By Jenna Eliav

Last February, while scrolling through Instagram, I came across a post by Evan Adams about a short film project he and his acting partner, Anthony Casabianca, had created.

It led me to YouTube, where I watched their 15-minute video titled Two of a Kind. I thought that as an ER nurse, I was emotionally prepared for a student project. What I wasn’t prepared for was the raw emotional jolt that came with it

In just a quarter of an hour, I felt anger, compassion, heartbreak, empathy, and hope. The story centers on an estranged brother forced into guardianship of his autistic sibling after their father’s death and their mother’s abandonment. As a medical professional working with neurodivergent individuals and families, I was stunned by the authenticity of the brothers’ dynamic. It didn’t feel like acting. It was a lived experience.

Five months later, I sat in a darkened theater at Gardena Cinemas, watching that same short film on the big screen. This time, I had the chance to meet Evan and Anthony in person. What struck me wasn’t just their talent, but their dedication to each other as friends and creative partners, and to telling stories that matter.

Their journey began in 2021 at Playhouse West Acting School, where they met shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic. The school emphasized stage performance, and as part of their final project, Evan and Anthony created a play that explored the complex bond between two brothers—one neurodivergent, and the other suddenly thrust into the role of caretaker. The story drew heavily from their personal experiences, which is why it resonated so strongly with audiences.

Evan did not have the kind of childhood most kids take for granted. Growing up in instability, he learned survival the hard way—through resilience, street smarts, and a deep sensitivity to other people’s struggles.

After moving from the Northeast United States, he once lived alone in Venice Beach, California, in a school bus he had bought and transformed into his home. For Evan, survival was more than just a story; he had lived through it. His own struggles with uncertainty and resilience shaped the authenticity of his performance.

For Anthony, the connection ran just as deep. During his school years, Anthony welcomed into his home a classmate with autism who needed a safe place to live. What started as an unexpected adjustment grew into something profound: Anthony learned to love this boy as a brother. Living side by side gave him an intimate understanding of autism—not as a diagnosis, but as a relationship, a process of bonding. That experience profoundly shaped him as a person and gave him a unique perspective on the challenges and strengths of individuals with neurodivergent conditions.

It also gave him the insight to write a script as sensitive as it is beautiful. Anthony’s lived compassion, combined with Evan’s lived resilience, turned Two of a Kind into more than a story. It became testimony.

Encouraged by the overwhelming positive response to their stage play and short film, the two expanded the script into a feature-length project. Two of a Kind isn’t just about family drama; it’s about abandonment, addiction, resilience, and the transformative power of brotherhood. It shines a light on healthcare inequities, the realities of addiction, and the dignity of children: biological, foster, or adopted—whose lives depend on someone stepping up.

Now, Evan and Anthony are preparing to leap from short film to a full-length feature. Their vision is bold, their talent undeniable, but like most independent filmmakers, they face the challenge of funding.

As someone who has seen firsthand the emotional force of Two of a Kind, I believe this film has the power to move audiences far beyond the indie circuit. It’s a story about love, justice, perseverance, and survival—themes we all recognize, but through the lens of two young men who are living proof that resilience and compassion can be turned into art that heals.

This isn’t Hollywood gloss. This is grit. It’s real pain and real love turned into storytelling with the purpose of two young men – a boy who once called a bus home, and another who once welcomed a brother by heart.

Jenna Eliav

Born and raised in Ukraine, Jenna Eliav moved to Los Angeles and has called it home for nearly three decades. Her lifelong passion for helping people naturally led her to the medical field, where she became both a Registered Nurse and a Certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. Today, she serves in the Emergency Department of one of Los Angeles’ busiest and most respected hospitals, providing critical care in some of the most demanding situations.

Jenna has been married for over 25 years. She is a proud mother of four. Aside of helping people, Jenna enjoys traveling, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends