Host Hannah Satterlee sits down with the team behind She Follows, one of the most intriguing and emotionally layered selections of this year’s Dances With Films: Los Angeles press junket.What begins as a simple ghost encounter becomes a gripping indie horror-romance rooted in real life. Director/Actor Gio Randazzo describes the night he and others witnessed Ocean City, New Jersey’s infamous ghost bride, a woman said to still wander the streets searching for her lost World War II fiancé and missing engagement ring. That chilling experience became the foundation of the film, but production took the story somewhere even stranger… and far more personal.Actress Cynthia Zitter shares what it was like embodying the apparition, from emotional prep to performing blind in white-out contacts, tapping into the ghost’s longing rather than just her terror. Together, the filmmakers reveal how last-minute inspirations, freezing night shoots, missing crew members, real Jersey Shore locations, and unexpected serendipity shaped the film’s atmosphere and mythology.

In this Below the Line exclusive from the Dances With Films Los Angeles press junket, host Hannah Satterlee sits down with filmmaker Colin Whitman, director of the documentary short Diminishing Returns a powerful, intimate portrait of a man fighting for his family one recycled bottle at a time.

The film follows Ernesto, a former aviation worker from the Philippines now living in Los Angeles, who collects bottles and cans seven days a week to pay for his daughter’s leukemia treatments back home. Colin shares how he discovered Ernesto, how the story shifted once he learned the extent of his family’s struggle, and what it was like filming a raw, vérité-style documentary with no control, no interviews, and no second chances.

This interview dives into filmmaking craft, trust-building with real subjects, navigating unpredictable conditions, and the emotional heart at the center of Diminishing Returns: perseverance, dignity, and what it truly means to walk in someone else’s shoes.

🎬 If you love human stories, indie filmmaking, or documentaries that remind you of the strength people carry every day, this is a must-watch.

In this Dances With Films press-junket edition of Below the Line, host Judy Nguyen talks with Matt Schuffler (writer/director of The Traveler) and producers Matt Ruccio and Megan-Michelle German. Set in the Victorian era, The Traveler follows a grieving widow who believes she’s being visited by her late husband, until the presence turns hostile and a twist reframes everything. The team digs into making an ambitious period ghost story on a shoestring: seven years of persistence, nights-and-weekends production, a Kickstarter with 200+ backers, post/VFX miracles, and an editor (Dan Roman) who helped shape the film’s tension and reveal. They also trace the film’s DNA, from childhood hauntings to influences like The Others, and share how this short stands as a true proof-of-concept for a feature or anthology. It’s a conversation about buy-in, creative grit, grief, and the pure thrill of hearing an audience whisper, “Ooh… this is scary.”

At Dances With Films LA, Below the Line host Judy Nguyen sits down with filmmakers Kody Leibowitz and Allison Norlian to talk about their powerful feature documentary Meandering Scars, a raw, real, and deeply human story following wheelchair athlete Erica Bogan as she attempts to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness about suicide within the disability community.What begins as an ambitious physical challenge becomes a profound exploration of mental health, disability rights, trauma, systemic ableism, and resilience. Kody and Allison discuss the origins of the film, their transition from journalism to filmmaking, working with the only U.S. researcher who studies suicide at the intersection of disability, and how society, not disability, is often the greatest barrier disabled individuals face.They also break down the behind-the-scenes journey: filming on Kilimanjaro, documenting unpredictable emotional turns, navigating COVID delays, and shaping the film’s evolving narrative. Ultimately, Meandering Scars becomes a story of advocacy, identity, community, and what it means to feel truly seen.Whether you’re a filmmaker, a mental health advocate, part of the disability community, or simply love meaningful storytelling, this conversation is one you won’t forget.

In this Dances With Films press-junket episode of Below the Line, host Judy Nguyen sits down with writer-director-producer Rio Contrada to talk about his psychological thriller Splinter, a film born from personal experience, five years of development, and a deeply emotional creative journey.

Contrada opens up about the real events that sparked the screenplay, how the “splinter analogy” used in childhood trauma therapy became the backbone of the film, and why making Splinter forced him to confront his own past while shaping a story about healing, pain, and responsibility.

Splinter follows a pill-popping, motorcycle-riding school psychologist whose attempt to help a troubled young girl forces her to face the trauma she’s been outrunning.

