Film Shortage / Directors Notes 2019 – My Loyal Audience
A sheltered teenage girl begins to suspect that her most personal, embarrassing thoughts may not be as private as she had hoped.
Interview with Writer/Director/Actor Megan Seely
Watch here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I had this idea for years and this character in my bones and felt the need to thrust it into existence. It came out of the dichotomy I felt as a teenager of being a "good girl" for other people, especially when around extended family or adults, while privately dealing with darker and sexually-frustrated inner turmoil. As for what happens at the end — I couldn't believe I hadn't seen this before and felt like it begged to be explored.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
To feel what it’s like to be a teenage girl. To experience unsurmountable shame. To laugh and cringe and laugh again in new ways. To surprise yourself. To feel less alone. To ponder the beyond.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
A lot of this film is intensely personal and autobiographical, based on my moment of greatest shame. Fortunately, through dark comedy and magical realism, I am able to transcend the story to a realm beyond the literal and explore trauma in a way that transforms the pain into joy.
The film touches upon mental illness, the unbearable burden of inner thoughts, and family dysfunction, especially around the holidays. On a larger scale, this work is a meditation on universal themes of deep shame and unconditional love, the very essence of our humanness.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I wrote this film years before I shot it, and came up with the basic seed years before even that. While the premise and characters remained true, every part of the collaborative process of filmmaking completely evolved and elevated the story. When the picture was locked and I felt confident and happy with what we’ve made, it felt absurd to continue to take risks with sound and score and color and not just cling to the preciousness, but I chose to enter the fear of possibly ruining the whole thing and it totally paid off.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The making of the film felt like a great and terrible venture into the unknown, and I truly had to open myself up to criticism and allow myself to fail miserably. I faced a lot of doubt, both inner and outer, every step of the way, but now that people are experiencing it, it’s been wonderful. Every joke has landed with an audience. Every moment of horror has left someone breathless. People remember this film and want to watch again.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It’s been absolutely a gift. To see people of all types and ages connect with this young girl has made me value our shared humanity and also made me accept myself a lot more. Like Lyla, I’ve viewed my inner thoughts as disgusting or vile at times, and the fact that people laugh (the greatest stamp of shared truth), makes me feel so much more okay in my being. I grew a lot from this.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
For people out there who connect with my work to connect with me. To find collaborators and friends. To continue this journey of an artist. To let people find themselves reflected in new ways. For people who are not teenage girls to find a surprising connection in experiencing life through the lens of one.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
If people find a connection in this short, I would love for them to connect with me about the feature I am currently working on — it's a different story, but the similar tone, and continues exploring themes of mental illness, shame, and vulnerability through the playfully strange and darkly comedic.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would love for people to watch and feel more okay in their being. I also just want people to have a good time. In the larger picture, I want to help continue the conversation of mental illness, remove stigma, and offer some relief to those who suffer in silence.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Without spoiling too much, did Lyla's family do the right thing by keeping her protected from the truth? Is Lyla doomed forever now that she knows, or is it possible she is better off?
re: the very last shot — was Lyla right all along? How can someone say what’s crazy?
Would you like to add anything else?
I hope you enjoy! This film took many talented collaborators to bring it to life, and I'm continuously grateful for everyone involved.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I (Megan) am currently in prep for my feature dark comedy that I am writing, directing, and acting in. Please get in touch if you want to collaborate!
Mallorie (our very talented producer) just shot her feature Nanay Ko, a Filipino-American musical, which I got to act in! It was absolutely incredible — definitely look out for it in the next year.
Interview: April 2019
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
My Loyal Audience
A sheltered teenage girl begins to suspect that her most personal, embarrassing thoughts may not be as private as she had hoped.
Length: 12:23
Director: Megan Seely
Producer: Mallorie B. Ortega
Writer: Megan Seely
About the writer, director and producer:
MEGAN SEELY is an award-winning filmmaker exploring life through dark comedy. Beyond My Loyal Audience, she co-wrote The Mad Whale, starring Camilla Belle, Summer Phoenix, Dominic Rains, and James Franco. As an actress, she’s in the upcoming musical feature Nanay Ko and with Helena Howard in Twist, premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival, on which she also served as co-producer. Megan received her M.F.A. from USC and is currently prepping for her feature dark comedy.
MALLORIE B. ORTEGA is an award-winning director, producer, and writer. She graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts with an MFA in Film and Television Production in 2016. Mallorie has shadowed under Emmy-winning directors through the Television Academy Foundation, and is currently in post-production for her feature musical Nanay Ko, which she wrote, produced, and directed.
Key cast: Megan Seely (Lyla), Elizabeth Greer (Vivette), John F. Henry II (Uncle Jeff), Joseph Covino (Gregory), Mathew Odette (Spencer), John Lyke (Shane), Jordan Jones (Raphael)
Looking for: sales agents, distributors, journalists, film festival directors, producers, buyers
Facebook: My Loyal Audience
Instagram: @mtseely
Hashtags used: #myloyalaudience #myloyalaudiencefilm
Website: www.meganseelyfilm.com
Other: IMDb
Funders: Private Investors, Self-funded, Recipient of the Carole & Larry Auerbach and Family Finishing Fund
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Released online on MAY 4 on Film Shortage and Directors Notes