Kelsey Risher is from Birmingham, Alabama and currently getting her MFA from The University of Alabama where she began her creative partnership with Madi Merkel and Natasha Straley. Kelsey and Madi co-wrote Crux and after interviewing possible directors, decided that this would be the perfect project to make her directorial debut.

Everything about Crux is personal.It's a story about grief, family, and what we want out of life. It's set in her beautiful home state of Alabama and she's very excited to share that landscape with the film community. Kelsey has worked professionally in theatre, commercial and film in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Much like Hattie in Crux, she made her way back to Alabama after something happened outside of her control. She fell back in love with the south and found a life she never expected- surrounded by sisterhood, a new creative community and, of course, her dogs. 

Madison Merkel McNair is an actor and writer currently earning her MFA in Acting at The University of Alabama. During COVID, she unexpectedly moved back home to Gadsden, AL. With her acting career on pause, she found a new passion—rock climbing. She fell in love with the mental and physical challenge of problem-solving a climb.

Last year, she started writing a stage play about two estranged sisters brought together through climbing. When the story proved too big for the stage, Kelsey Risher joined to help transform it into a short film. Madison’s mission in the arts is to tell stories about women that empower women. In a male-dominated sport, she’s excited to bring a story like CRUX to life—a film about two complex, badass women who must reconcile in order to thrive.

When she’s not acting or climbing, you’ll probably find Madison teaching a yoga class, taking or teaching acting at UA, or hanging out with her husband and their dog, Sophie, the best girl there is.

Natasha Straley is an independent filmmaker and producer with a passion for telling bold, thought-provoking stories. With a career spanning acting, directing, and producing, she has worked across the country—from New York City to Texas, Los Angeles, and everywhere in between.

Beginning her journey in entertainment as an actor, Natasha transitioned behind the camera in 2010. Her work delves into the complexities of human behavior and relationships, often challenging boundaries and exploring moral ambiguity. She is dedicated to storytelling that uplifts and empowers, particularly from a female-driven perspective.

A recipient of the San Antonio Film Commission Local Filmmaker Grant (2017, 2019) and the Austin Revolution Film Festival’s Female Filmmaker of the Year Award (2018), Natasha’s work has screened at festivals nationwide. Her first feature screenplay was a Second Rounder at the Austin Film Festival in 2021.

With a BFA in Acting & Directing from Texas State University and now pursuing an MFA in Directing from The University of Alabama, Natasha brings a deep understanding of performance and storytelling to her work.

For over fifteen years, Kristin has successfully produced all types and sizes of productions, including national broadcast commercials, documentaries, photography, digital & social video content, music videos, narrative short films, unscripted television, 2D and 3D animation, motion graphics, and experiential installations. Through managing budgets, timelines, and collaborating with trusted partners, she consistently creates award-winning work for clients across a variety of industry verticals. Her work has been published in Communication Arts and Flash Fiction Magazine, and she has been recognized by the American Advertising Awards at the local and national level for creative excellence in production.

With over a decade of experience, Caleb is a Birmingham-based Director of Photography who travels the U.S. crafting stunning visuals for commercials, documentaries, narratives, and music videos. His poetic approach to cinematography blends purposeful camera movement, natural lighting, and emotive composition to create deeply resonant stories. Passionate about the art of filmmaking and the power of collaboration, Caleb brings intentionality and heart to every frame.

Brivel Bariki specializes in crafting cinematic visuals for films and commercials. With expertise in camera operation, lighting design, and storytelling, he brings technical precision and creative vision to every project. Passionate about collaboration and driven by excellence, Brivel loves collaboration with directors and production teams to deliver visually compelling stories that captivate audiences.

Since earning his BA in music technology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2002, Jeremy has been involved in hundreds of projects in just about every genre in the location audio world. With decades of experience recording sound for film and video, he’s a true pro in the industry. Beyond his incredible skills, Jeremy brings a lighthearted spirit that makes every production day smoother. We’re so grateful to have him on board for CRUX as our Production Sound Mixer.

Brennan has helped to create features, short films, documentaries, and countless commercials since graduating from Birmingham-Southern College in 2019 with a degree in Media & Film Production. His passion for the community provided by a film set is matched only by his laser focus on storytelling. His work is intentional and collaborative. 

Miranda Munson is a professional Stage Manager with a passion for design, storytelling, education, and mentorship. She is a first year stage management MFA candidate at the University of Alabama. With broad experience in musical theatre and plays, Miranda is always up for a challenge. Some favorite past projects include RENT at Tibbits Summer Theatre, and Murder on the Orient Express at Fort Peck Summer Theatre. 

She received a BA in Technical Theatre from Dordt University, and won the 2024 KCACTF Stage Management Fellowship for Region 5. 

She would like to thank the CRUX team for making it possible for her to step into the world of film!

Inspired by a lifelong passion for visual storytelling, Dalten Martin has been behind the lens professionally since 2019, crafting striking images that reveal the world. As a director of short films, commercials, and music videos, Dalten brings a cinematic eye to photography - whether capturing NASCAR's high-speed energy or the raw, behind-the-scenes moments of film sets. For Dalten, every frame is an intentional act: a quest to distill life's essence and celebrate the details that make humanity extraordinary

Josh McNair is an experienced rock climber with over six years of climbing under his belt. As the stunt coordinator for CRUX, he plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of the cast, overseeing climbing sequences, and bringing authenticity to the film’s high-stakes moments. His wife, Madi Merkel, stars as Margo. When he’s not on set, Josh can be found running or rock climbing.

Addison is an emerging filmmaker who has already gained hands-on experience across various student film sets, serving as a Production Assistant, Art Department member, and Grip. Now, she’s excited to take on her first major film set experience as part of the Art Department for CRUX. Addison is eager to bring her creativity and dedication to this ambitious project.

Lillie Boring is an actor from Marietta, GA, currently pursuing her BFA in Acting at The University of Alabama. While attending UA she has had the chance to further explore her love for acting both on stage and screen. Lillie is so excited for this project to both gain hands-on experience as a stand-in and further expand her knowledge of working on a film set. She is incredibly grateful to the CRUX team for this opportunity and cannot wait to work with this incredibly talented cast and crew! 

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!