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Join host Olivia Lyle (@olivialyle1) for an exclusive conversation with writer, producer, and lead actress Michelle Calloway, star of Tallulah Park (USA), recorded by Kyle Reed (@thekylereed).
Directed by David Guillermo Borges, the film earned Calloway the award for Best Actress at the 7th Annual Independent Shorts Awards at Regal LA Live, Los Angeles.
On Tallulah Park — A Poetic Journey
Tallulah Park is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of one woman’s journey through the darkest corners of her soul as she seeks to escape the weight of her past. As she travels further from the life she’s known, an unexpected encounter shifts her perspective and compels her to face the very fears she tried to leave behind.
For Calloway, the project is deeply personal: “It’s about confronting the parts of ourselves we’d rather bury, and realizing that healing only begins when we stop running.”
From Inspiration to Screen
The story’s title is drawn from a real place — a park in Jacksonville, Florida, where Calloway now lives. “It has a very special meaning to me personally,” she explained. “When I first started writing, I knew the lead character was going on a journey, but I hadn’t figured out where. Then it became clear — she was going to Tallulah Park. That’s where it all clicked.”
Though the park’s significance to her remains “a secret,” it became the emotional anchor of the film.
Collaboration and Craft
Calloway entrusted the directing role to her longtime collaborator David Guillermo Borges. “I knew he could do a lot with a little,” she said. “When you’re making shorts, budgets can be tight, so I needed a team that could stretch every dollar. David was the perfect fit.”
Shot over five days, the film reflects Calloway’s love for the short form. “I think the beauty of shorts is you don’t have to answer every question. You can leave the audience wanting more. It’s also a format that lets us gather our team for just a few days and create something really special.”
This marks her third short film — each one written, produced, and performed through her own banner, Lulah Films.
Recognition at Independent Shorts Awards
For Calloway, screening Tallulah Park in Los Angeles was especially meaningful. “I used to live just four blocks from where we are right now,” she said. “To come back here with this film feels totally full circle.”
Her moving performance as Olivia resonated with jurors, earning her the Best Actress award at the Independent Shorts Awards. “To have Tallulah’s story recognized here means so much,” Calloway said. “It reminds me that vulnerability has power — and that telling stories like this can connect us in ways we don’t expect.”
Enjoy the interview below, along with the trailer for Tallulah Park , for a brief glimpse into the film.
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