What Really Happened (2025)
Real people with real stories are being showcased in a new documentary when the filmmakers realize a shocking connection.
Written & Directed by Simon Stockdale
Starring Palmer Ashe III, Victoria Harrington, Rachel Colette Dolan & Simon Stockdale
Produced by Simon Stockdale, Victoria Harrington, Logan McCurry & Elemeno Productions
90 Minutes - Drama/Mockumentary
REVIEWS
DANCES WITH FILMS: LA said “Great performances by the two documentary subjects… Their stories felt thought out and complex. Developing your own meta lore of the film and tying it into the film’s main narrative was very interesting and well done.” - Ariana Farina, Dances with Films (2025)
RIVER VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL says, “Simon Stockdale’s What Really Happened invites the audience to look deeper, not just to uncover what happened, but to ask what truth really is. The film compels viewers to confront the layers of reality shaped by perception and the stories we choose to believe.” - Cory Baney, River Valley Film Festival (2025)
THE CONTENDING called What Really Happened a “voyeuristic and intense mockumentary… [it felt] like watching a couple break up online in real time… with some of the best dramatic performances of [River Valley Film Festival 2025].” - Megan McLachlan, The Contending (2025)
ABOUT THE WRITER/ DIRECTOR
SIMON STOCKDALE
believes above anything else that you are “ONLY AS TALENTED AS THOSE YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH” and so chose to follow up his AWARD-WINNING FILM DEBUT THE SOFTENING by implementing a new strategy with this second film.
Although a writer first, director Simon Stockdale chose to put the story-telling heavily in the hands of his cast and crew with his second film WHAT REALLY HAPPENED. Despite the film being approximately 90 minutes in length, the script is only 20 pages resulting in a film that relied heavily on rehearsal and improvisational story-telling.
Stockdale chose to “create a sandbox for his actors to play in” with defined walls, but a looser structure to “allow the story to tell itself to us.” resulting in a film unlike anything you’ve seen before.
This unique approach paid dividends as it won Stockdale BEST DIRECTOR at both the AUSTIN REVOLUTION FILM FESTIVAL as well as the OIL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL in 2025. The film would go on to garner 16 AWARD NOMINATIONS and 4 TOTAL WINS including the AWARD OF MERIT - FEATURE FILM at THE INDIEFEST FILM AWARDS 2025.
CAST & CREW
LOGAN MCCURRY & MITCH WORKMAN of ELEMENO PRODUCTIONS return as crew and producers in their second collaborative effort with SPARE ROOM FILMS. This time they also make their big screen debuts playing “themselves” as things begin “getting tense” on the set. ELEMENO PRODUCTIONS is an AWARD-WINNING FILM STUDIO and COMMERCIAL VIDEO PRODUCTION COMPANY based in Philadelphia, PA.
RACHEL COLETTE DOLAN is an AWARD-WINNING ACTRESS from Philadelphia, PA. In 2022, she received her MFA IN PERFORMING ARTS from the SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN. She is passionate about using her work to PROMOTE UNDERREPRESENTED STORIES AND VOICES as well as SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES. She strongly believes in telling stories that are often left unheard, presenting strong women characters, breaking stereotypes and to create dialogue and being an artist than can inspire others.
PALMER ASHE III is an AWARD-WINNING ACTOR and PRODUCER from Millville, NJ. He is a DEVOTED FAMILY MAN and PROUD ARMY VETERAN with 10 YEARS SERVICE under his belt. He is passionate about REPRESENTING VETERANS IN FILM and BRINGING AWARENESS TO THEIR STRUGGLES WITH MENTAL HEALTH. He previously starred in and co-produced the short film CANVAS which was NOMINATED FOR 15 AWARDS and WON 7, including 2 BEST ACTOR AWARDS.
VICTORIA HARRINGTON is and AWARD-WINNING PRODUCER and ACTRESS from Philadelphia, PA. Getting her first producer credit in SHANE GILLIS’ GILLY AND KEEVES in 2020, she’s gone on to wear every kind of hat possible including PODCAST CO-HOST for GUMMI SHIP RADIO a KINGDOM HEARTS-THEMED PODCAST.
DANNY CLOSE is an ACTOR and COMEDIAN from Philadelphia, PA. Best known as his online alias that_goon_dc on TIKTOK and INSTAGRAM where he has garned over 500K FOLLOWERS and 12 MILLION LIKES for his comedy antics. His transition into acting was a smooth one, quickly becoming a FAN FAVORITE in the film WHAT REALLY HAPPENED and landing roles on TV including in A&E’S UNDERCOVER: CAUGHT ON TAPE.
