Rachel Michiko Whitney’s Snow Valley Premieres This March

Rachel Michiko Whitney’s new film Snow Valley will be released on VOD by Gravitas Ventures on March 26, 2024. Written and directed by the late Brandon Murphy, the indie comedy mystery marks Whitney’s debut feature as a producer. She also plays one of the leads, Laura Pell.

Whitney and Murphy initially conceived the film during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Despite everything being locked down and the world being turned upside down, Whitney saw a unique opportunity to shoot a contained film. Brandon Murphy and Whitney developed the concept together, and then Murphy wrote the screenplay from scratch. He previously wrote Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard and had dreams of directing. Murphy was very receptive to Whitney’s idea, and they made the film a reality together.

Snow Valley follows Whitney’s character, a graduate school student studying for her doctorate in abnormal child psychology. Her skills are tested when she visits her boyfriend’s haunted ski chalet. When she dove deeper into the material, Whitney realized that at its heart, the story is about her character, Laura, coming into her power. In the beginning, Laura is unsure of herself, and her life seems to revolve around her boyfriend and his booming career. By the end, she is a fully empowered woman with success in her own right. Whitney is proud of herself and Murphy for creating this fantastic journey for Laura.

Producing and starring in a feature film has been a lifelong dream of Whitney’s. Her mother’s acting career inspired her to pursue one of her own. Even though she was shy as a child, she could always express herself creatively by putting on plays and skits with her friends. Acting is not an easy career to excel in, and Whitney’s journey has not been smooth. However, experimenting with writing and producing has proved extremely rewarding. Whitney’s work has primarily centered around her Japanese-American heritage. The first short film she made, 100% Half, won Best Short Film and Best Screenplay at the Women’s Independent Film Festival in 2018. Her first major film role was in Paul Schrader’s The Card Counter, where she performed alongside Oscar Isaac. Walking the red carpet for the film’s premiere at the 2021 Venice Film Festival was a highlight of Whitney’s career.

Snow Valley marks a significant milestone for Whitney, both personally and professionally. Besides being the first feature she has produced, working with her friend Brandon Murphy on the film was a treasured memory. Murphy passed away in 2022, to Whitney’s shock and horror. Seeing the film be released without him by her side is bittersweet. Whitney believes the most essential trait to have when working in the entertainment industry is resilience, and this experience has given her more resilience than ever. She is determined to give this film a life and see audiences enjoy her and Murphy’s hard work.

Whitney’s career is taking off because she lets her creativity guide her. Regardless of whether acting jobs are coming her way, she makes her own roles. Whitney tells stories through writing, acting, and producing, making her a valuable member of the filmmaking community.