DIRECTOR

Serene Dillman is an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose work explores resilience, human connection, and the choices that define our lives.

A New York native and former dancer with a passion for the visual arts, Serene conceived and directed the feature documentary Getting to the Nutcracker, a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to produce the classic ballet from auditions through final performances. The film received seven major film festival awards, including a Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award, Best Direction, and Best Feature Documentary, and qualified for Academy Award consideration, advancing through the initial round of voting. Her next documentary, The 5th Dementia, follows a Los Angeles-based band whose members live with Alzheimer's, dementia, and Parkinson's demonstrating the extraordinary power of music to transcend neurodegenerative illness.

The inspiration for Take Me Out Feet First came from a deeply personal place. Serene's mother and father both chose Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) at the end of their lives. Their journeys led her to explore broader questions surrounding dignity, autonomy, compassion, and the choices people hope to have at the end of life.

What began as a single documentary about her parents evolved into an ongoing series featuring patients, families, caregivers, physicians, and advocates from across the United States. Through these stories, Serene seeks to humanize a complex and often misunderstood issue by focusing on the people whose lives are directly impacted.

While her films often explore challenging subjects, Serene believes that humor, love, and human connection are just as important as the issues themselves. Her approach to storytelling is rooted in the belief that even life's most difficult moments can be filled with laughter, grace, and unexpected joy. Through honest, intimate filmmaking, she strives to tell stories that celebrate not only how people face adversity, but how they continue to live fully, love deeply, and find meaning along the way.

CINEMATOGRAPHER & EDITOR

Born to career military parents with family roots in the red clay of Augusta, Georgia, Ray Dillman spent his childhood moving between Spain, England, Texas, and the American Southeast. Exposure to different cultures and communities at an early age helped shape the curiosity and appreciation for people that continues to influence his work today.

A graduate of Ringling School of Art and Design, Ray built a successful career as a creative director and filmmaker, earning an Emmy Award for his commercial work and directing campaigns for some of the world's leading brands. Trained as a graphic designer, illustrator, and visual storyteller, he brings both artistic vision and technical expertise to every project.

As Director of Photography and Editor for Take Me Out Feet First, Ray helps shape the visual and emotional language of the series, crafting intimate stories that connect audiences to the people at the heart of each episode.

In addition to his work on Take Me Out Feet First, Ray is currently directing Black on the Bike, a documentary exploring the lives, experiences, and achievements of Black amateur and professional cyclists.