Against all odds, I'm directing my first feature film

I’ve been feeling like a FILMMAKER lately. For years I identified only as a screenwriter, because screenwriting was all I did.

But over the last two weeks, I’ve watched the director’s cut of my upcoming horror film CONTRACTIONS and the first assembly of my directorial debut short SWATHE. Look at me! Makin’ films!

Finally being able to watch your film is an indescribable pleasure. If I had to describe it, it would be something like the following combined: A hot tub on a cold night. A starry sky at the end of a dock. Mountain air scrubbed by trees. A bowl of Costco tiramisu (iykyk). A secret smile from your kiddo. Fingers through your hair. A hug from a long-distance friend.

It’s the relief and the thrill of letting your vulnerability flap in the wind.

Being absolutely drunk on all those feelings this week, when I saw Donny Broussard’s post, I was already feeling suggestible:

I thought to myself: “Yup, it’s time to start planning my directorial debut feature film.”

As a woman, this is a bold claim indeed.

Of the top 100 grossing films of 2025, only 8.1% were directed by women. That’s down from 13.4% in 2024. A lot of people would see that stat and think “this just proves that women just aren’t as GOOD as men at directing”, which is exactly the kind of thinking that got us here in the first place.

Don’t believe me? Here’s the 2025 Celluloid Ceiling report that lays it all out. And here’s a study that shows that 91% of reviews about films by a first-time director are directed by men. In other words, only 9% of first time films by women are even deemed reviewable!

The same study also includes such bangers:

Gender biases can deter women from pursuing careers in the film industry and shape audience perceptions. The harmful impact of sexist reviews on women in film is far-reaching, influencing career paths, financial security, mental well-being, and the broader landscape of media representation.

If you manage to get through the gauntlet of the first film as a female director, Stephen Follows breaks down how Hollywood gives men second chances it doesn't give women.

But also:

This is usually the point when men will come at me claiming that it’s all not as bad as it seems. Things are GETTING BETTER. I can tell you, as a woman living in probably the most progressive country on earth, existing as a woman is 1000x harder than you dare to dream. We just don’t share how it really feels cause we are tired of the eye rolls.

YET, given even all of the above, I remain undeterred.

I am directing my first feature film.

The idea of directing used to feel like a sky-high mountain of a task to me. It’s the same way I used to feel about writing a feature screenplay. But the more exposure and experience you have, the more the mountain turns into a manageable molehill.

Having written and been with CONTRACTIONS throughout the entire filmmaking process and directing my short SWATHE has definitely helped to remove that sense of impossible awe I once had about making movies. I’ve now made TWO films for $10,000 each. Why not make it a nice round three?

But how to begin?

Usually I’d start with a script, but in this case, I started with a location. I want my story to revolve around a specific place. This will be the second time I’ve written a script to a location and learned last time that I love this approach to screenwriting.

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know I’m a freak for constraints.

I sent a single text to ask if I can shoot at my dream location and the response was an immediate: “NO PROBLEM”.

I guess I’m making a movie!

My film is called FOUR DEAD ALL DAY. Part thriller. Part horror. Part dark comedy. All weird.

I’m hoping a breath of my boundless enthusiasm will reach you through this post and inspire you to finally make your movie too!

Now, excuse me while I go write the script…