Out of Water
When a disenchanted mermaid-for-hire is mistaken for a real mermaid, she plays along to disastrous consequences.
Interview with Writer/Director Madi Stine
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! During COVID, I, like many of us, felt an overwhelming sense of isolation. I realized how much joy being around other people brought me and how much I took that for granted. With these emotions swirling around, I went on a road trip and on the side of the road, I saw a woman in a mermaid tail posing on some rocks. She was doing a photoshoot for her mermaid company. This image stuck in my mind, as she was such a magical character but in such an ordinary place (on the side of a road). I was inspired to explore a mermaid character who I named Sandy. She’s a mermaid-for-hire who is stuck in a mundane world. She’s worn down by everyday life and no one pays her the attention she wants. What would it take for her to rediscover her magic? That’s when I thought of her meeting Camille, a young girl who believes she’s a real mermaid. Sandy and Camille forge a connection, one that maybe goes too far. But as their lies are stripped away, they come to see each other for who they truly are—two lonely people who yearn for more. They discover that there is magic in this world and it lies in the people around us.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Out of Water is a family-friendly, heartfelt comedy that follows two people searching for connection. The film creates its own world, a blend of fantasy and the everyday, while remaining grounded by naturalistic performances. Out of Water is entertaining, joyful, and sure to bring some mermaid magic to your day. We also created our very own mermaid bar where Sandy performs in a tank for bar patrons. It’s definitely something to see!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Out of Water touches on the universal, timely theme of loneliness. In a world of increasing isolation and social fracture, the characters’ journey reminds us of the power of human connection. These relatable themes meld with my personal interest in telling stories about dreamers. Sandy and Camille yearn for something more than their mundane lives. Over the course of the film, they find what they’re looking for in each other. The characters’ journey, though unexpected and more than a little reckless, ends up being full of hope and self-discovery.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I originally had a different ending in mind that involved Sandy and Camille swimming out in the ocean. As we shot, I realized how difficult water sequences are! My original ending wasn’t going to happen, especially in the middle of winter. I had to adapt and I think the way we shot it works better than my original idea. The way it came together leaves more to the imagination—how far do Sandy and Camille go to escape their loneliness? How strong is the magic? That’s up to the viewer to decide.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback has been positive—a lot of people think the mermaid bar is real, which is exciting! People have praised the actors’ performances—they bonded on set and I think this really comes through in the film.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
When writing the script, some of the readers were scared for Camille, who is a young child. I knew I didn’t want that fear to inhibit the film’s audience, so I paid a lot of attention to creating a candy-coated, fast-paced atmosphere that would sweep viewers up on the high Sandy and Camille are experiencing. I wanted the audience to be with them, feeling the potential for magic. I think this was effective, as only when Sandy and Camille’s bubble bursts did audience members realize the true recklessness of what’s just transpired.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I’m thrilled to be a part of We Are Moving Stories’ promotion of emerging filmmakers. I’m hoping to bring the magic and entertainment of Out of Water to a broader audience. People of all ages can connect to this story! I’m also hoping to find support and interest in the feature version of Out of Water.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I’m looking for producers who’d be interested in future projects including the feature version of this short. I’m also looking for film festival directors and distributors to get the short out to a wider audience!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want this film to entertain, first and foremost. This is a dynamic comedy with wonderful performances. I also hope the film provokes discussion about human connection. With the domination of tech deepening our disconnection, I’m hoping people think about protecting authenticity and face-to-face connection.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How can we prioritize authentic connection in a world that’s increasingly online?
Would you like to add anything else?
I’d like to highlight some of the team that lent their talents to Out of Water. Producers Sophie Shi and Meera Vaidya went above and beyond to make such an ambitious shoot possible. Marlee Learner brought incredible dimension to Sandy and made swimming in a mermaid tail look impossibly effortless. Anabelle Murphy brought amazing humor and naturalness to Camille. DP Robert Nachman perfectly captured the unique blend of magic and everydayness of the film’s world. Editor Sophie Dick created a sense of dreaminess without losing the comedy. Zach Lemmon composed a score that expresses the heartfelt whimsy of the film. Production Designer Beibei Hu created a strikingly vivid sense of atmosphere. Wardrobe Designer Chloée Crosby designed the incredible mermaid costume and created a wardrobe that added depth and humor to everyone onscreen. I’m so grateful to everyone who worked to make the film what it is.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
As the writer/director, I’m currently developing the script for the feature version of Out of Water, which explores how far Sandy goes to achieve her mermaid dreams. I’m also developing a comedy set in the Grand Canyon about the making of the world’s first outdoor adventure film.
Interview: February 2023
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
Out of Water
When a disenchanted mermaid-for-hire is mistaken for a real mermaid, she plays along to disastrous consequences.
Length: 12:45
Director: Madi Stine
Producer: Sophie Shi and Meera Vaidya
Writer: Madi Stine
About the writer, director and producer:
MADI STINE is an LA-based writer/director who tells stories that celebrate dreamers. She attended Harvard University (BA in Film & English) and Columbia University (MFA in Screenwriting/Directing) and was a Fulbright Scholar. She’s a participant of the CineStory Feature Retreat and Cine Qua Non’s Script Revision Lab. She’s developing a feature based on her short, Out of Water, which is screening at various festivals including DC Independent Film Festival.
MEERA VAIDYA was born in Mumbai, India and is now a Los Angeles-based producer. She began her career working at Chrome Pictures, an advertisement production company in Mumbai. Since finishing her MFA in Creative Producing at Columbia University in New York City and moving to Los Angeles, Meera has produced several shorts and is currently developing more short and feature films. In the last year, Meera has produced a web series along with 4 more short films. She is passionate about telling stories that not only entertain people but also provoke conversations around social issues.
SOPHIE CHANGHUI SHI graduated from the prestigious UCLA MFA Producers Program in 2021. As an ally of the LGBTQ community, Shi hired a transgender, non-binary actor to play the lead role in one of her short films. Shi was one of the UCLA Promise Social Impact Producing Scholarship recipients. Her debut feature script was awarded The Sean Slattery Memorial LGBTQ+ Voices Award 2021. She also tracked down the rights to a premium Chinese mini-series and set it up during her internship at Janet Yang’s production company, where she works as a coordinator now.
Key cast: Marlee Learner (Sandy), Anabelle Murphy (Camille)
Looking for: film festival directors, producers and distributors
Twitter: @OutofWaterFilm
Instagram: @outofwater_film
Website: madistine.com
Other: IMDb
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
SF Indie Film Festival/SF & online - February 2-12
DCIFF/Washington, D.C. - March 1-5
Mammoth Film Festival/Mammoth, CA - March 2-5