The Dam is a horror story about disquiet waters, angry woods, and the man haunted by it all.

Interview with Writers/Directors/Producers/Actors Matilda Szydagis and Ric Sechrest

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

This is the final installation of our trilogy. We've been actors and directors for a very long time and with access to gear, tutorials, and peers, we thought, "why not us?" These days there is no excuse not to create your own material. We look to many influences in the short film world including the latest breakthrough director David F. Sandberg and his wife, Lotta, who started in the short film world.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

There is some beautiful imagery in this film, some good scares, and I think you will have fun watching it.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Although we typically start with bigger social issues, we always find ourselves coming back to the realization that we as people are scarier than anything out there. The monsters we should be most afraid of are loneliness, fear, and how it's really hard to outrun past traumas.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

It truly is amazing how much change can occur from the first draft of the script to the final edit of the film. We had other characters in the original script and it went from bedtime storytelling to just telling the story. I love how the creative process stays alert and awake all the way through until that final cut.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Audiences are loving it! This is part three of our short horror trilogy and those who have seen the first two have said they love seeing the trajectory of the storyline and the growth of our filmmaking. In our first film, there was no drone footage. In the third, audiences are in awe of the beautiful stunning aerials Ric filmed.

Also, people are loving the ambiguity that exists in the film, in that there is no finalized concrete answer in the end. It lets the audience use their imagination and process the possibilities of what the answer(s) could be. A lot more exciting that way, in my opinion.

And everyone is asking who the little girl in the film is because she knocks it out of the park. That would be my niece, Audra, who has a natural raw talent and we were so lucky to have her as a co-star!

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Honestly, it makes me want to make more films! It's such a rush.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

Our goal in making these shorts is to attract the attention of a Hollywood producer to turn them into features. As we mentioned before, Sandberg got his start in shorts and now is directing Hollywood features. Guillermo del Toro spotted Mama on the internet and look where that turned up. It's an exciting time to be an indie filmmaker.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Producers and film directors.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

To entertain people with scares and give them a good think at the same time. We are trying to create "intelligent horror" and this third film could even be considered on the verge of existentialism.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

It's hard for me to say without giving away a big plot point. But what I could say is the idea of how different people process trauma and how it affects them in the long run.

Would you like to add anything else?

We hope to put out the trilogy all together next year at some point so that way audiences will be able to get the full effect of the through-line.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Ric recently was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the NY Innovative Theatre Awards for his role in We Are A Masterpiece by Gina Femia and is in high demand for his still and aerial photography throughout the country.

Matilda recently directed the staged reading of Red Line by Katarzyna Muller at the Workshop Theatre and is currently shooting season 3 of Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs Maisel as Zelda.

Interview: March 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

The Dam

The Dam is a horror story about disquiet waters, angry woods, and the man haunted by it all.

Length: 6:38

Director: Matilda Szydagis, Ric Sechrest

Producer: Matilda Szydagis, Ric Sechrest

Writer: Matilda Szydagis, Ric Sechrest

About the writer, director and producer:

MATILDA SZYDAGIS holds a degree in Anthropology from the University of Chicago; acting credits include Sopranos and she currently plays Zelda on Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs Maisel.

RIC SECHREST holds degrees from Syracuse (BS, Acting), Ohio University (MFA, Acting), University of Maine (MA, Directing). Both are horror buffs and reside in NYC.

Key cast: Ric Sechrest, Matilda Szydagis, Audra Callis-Tuskenis

Looking for: producers, film festival directors

Facebook: Your Team Films

Hashtags used: #thedam #yourteamfilms

Website: www.yourteamfilms.com

Funders: Self-funded

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Jim Thorpe Film Festival/Jim Thorpe, PA - April 28-29; NewFilmmakers NY/NYC - May 15.