Sweepstakes

A Film by Stephen Williams

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT, “SWEEPSTAKES”

My stepmother passed away in Dec 2022. She was 96 and had suffered from dementia for many years. Mostly undiagnosed. During the last fifteen years of her life, she sent thousands and thousands of dollars to scams and fake “sweepstakes”. The family didn’t know what was going on—some were convinced that she had a gambling addiction, her behavior totally uncharacteristic of the bright person she was.

The truth was that she was suffering from mental disease which made her a prime target for fraudsters—she couldn’t distinguish truth from fiction. These unscrupulous individuals posed as her “friends”, promising her big money and expensive cars, and she fell for it.

My stepmother’s story is all too common in today’s world. It’s everywhere, yet it still flies under the radar. I made this film to highlight this very poignant situation, with the hope of reducing/stopping this fraud and bringing fraudsters to justice.

Stephen Williams

Meet the Cast

  • Anne Cullimore Decker

    JOANNE

    A preeminent member of the Utah theater, opera, television and film communities, Anne Cullimore Decker earned her Bachelor’s and MFA from the University of Utah, where she also taught in the Honors and Actors Training Program. She’s starred and played in productions ranging from the Shakespeare Festival to SLAC, as well as film work including the hit series, Yellowstone.

  • Teri Cowan

    LORRAINE

    Teri has worked as a professional actor doing film, television, stage, and voice over work for over 40 years. She has performed for Hale Centre Theatre, Salt Lake Acting Company, Pioneer Theatre Company, PYGmalion Theatre, Plan-B Theatre, The Grand, Park City Egyptian Theatre in Utah, and is thrilled to join some of her favorite friends and actors in this important project.

  • Tom Cowan

    DOUG

    Tom is attempting a late life transition into a full-time actor and he’s excited to be part of this worthy project. In an earlier life, he served 34 years in the Coast Guard Reserve. He also retired from federal service producing video for the Air Force. More recently he through-hiked the Appalachian Trail and completed a source-to-sea kayaking trip of the Mississippi.

  • Brenda Sue Cowley

    SAVANNAH

    Brenda has an impressive roster of film and theater roles, and even finds time to be an author.

  • Jay Perry

    JERRY

    Jay is a professional actor (AEA) and musician who grew up in Salt Lake, where he studied theater at the U of U. In addition to his work in film, radio, and voiceover, Jay has performed in many local theatre productions, as well as regional theater on both coasts and off-Broadway.

  • Jim Dale

    STAN

    Jim has an extensive background in the local Utah theater community, with roles in more than 80 productions to date, playing roles in more than 80 productions to date, playing roles as diverse as Sweeney Todd and King Arthur.

  • Marilyn Hanold Neilson

    At the age of 15, Marilyn Hanold Neilson tried out for the Aquashow in New York. After graduation she was a photographer’s model for a short time before finding herself in the headlines in Las Vegas at just 19 for being a narrator for a show "The George White Scandalettes." Soon after, she found herself in Hollywood. There she worked with names such as Johnny Ray, Rock Hudson, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. She then got a role in Paramount studios before going back to Las Vegas, and eventually landing here in Utah where we are so lucky to have her.

  • Savannah Coles

    CALL CENTER VOICE

Meet the Crew

  • Stephen Williams

    DIRECTOR

    Stephen Williams divides his time between screenwriting, directing and teaching. He teaches film studies and screenwriting at Westminster College and Salt Lake Community College. Early in his career he received an MBA from Northwestern University. He worked in advertising for several years before turning to his first love, Film. He attended the USC Graduate School of Film and then completed his MFA in Film Production from the University of Utah. His short films-- BLESSING, THE CUFFLINK, VOICINGS and SWEEPSTAKES --have been featured in more than fifty film festivals throughout the world, garnering a number of awards including The Gold Hugo at the Chicago International Film Festival. He has written, directed and produced several documentary films as well, including GOOD VIBRATIONS, INTEGRATED AWARENESS and HEARTLAND. Stephen also works as a script doctor/consultant, helping filmmakers shape and focus their stories.

  • Tyler Harrah

    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

    District 22 Studios has been slowly building an impressive body of work… including a feature film, now on it’s festival run.

  • Kyle Larsen

    FIRST AC/ASSISTANT EDITOR

    Kyle Larsen is an award-winning filmmaker based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. From major, international festivals to 48-hour film projects, he never misses a chance to express himself on film. Through his work with his production company, District 22 Studios, he strives for authenticity, making every film with heart and care, each one always ringing true.

