A University of Northern Colorado filmmaker hopes to inspire younger generations to chase their dreams with his first feature-length film debuting next month.
“PipeDreem,” a story about perseverance and chasing your dreams, written by Carlito Hale will debut Saturday, Jan. 3 and Sunday, Jan. 4 at Elaine Wolf Theatre, 350 S. Dahlia St., in Denver.
“God put us on this earth because we all have our own purpose,” Hale, a senior at UNC, said. “And yes, we probably don’t know what that is yet, or maybe we do. But chasing what you love and getting out of your comfort zone — that’s the message I want when the credits roll at the end of this film.”
The movie follows Charisma Dreem, a girl from small-town America, as she moves to New York City to chase her Broadway dreams. Once there, she comes across Jonathan Marshall, a down-on-his-luck director trying to get sober following a messy divorce.
“Fate kind of brings them together,” Hale said. “They meet in the industry.”
Hale credits his father for sparking his interest in movies at a young age. Through many a movie night and plenty of uninterrupted time watching his father’s movie collection, Hale could hear his calling early on.
But the passion for movies actually stretches back one generation further in Hale’s family. One of his grandfathers was an extra in the 1989 movie “Great Balls of Fire” starring Dennis Quaid.
“The amazing thing is I found that out after I figured out I wanted to make movies and write movies,” Hale said.
Carlito Hale, a University of Northern Colorado theater studies major and senior, poses for a portrait after putting up posters for his first feature film "PipeDreem" that is debuting in Denver in January, in Lincoln Park in Greeley on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)Hale never met his grandfather, who died when his mother was a teenager, but Hale still feels a special connection with him.
“I feel like my grandfather lives spiritually in me,” Hale said.
Though Hale had the itch for years, it wasn’t until he got to UNC that he was actually able to chase his own dream of becoming a filmmaker.
“I always wanted to direct a movie, but I never really had the resources or the determination and people to do so until I got to UNC,” he said. “Then all these opportunities were everywhere. So I was like, ‘Yeah. This is the perfect time for me to write a script, cast some actors and start making short films.’ ”
After making a handful of short films, he was ready for something longer. And after working on the backstage crew when UNC put on a rendition of the musical “42nd Street” this past spring, he knew what his feature debut would be.
“Right after the last showing, the idea just sparked in my head,” Hale said. “I was like, ‘This is a very persevering, dream-chasing story.’ And I felt like people in my generation need to hear the story. So right after that last show, I started on the script.”
In just three weeks, he had a script. And in just three months, he had a cast and began filming.
Most of the film was shot in Denver, as it lent itself a bit more to that big-city, New York feel than Greeley would.
Filming in Denver during the summer led Hale to use mostly Denver-area actors secured through a couple casting agencies, though Julia Merrion, who plays the protagonist, is a former UNC student. Troy Bethune, who plays Marshall, is a stand-up comedian by trade and is making his acting debut.
Quite possibly the most impressive part of Hale securing all the locations, equipment and actors to film a full movie in three months: he did so with just $1,000.
“It might seem small,” Hale said. “But what I can do with it. It was huge.”
A friend got him in touch with Brock Crone of Pioneer Entertainment — who also directed the film.
“I sat down with him and pitched him this project. I told him the story, the backstory, why I want to do it. All that good stuff,” Hale said. “A few days later, he called me with $1,000.”
Carlito Hale, a University of Northern Colorado theater studies major and senior, hangs up a poster for his first feature film "PipeDreem" that is debuting in Denver in January, in Lincoln Park in Greeley on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)Now, Hale is less than a month from seeing what was all but a pipe dream less than a year ago become a reality.
“You’re going to have doubters,” Hale said. “But despite all of that, you have to chase what you love. You have to chase your dreams.”
“PipeDreem” will be shown twice — at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. — on each Jan. 3 and Jan. 4. Tickets are available at tinyurl.com/PipeDreem.
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