Daddy Issues – Tribeca Film Festival

By starrymag | June 23, 2023

By: Kelly Kearney

 

 

Q) The twist in this short film takes supportive parenting to a whole other level! I laughed, but mostly I screamed! Where did the concept for this come from?

 

Matt: Thank you! Screaming is exactly the reaction I was hoping for. The story concept came to me after participating in a film challenge in Los Angeles last year. I was tasked with creating a concept from a prompt, the theme being about fatherhood. I thought it would be funny to capture an estranged father-son relationship in a BDSM dungeon.

 

Stephanie Chloé: What I love most about that discovery moment is the silence. I’m so glad you had that reaction! A few audience members have reached out and said how incredible those seconds are in the film. I think the comedy in that part is a collaboration of the rhythm of the film combined with the audience holding their breath to see what happens.

 

Q) Without giving too much away, I just kept thinking this is a one-in-a-million chance; could I go through with it? Would either of you? 

 

Matt: This is a really interesting question because my real Dad discussed this moment with me after he watched the film. I wanted to capture that even though the two characters are estranged, they will show up and help each other at the end of the day. With strings attached, of course! My real Dad has always been an incredible father in that he always shows up for us: watching every school soccer game, driving me to the train station at 4AM for a TV show call time and driving across the country to help me move into my LA apartment. And so, I wanted to capture a sliver of that within the short.

 

Stephanie Chloé: I think I would absolutely go through with it with both of my parents, and they would play ball if I was in Oliver’s position. The repercussions and trauma attached would definitely follow, but we’ve been through so much together and sacrificed for each other that I’d hope it makes for a great story to laugh at years later.  I’m so lucky both of my parents have supported me from day one and want to believe this scenario would be no different.

 

Q) Matthew, you starred and directed this short with the help of Stephanie and others. What was more challenging? Getting into that leather outfit or putting on the director’s hat and bouncing between behind and in front of the camera?

 

Matt: It’s always challenging bouncing between roles and wearing different hats. But I really enjoy each of them individually and together. I’m at a point where I can really trust my creative instincts and follow through with a “process” as both an actor and a director, which feels amazing. I’m just excited to do more.

 

Q: Let’s talk about your background, Matthew and Stephanie. Was the life of a filmmaker always where you were heading?

 

Matt: I’ve always been interested in storytelling, but my foundation and entryway into the industry was through acting. It wasn’t until I started taking screenwriting classes in college that I fell in love with writing. More specifically, I was in a summer program at Stonestreet Studios, a school under NYU Tisch’s umbrella, where I took editing, directing and filmmaking classes. Under this program I began to discover my artistic voice and sensibilities, eventually prompting me to create my first short, Kaleidoscope.

 

Stephanie Chloé: The life of a storyteller was always in the cards. I remember being in a recess in elementary school in Buenos Aires and recreating scenes from our favorite TV shows with my friends and definitely taking my shot at directing the show. I also remember being one of the only people who enjoyed reading Romeo and Juliet in English class… until one day after high school I told my parents I was going to New York to become an actress. After training at NYU Tisch for theater and acting on the stage for many years, I got the opportunity to produce and act in a feature film (A Boy Like That) and there was no turning back from there. I fell in love with the art of the camera, with the magic of filmmaking and television. When I was still in college one of my uncles predicted multiple times that I’d be a writer/director, and I was resistant to adopt the titles for years… but he knew all along! I now get to create the worlds and stories I want to see be told – whether it’s having Latin leads in action films and franchises or going for the most uncomfortable jokes, I am so thankful for the access to create and produce and, most importantly, choose my collaborators. I love people!  I love people’s stories and backgrounds and getting to learn from cultures I have nothing in common with.

 

Q) Daddy Issues has been chosen for Tribeca Film Festival’s short program. Congrats on that! It’s a huge accomplishment and must be so exciting. What was your reaction when you found out?

