Moving “Heart Felt” from the “ideas on a napkin” stage to “let’s go for it” took a leap of faith. We are blessed to have landed in the heart of a welcoming and supportive community.
There would be no film if not for the stories shared by our interviewees (in alphabetical order):
Jessie Alderdice, Chris Anderson, Michelle Aulson, Kristin Baldwin, Debbie Burkhead, Caity Byrne, Brownyn Campbell, Carla the Dealer, Suzanne Carter, Robin Cermak, Tanya Coates, Allison Contreras, Caroline Cooper, Carmenlita Cothron, Tanya Daniella, Theresa Davis, Jena Delk, Dianna Donofrio, Hortencia Edwards, Espy Enriquy, Lauren Failla, Bob Feduniak, Maureen Feduniak, Jan Fisher, Tara Gradoville, Hold’Em Hotties, Kathy Hudson, Susie Isaacs, Chip Jett, Karina Jett, Linda Johnson, Monique Lequerique, Rose Lustado, Robin McCarty, Rocio Medina, Christina Melocik, Cory Mervis, Mike O’Donovan, Patty Pfeil, Shirley Prokosch, Quad Queens, Doralee Rae, Bonni Reinertson, Georgia Robinson, Herminia Sniffen, Lupe Soto, Joni Sparks, Stacey Sperling, Lauren Szidak, Lisa Tenner, Mark Tenner, Christina Tisdale, Nina Tovish, Nancy Todd Tyner, VanDuzer, Marsha Waggoner
Special thanks to Linda Johnson, Dianna Donofrio, Maryann Morrison, and Lisa Tenner for insights and connections that helped shape the film.
Special thanks to Suzanne Carter of Ocean’s 11 Casino for opening up the Women in Poker Making History, California State Ladies Championship to our cameras and crew.
Special thanks to Mike O’Donovan of MPL Poker who without hesitation agreed to host his league’s first women’s-only tournament for our filming purposes.
Special thanks to Doralee Rae, aka Lady Pink, for her hospitality, and for generously allowing us to use her infectious song, “All in Tonight” for the soundtrack.
Special thanks to Jackie Zand for her generous contribution of “The Journey” to the soundtrack.
Thanks to:
- The staff of Harp and Fiddle who gave us free reign to shoot at will.
- Lisa Burgueno who walks on water…and hung from the ceiling to capture footage.
- Matt Nagy who stepped in to help cover the MPL Poker shoot.
- Diane Vanbuskirk for her stunning work as an extra.
- Sanda Messina Pauletti, and Andy and Lisa Marshall; the Harp and Fiddle shoot would have been disastrous without their considerable help.
- Everest Poker for allowing us to camp out in their hospitality room during the 2008 World Series of Poker.
- Our families and friends who’ve listened with gentle ears as we encountered the agonies and ecstasies of filmmaking.
- Caity Byrne (Gooch!) who was the inspiration for this film.
“Heart Felt” is dedicated in loving memory to Delphine Cooper, who always swam upstream. She didn’t live to see this film go into production, but her spirit is our guardian angel.
