Outside the Box [Office] and Six Feet Films invite you to attend
 

A Special Theatrical Screening of

THE LAST RANGER

2025 Oscar® Nominee for Best Short Film (Live Action)

Directed by Cindy Lee
Written by David S. Lee (story by), Darwin Shaw & Will Hawkes
Produced by Darwin Shaw & Will Hawkes

Followed by a Q&A with Cindy Lee, Darwin Shaw, and Will Hawkes

3:00 P.M. on Wednesday, February 12th, 2025

The Michelle and Kevin Douglas IMAX Theatre, RZC 119
Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts
3131 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007

FREE ADMISSION. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. RSVPs REQUIRED.

FOOD AND DRINKS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED IN THE AUDITORIUM.
 

CLICK HERE TO RSVP
 

About The Last Ranger

The Last Ranger is a true story of the life of many rangers especially female rangers who protect the unprotected of the wild. Shot 5 days in South Africa and directed by Cindy Lee and written by David S Lee (story by), Darwin Shaw & Will Hawkes. The story revolves around Litha being introduced to the magic of a game reserve by the last remaining ranger, they are ambushed by poachers. In the ensuing battle to save the rhinos, Litha discovers a terrible secret.

Provided courtesy of Six Feet Films. Running time: 28 minutes.

https://www.kindredfilms.org/the-last-ranger

About the Guests

CINDY LEE (Director)

Cindy Lee, a South African film and commercials director, started her career in advertising, and was one of the most awarded copywriters of her time. Twenty years ago, Cindy moved to directing TV commercials and is responsible for some of South Africa’s best-loved ads.

With storytelling in her blood, Cindy soon set her eyes on directing film and wrote her first screenplay Horn, in 2014, about the horrors of rhino poaching that won at the New York Picture Start Film Festival. In 2017, she was nominated for a SAFTA (South African Film and Television Award) for her television directing debut for the drama series Sober Companion. In 2018, she directed three episodes of The Girl From St. Agnes, the first locally produced drama for South African streamer, Showmax, followed by her first solo series, Desert Rose, for M-net, Africa’s primary pay to air television channel. Cindy was nominated for a SAFTA 2023 in the Best Achievement in Directing category for Desert Rose.

In 2021, Cindy directed The Last Ranger, nominated for the Best Live Action Short Film Award at the 97th Academy Awards. The film is a gripping portrayal of rhino poaching and conservation efforts of the rangers in South Africa.

In 2023, Cindy was lead director on the comedy-drama The Morning After for Amazon Prime South Africa. The Morning After was nominated for Best Direction at the Venice TV Awards 2024. The series has been selected for screening at the Berlin International Film Festival 2025

DARWIN SHAW (Writer, Producer)

Darwin Shaw, who comes from a Pakistani-English background, transitioned from a successful career as an Emergency Room doctor in London to pursue his passion for the arts. He retrained as an actor, where he honed his craft. His impressive acting credits include roles in major films and series such as CASINO ROYALE, PROMETHEUS, PRINCE OF PERSIA, JOHN CARTER, MARCO POLO, HOUSE OF CARDS, HOMELAND, MOON KNIGHT, and SUGAR, as well as a lead role in the Emmy-nominated BIBLE SERIES. His stage experience also includes a critically acclaimed performance at the Royal Shakespeare Company, which deepened his understanding of storytelling.

Driven by a desire to contribute his unique voice and experiences to the narratives being shaped, and inspired by the growing opportunities for people of color, Darwin made the move to America. Since then, he has been expanding his skills as a director, writer, and filmmaker. His work includes short films and several ambitious projects: a pilot about the Syrian civil war, a dystopian drama centered on AI, a horror feature that explores Mother Nature’s response to the climate crisis, and a comedy focused on the lives of stagehands.

Darwin gained invaluable experience shadowing director Stephen Surjik on THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY, and during the pandemic, he formed Six Feet Films and collaborated with his partner Will Hawkes to create WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED, a scripted drama anthology series that amplifies emerging and diverse voices across twenty-four countries.

Their non-profit Kindred Films uses film to raise awareness for charities and through educational outreach, to inspire the next generation of change-makers. The second film in this series, THE LAST RANGER, has received a nomination for the 97th Academy Awards in February 2025.

WILL HAWKES (Writer, Producer)

Born in Ukiah Ca., Hawkes was raised in a blended family of artists, community organizers and social activists. He took these influences to Los Angeles where he earned degrees in Cinema Arts at LAVC and Political Science at UCLA.

Hawkes then infiltrated the film industry, where he has now been working as an actor and director for over 15 years with TV roles in Grimm, Big Little Lies, The Politician and New Girl. His film credits include the indie hits Sun Valley, First Comes Like and Devil’s Hollow.

One of his early directorial projects, R.V – a story centering on women’s reproductive rights – won numerous festival awards, had a viral campaign with over half a million views, and partnered with the Reproductive Health Access Project.

He recently wrote and produced The Last Ranger, with his partner, which has been nominated for Best Live Action Short at the 97th Academy Awards.

Hawkes also co-founded Kindred Films, a non-profit organization that produces philanthropic, independent film and television. Kindred works with artists around the world to tell stories about systemic issues affecting their communities, distributes those stories on the global stage, and then shares the films with aligned charities to raise awareness, and educators to screen in classrooms to inspire the next generation of change-makers.

About Outside the Box [Office]

Outside the Box [Office] is a weekly showcase for upcoming releases highlighting world cinema, documentary and independent film titles. The series draws from around the globe to present movies that may challenge, inspire or simply entertain.

To view the calendar of screenings, click here

To SUBSCRIBE to our MAILING LIST for upcoming free screenings and events, e-mail the word "Subscribe" to: aago@cinema.usc.edu
 

Check-In & Reservations

This screening is free of charge and open to the public. A reservation confirmation will automatically be sent to your e-mail account upon successfully making an RSVP through this website. Doors will open at 2:30 P.M.

All SCA screenings are OVERBOOKED to ensure seating capacity in the theater, therefore seating is not guaranteed based on RSVPs. The RSVP list will be checked in on a first-come, first-served basis until the theater is full. Once the theater has reached capacity, we will no longer be able to admit guests, regardless of RSVP status.

Accessibility Needs

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact Alessandro Ago, Director of Programming and Special Projects, at aago@cinema.usc.edu or 213-740-2330. It is requested that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least seven days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.

Parking

NO STUDENT, STAFF, FACULTY OR THEATER PARKING IS AVAILABLE AT THE ROBERT ZEMECKIS CENTER.

We recommend Parking in the USC Shrine Parking Structure, located 686 W 32nd St. Parking passes may be purchased at the gate. Metered street parking is also available along 32nd street.

The USC Robert Zemeckis Center is located at 3131 South Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90007, one block north of Parking Structure D, on the North side of the Shrine Auditorium. The RZC entrance is located at the rear of the building, behind the red fence on 32nd St.

Contact Information

Name: Alessandro Ago
Email: aago@cinema.usc.edu