 

Matt: When I got the call that we were accepted as a world premiere selection I was speechless (literally). Ben, the head programmer, was asking me questions about my inspirations, actors, etc. and I stopped him and said, “I’m sorry, but I literally cannot speak words. Words are not coming out.” I’m a native New Yorker from Long Island who grew up watching films at Tribeca, so it was extremely surreal and still feels that way.

 

Stephanie Chloé: I fell on the floor!!! I think I cried like a baby for over an hour. It’s still surreal and the proudest moment of my career so far.

Q) What was a scene(s) that really turned out well after seeing it transform from page to screen?

 

Matt: I think the centerpiece scene between the two protagonists after the mask reveal, specifically the dialogue, is what I’m most proud of. I wanted to capture the volatility within their relationship and this kind of “reactionary dialogue” where one character says two words, then the other character reacts and then the other character reacts to that. Essentially, I embedded overlapping dialogue throughout, which can be super challenging and, if not prepared, can limit shot choices. Luckily, we had an amazing script supervisor and editor who worked closely to ensure our vision would be brought to life.

 

Stephanie Chloé: Without spoiling it, our final scene – although short – started a ton of conversations. I’m grateful audiences want to know more and for the story to expand and that final scene is sparking tons of curiosity. It seems simple but it’s having a fantastic effect.

 

Q) What do you hope lingers with the audience after watching Daddy Issues?

 

Matt: I hope the audience leaves with a few laughs! But also, I hope that they are relatable to the characters and their relationship in some way.

 

Stephanie Chloé: I’m excited audiences want more and are eager for the feature. On a human level, I hope audiences walk away with a bit more acceptance. For family members, for peers, for friends, for strangers, for the “other.” I am the only person in my family in the entertainment industry and it’s not always been easy to explain the sacrifices, the long hours, the ins and outs of the business, the one-of-a-kind experiences this world brings… I hope audiences get to laugh and also think about which relationships in their own lives they could be a bit more open about, a little less judgmental, and a lot more accepting.

 

Q) Every year it seems Tribeca promotes more diversity and inclusion than the year before. What does this level of coverage mean to a film like this?

 

Matt: It means the world. I’m grateful that we have the opportunity to meet so many talented filmmakers and learn about their journeys as well. As a queer filmmaker, I’ve also had the opportunity to connect with other Tribeca LGBTQ+ artists.

 

Stephanie Chloé: I was talking about acceptance, and in a way, being at Tribeca with this piece feels like major acceptance. I’m thankful to the programmers, Sharon and Ben, who see beyond the niche elements of the film and knew that Daddy Issues resonate on a deep level. It feels like inclusion and I’m proud to be part of the Tribeca family that’s encouraging storytellers to not hold back, no matter how crazy a story may seem. The coverage is definitely helping us connect to other incredibly talented filmmakers from all over the world whom we may never have crossed paths with otherwise and I’m immensely grateful for getting to know these artists.

 

Q) No artist likes to talk about funding, but it is an integral part of turning an idea into a film heading to Tribeca. How were you able to get this off the ground? 

 

Matt: I decided to jump into my savings and spend it on the film. And I’m so happy I did.

 

Stephanie Chloé: Matt took a huge risk!!!! And I cannot but applaud him for this.

 

Q) What is next for the two of you? Any other projects that you are busy working on?

 

Matt: We’re currently in the development phase of Daddy Issues. With the script complete and the audience wanting more from my character Oliver, we’re excited to take this story to the next level and shed light on meaningful themes, jokes and relationships. I also recently shot an anxiety-inducing drama, Your Call is Important to Us, which will be premiering in the festival circuit.

 

Stephanie Chloé: I’m thrilled about the feature film version of Daddy Issues! My other projects in development and pre-production include an LGBTQ+ comedy series “Maybe This Time,” a feature film about mental health in the 1960s, an action-comedy series and a film about PTSD and veteran suicide, The 22.