Judy and Rio discuss the challenges of indie filmmaking in L.A., the collaborative chaos of a low-budget set, the emotional toll of directing your own catharsis, and what Contrada hopes audiences take away from the film, particularly those dealing with trauma themselves. This conversation digs into craft, empathy, and the humanity behind creating art that matters.

In this Dances With Films Press Junket edition of Below the Line, host Judy Nguyen sits down with filmmaker Beth Curry, writer and director of Lemon. Based on the feature script that earned Curry the prestigious Academy Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting (2020), Lemon tells the haunting yet hopeful story of a six-year-old girl raised by her agoraphobic mother and what happens when she’s suddenly forced to step outside for the first time.

Curry shares the inspiration behind the story, the emotional depth of seeing the world through a child’s eyes, and the challenges of directing young actress Egypt Brooks, whose performance captures both innocence and resilience. They discuss shooting in a decaying house, the film’s warm, color-saturated cinematography, and how imagination and hope thread through themes of fear, grief, and rebirth.

It’s an intimate look at how one filmmaker turned personal reflection into cinematic storytelling and a reminder that sometimes stepping into the light takes the most courage of all.

In this Dances With Films Press Junket episode of Below the Line, host Judy Nguyen sits down with filmmaker Laurence Cohen, writer and director of Rocket Man a heartfelt short film nearly two decades in the making.

Cohen opens up about his deeply personal creative journey, from the loss that inspired the story to the emotional and technical evolution that spanned 18 years. Rocket Man began as his 2006 film-school thesis, a story about saying goodbye  both through the eyes of a child and the imagination of a storybook hero on a one-way mission to save “Planet Pun Warg.” Now, completed with the benefit of time, perspective, and skill, the film has found its home at Dances With Films.

In this intimate conversation, Cohen and Nguyen explore the intersection of grief, healing, and creativity, the magic of storytelling through music, and the perseverance it takes to finish what you start. It’s a beautiful reflection on filmmaking as both an artistic pursuit and a personal act of closure.

In this Dances With Films Press Junket episode of Below the Line, host Judy Nguyen sits down with filmmaker Olivia Stoker and producer/editor Brooks Yang to talk about their sharp, heartfelt comedy Nona’s Nude,  a short film about art, family, and what happens when grief meets discomfort.

The story follows adult siblings sorting through their late grandmother’s art collection… until they uncover one unexpected piece: a very graphic nude portrait of Nona herself, painted in her 70s. The discovery sparks arguments, revelations, and plenty of laughter as the family grapples with legacy, shame, and beauty.

Stoker shares the film’s hilarious real-life origin, inheriting a nude photograph of her great aunt and how that moment inspired a story about empowerment, body image, and the line between art and taboo. Together with Yang, she discusses producing and acting in the film, collaborating with director Courtney Ulrich.

Nona’s Nude proves that sometimes the most revealing art isn’t about nudity, it’s about honesty.

We sat down with two of Dances With Films Festival’s official selections: “Fast” by Clayton Anderson and “Chooch” by Peter Horgan, for a conversation about creative inspiration, challenges, and how their personal stories shaped their films.🎬 About the Films:“Fast” - A dark comedy thriller following a man on a strict bone-broth-only fast, spiraling into madness and self-discovery. Writer/Director Clayton Anderson shares how his own fasting journey inspired the story, how humor meets discomfort, and the film’s ultimate message about taking care of yourself.“Chooch” - A gritty Boston gangster short from writer/director/producer Peter Hogan, exploring loyalty, friendship, and morality. Hogan reveals the personal roots of the story, how real-life friendships shaped the cast, and how he brought emotional depth and humanity to a familiar genre.💬 In this interview:We dive into the creative process, character development, and lessons learned from indie filmmaking, plus a few behind-the-scenes details from set.

In this exclusive interview from the Dances With Films 2025 press junket, director Hariharasudhen Nagagajan sits down with Hannah to discuss his debut narrative feature Tether.

Tether is a deeply personal and emotionally complex film that explores trauma, grief, and healing through multiple perspectives, including those rarely shown on screen. Hari shares the inspiration behind the film, the collaborative process with writer Anghus Houvouras, and the challenges of crafting layered performances from his cast.

Shot in just 10 days, Tether is both an impressive production feat and a powerful reminder of the stories that often go untold in the aftermath of tragedy.

🎥 This episode is part of our Below the Line coverage of Dances With Films Los Angeles, a celebration of independent voices pushing the boundaries of cinema.