  • Dayne Linford

    PRODUCER/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

    Dayne Linford is a Producer, Director, and Screenwriter. A filmmaker and storyteller, he is passionate about building a better community through art and proud to be a part of the Sweepstakes team. His additional work can be found at daynelinford.com  and kydfilmproductions.com.

  • Steve Peterson

    PRODUCTION DESIGNER

  • Chris Kirkham

    GRIP AND ELECTRIC

    They handle all the requirements for the complicated lighting and power required by the Director of Photography to get the shot just right. There’s no beautifully lit actors or impressive aesthetics without them.

  • Kolby Butts

    GRIP AND ELECTRIC

    They handle all the requirements for the complicated lighting and power required by the Director of Photography to get the shot just right. There’s no beautifully lit actors or impressive aesthetics without them.

  • Alan Hinojos

    AUDIO TECHNICIAN

    Every beautiful syllable you hear at our premiere was captured by these amazing technicians.

  • Calvin Jackson

    AUDIO TECHNICIAN

    Every beautiful syllable you hear at our premiere was captured by these amazing technicians.

  • Brenda Sue Cowley

    HAIR AND MAKEUP

    When not dazzling us with her performance, Brenda kept us in the clear by helping with the makeup, hair, and continuity of the shoot and the other cast members.

  • Zachary Maxfield

    PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

    Our excellent Production Assistants filled in all the gaps and kept up the speedy pace of our production.

  • Maya Maxfield

    PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

    Our excellent Production Assistants filled in all the gaps and kept up the speedy pace of our production.

Festivals

B e s t F i l m :

Indo Dubai International Film Festival

TMMF - The Monthly Film Festival

F i n a l i s t :

Fotofilm International Short Film Festival

Sweden Film Awards

S e m i F i n a l i s t :

Best Short Fest

H o n o r a b l e M e n t i o n :

Rolling Ideas

Kolkata International Filmfare Awards

2025 ARFF Amsterdam // International Film Festival

Q u a r t e r F i n a l i s t :

Tennessee International Indie Film Festival Edition 9

S e l e c t e d :

Imbibe Cinema

Goa Short Film Festival

Mumba International Film Festival

Dam Short Film Festival

European Short Awards

Indian Independent Film Festival

Elder Fraud is real. According to the FBI, it is estimated in the United States alone, about $3.4 billion is lost to scammers through elder fraud per year. 

In 2023, according to the FTC, Americans lost over $10 billion to fraud; this figure is probably low, given that only 52% of older adults share that they have been victimized.

Key points about senior scams:

Common tactics:

- Scammers often use pressure tactics, emotional appeals, and fake authority to gain trust and exploit vulnerabilities. 

Types of scams:

- Grandparent scams: Pretending to be a grandchild in crisis, requesting immediate financial assistance. 

- Government impersonation scams: Claiming to be from an agency like the IRS or Social Security, threatening legal action unless payment is made. 

- Tech support scams: Offering to fix computer problems for a fee, often gaining remote access to the computer. 

- Romance scams: Developing an online relationship to gain trust and then asking for money. 

- Sweepstakes scams: Notifying a senior they’ve won a prize, but requiring payment to claim it. 

What to do if you suspect a scam:

- Never give out personal information readily (like bank details or Social Security numbers). 

- Verify the identity of the caller: before taking action, especially if they are claiming to be from a government agency. 

- Consult with a trusted family member or friend before making any financial decisions. 

- Report the scam to the appropriate authorities: like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the National Elder Fraud Hotline.

 Contact us.

  • Stephen Williams

    +1 (801) 750-0165

    sjwill113@gmail.com

  • Dayle Linford

    +1 (801) 645-2650

    daynelinford@gmail.com

  • wildstonefilms@gmail.com

  • 1060 Princeton Avenue,

    Salt Lake City, UT 84105

Make an impact today

Wildstone Films is a 501c3 organization. When you help us out, we are able to bring attention to this pressing issue. All donations to Wildstone Films are tax-deductible.

Donate Now

Upcoming events.

Sweepstakes ended on a cliffhanger… so how do we remedy that when so many audiences want more? We make another piece! Sweepstakes Part 2 is on its way, shooting will take place in May and June!