Smothered
In the midst of a breakup, Slim visits Dani's apartment to pick up a painting. An argument ensues, Slim's fate is determined by a surreal and horrific turn of events.
Interview with Director/Producer Heather Luscombe and Writer/Producer Shannon Sullivan
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Filmmaking and telling stories about strong women is a deep passion of ours, we wanted to create something relatable and shocking.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
If you've ever been in a toxic relationship you know how hard it is to cut ties. Smothered was meant to be a fun treat that leaves viewers feeling unsettled in the best way.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Smothered is a film about when relationships pass their expiration date, the addiction to each other and riding that until it's too late.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Smothered stayed pretty true throughout the process, from Pre-Production to Post we transformed it into something more surreal than it originally was intended.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Gays and Gals love it. Straight men wince.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
We've only received positive feedback.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
To be a part of the greater conversation about what it means to be a woman in film and the female experience on screen.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors and journalists.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We hope Smothered leaves audiences laughing, breathless, shocked.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Was Slim's death intentional? And why does he wave at himself outside the window?
Would you like to add anything else?
Keep on rocking in the free world!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Heather Luscombe is looking for funding for a feature titled Gator Baby about a young woman who takes a chance on first love with a Flat Earther who’s been struck by lightning, despite her meddling family.
Interview: August 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
Smothered
In the midst of a breakup, Slim visits Dani's apartment to pick up a painting. An argument ensues, Slim's fate is determined by a surreal and horrific turn of events.
Length: 9:30
Director: Heather Luscombe
Producer: Heather Luscombe and Shannon Sullivan
Writer: Shannon Sullivan
About the writer, director and producer:
Filmmaker HEATHER LUSCOMBE was raised in Ventura California. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College in 2015 with a concentration in filmmaking and media arts, Heather began a successful career in the film industry. After attending the Telluride Student Symposium, she immediately started Production Office Assisting on the HBO episodic Divorce. From there, Heather found her passion in the Costume Department, where she worked as an Assistant Costume Designer on projects such as Billions, Gossip Girl, The Equalizer, Poker Face, and most recently Saturday Night Live. After a slew of experimental films and a documentary, she directed two narrative shorts. The first, Hot Girl filmed in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has been through the festival circuit claiming several awards. Smothered is currently set to premiere at Cinequest in August 2023. Currently, Heather lives in Brooklyn New York with her sweet dog Taffy.
SHANNON SULLIVAN grew up performing in plays and musicals from the age of 5. She is a graduate of the professional actors conservatory at the Barrow Group in NYC and a classically trained singer. After co-directing, writing, producing and leading acting in her short Hot Girl, Shannon has found her calling to tell more stories about the female experience via writing, acting, modelling, and photographing. Recently Shannon was the Music Project Manager for the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival and also works in Artist Hospitality at the Bushwick music venue Elsewhere. She hopes to be drowning in art and love until the day she dies. IG @queen.dionysus
Key cast: Shannon Sullivan, Travis Albano
Looking for: sales agents, distributors, film festival directors, buyers, journalists, producers
Instagram: @feverdream__, @queen.dionysus
Hashtags used: #smothered
Other: IMDb
Funders: Go Fund Me Donations + Self Funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Cinequest Film Festival Thursday August 24 screening in Mountain View
New Faces New Voices Film Festival in September 2023