Higher Education | LiMei Studios

"Sometimes growing up--means growing apart."

Higher Education is a coming-of-age drama that follows idealistic sociology major Mia and her best friend Ryan as they navigate the trials of college, where systemic failures and personal struggles challenge their dreams and growing sense of isolation—ultimately forcing them to confront who they are and who they want to be.

Meet the Team

ELIZABETH LIMEI

Actor | Writer | Executive Producer

Elizabeth LiMei is an experienced screenwriter, actor, and producer. Adopted from China and raised in Colorado, her unique background deeply informs her storytelling as she brings an authentic understanding of the challenges faced by underrepresented communities. She earned her BFA in Film and Television from DePaul University and continues to seek opportunities to share her perspective and represent the young adults and communities she is part of.

ELYSE WALKER

Assistant Director | Producer

Elyse Walker is a writer and producer with a 15-year career in humanitarian aid. A native of San Diego, she lived throughout the Middle East as an Operations Director for government programs before returning to Southern California to work in film. A graduate of USF and Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), she made her first Assistant Directorial debut with the short-film “Heartbeat” winning runner up at AFI’s 72 Hour CFA film challenge. Her projects reflect her diverse background with themes of resilience and inter-cultural identity. Elyse is a consultant and works as a Production Specialist for MPAC Hollywood Bureau.

MASON HELLER

Director

Mason Heller is an actor/director born and raised in Omaha Nebraska. Eventually, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and theater. In the years since, he has directed a number of short films and theater productions, including a sold out run of the play “Being Alive & Other Big Jokes”.

Orion Smith

Actor | Associate Producer

Mckenzie Townsend

Producer

Mckenzie Townsend is a creative and logistics producer with roots in theatre on the east coast, McKenzie has worked across independent film, television, and commercial content. She’s collaborated with companies like IFC Networks and World War Seven, and currently produces with the award-winning RX4 team—developing original projects and carrying them through production, post, and beyond. As a “yellow light” producer, McKenzie balances creative vision with real-world practicality, thriving at the intersection of bold ideas and sharp execution.

Orion Smith is a Los Angeles based actor, originally from Denver, Colorado. He attended a Waldorf High School before studying IFDM at the University of New Mexico. After a year he transferred to Samford University where he received a BFA in Theater. Best known for portraying Young Ed Warren in The Conjuring: Last Rites, Orion has also starred in notable projects such as the award winning Tubi original On the Run and the festival favorite comedy short Into the Wild. With a passion for portraying a wide range of characters, he approaches each role with depth and a distinct perspective.

Derrick Denicola

Associate Producer

Derrick Denicola is a seasoned writer and producer. Throughout his career, Derrick has collaborated with reputable studios and production companies such as K2 Productions, Pantelion, Lionsgate, Corday Productions, and Hush Productions. As a co-founder of Ready Ready Ready Ready his film Ghost Light garnered the Best Drama award at IFS Film Festival. His latest screenplay The Executioner recently qualified for Coverfly’s The Red List and is in the top 20 of adventure comedies in 2024.

Creator's Statement

"Higher Education" is a story born from the chaotic beauty of young adulthood and examines the complexity of human interactions. I believe the years between 18 and 22 are some of the most pivotal in a person’s life. They are marked by a series of firsts—your first heartbreak, first drink, first party, first relationship, first falling out, and, for many, your first encounter with illness, injustice, racism, violence, assault, politics, class systems, and socioeconomic failures. These are the experiences that shape us. They accelerate growth, stunt it, or reroute the path we thought we were on.

As the creator on this team, this was my first time truly understanding the legion of moving parts that must align to bring a film to life. I began collaborating with Mason, our on-set director, in early February, and by the end of March, we had cameras down—wrapping principal photography the first week of April. In that whirlwind of time, I wrote four drafts of the script, scouted a myriad of locations, handled casting, led production design, and even managed catering. I interviewed crew members for roles I had only just learned the names of, and immersed myself in every stage of filmmaking—from pre-production to post.

After countless hours in the editing bay and conversations with composers and colorists, I began to understand that while Higher Education is a story about Mia and Ryan’s friendship, it’s just as much the story of the people who made the film. This project tells the story of the frantic, late-night calls with my producer Mckenzie, the constant creative feedback loops with our editor and AD, the sound mixing sessions, the music selection process, and the endless coordinating, delegating, and scheduling.

As my first filmmaking experience, I am incredibly proud that Higher Education reflects not just the narrative we set out to tell, but the process, the sweat, and the soul behind its creation. This film was made possible by a team that never said, “We can’t do that,” only, “How can we make that happen?” And over the course of its making, I learned in tandem with our characters that sometimes growth doesn’t look like perfection, but rather survival, adaptation, and transformation.

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