Italian
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez is starring in “Beba from 5 to 9.” The short film marks writer and acclaimed music video director Dano Cerny‘s narrative debut.
Rodriguez portrays Beba, a Puerto Rican hospice nurse, as she “navigates a day that will test her resilience and redefine her outlook on life,” reads the film’s logline. Produced by Dreambear and Glia Productions, “Beba” recently wrapped production in East Los Angeles and Pasadena.
“Working with Dano on ‘Beba from 5 to 9’ was seamless,” Rodriguez said in a statement Wednesday. “We’ve built a strong creative connection, and this project gave us the chance to take that collaboration to a deeper, more emotional place.”
Rodriguez is best known for playing Blanca on Ryan Murphy’s “Pose.” Her credits also include “Loot” and “American Horror Story: Delicate.” She is the first trans woman to receive a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her work on “Pose,” which also won her the Golden Globe for best actress in 2022. In 2023, she was selected as the first trans ambassador for the prestigious beauty brand Charlotte Tilbury and was recently named a celebrity ambassador for the King’s Trust USA. In September, Rodriguez released her debut album, “33.”
Popular on Variety “Having a creative bond with an actress like Michaela Jaé is every filmmaker’s dream,” Cerny said. “She brings so much truth, power, and grace to her work. It’s inspiring to capture.”
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez and ‘Beba from 5 to 9’ writer-director Dano Cerny Cerny, who studied at the American Film Institute, is known for award-winning music videos and commercial work with artists, including Sia, Halsey, The Chainsmokers, Pink and Dolly Parton. He recently served as creative director on Rodriguez’s album “33” and the accompanying anime-inspired music video for “Greenlights.”
“Beba from 5 to 9” will finish post-production in 2025, with plans to submit the short to major film festivals worldwide.
