Suburban Filmmakers Behind New Movie, The Short Game – A Look at the Father-Daughter Team Bringing This Heartfelt Story to the Big Screen (WGN 9, Chicago)

WGN 9 welcomed suburban filmmakers David Parks and his daughter, actress Emma Parks, to discuss their new independent feature The Short Game — a heartfelt story about a high school golfer, his autistic younger brother, and the family bond that shapes their journey. The project started when a close friend shared a script inspired by his real life as both a golfer and the father of a neurodiverse child. From there, Parks spent more than two years rewriting, refining, and building the story into something that could be produced independently, eventually bringing in his screenwriter wife to help shape the final version.

For Emma, working alongside her father was both a professional challenge and a personal milestone. She described the on-set dynamic as “two professionals working together,” followed by moments at home where they could appreciate the experience as family. Their shared approach helped guide the film through casting, where authenticity was central — including their commitment to casting an actor with autism in the pivotal younger brother role. That decision led them to Owen Himphar, whom Parks says was a “home run” for the character of Ethan.

The film has already earned six Best Picture awards on the festival circuit, with Emma crediting the cast and crew for bringing deep care to the production — even while filming in Texas summer heat reaching 113 degrees. As The Short Game continues rolling out in select Chicago-area theaters, WGN highlighted the filmmakers’ passion, dedication, and the family-driven collaboration that helped bring this meaningful story to life.

View Full Interview here: https://wgntv.com/video/suburban-filmmakers-behind-new-movie-the-short-game/11055902/