
Dawn Kim
Rachael Starbuck
Felix Shaefer
Myfanwy Shepherd
Jackson
Terry Hammerwold
Nanette Humer
Emily
Todd 
Eric Ravenscraft
Beili Lu
Moshe Novakoff
Peter Norby
Patrick Costello
Bob Dunn 
Becky Keily
Hanna Campbell
Angel Hoekstra
Andy
Brad Abrahams
Timothy Skehan
Renee Bryan
Hallie Haas
Meredith Groves
P.A.D
Will Hutnick
Barbara Bourland
Sara
Gwen Beyeler 
Zack Marker
Elizabeth
Kerry Maguire
Mai Deguchi
Laura
George Bumgardner
Wolf
Natasha Sardesai-Grant
Heidi Schmalbach
Karlis Bergs
Lucas Loredo
Matthew Genecov 
Abby
Joy Scanlon
Gabriela Vainsencher
riel sturchio
Adam Golfer
Erin Cunningham
Annie Johnston
Anika Todd
Monica
Root Holmes
Lauren
Jeremy Yingling
Maria Stel
Brendan
Bre
Sean McNamara
Christian Hendricks
Elizabeth Lewin
Patrick Melroy
Travis Douglas
Sean J. Patrick Carney
Rachel
Steven Jacobs
Sam Lavigne