Below the Line

A Ghost Story That Became a Film

Host Hannah Satterlee sits down with the team behind She Follows, one of the most intriguing and emotionally layered selections of this year’s Dances With Films: Los Angeles press junket.What begins as a simple ghost encounter becomes a gripping indie horror-romance rooted in real life. Director/Actor Gio Randazzo describes the night he and others witnessed Ocean City, New Jersey’s infamous ghost bride, a woman said to still wander the streets searching for her lost World War II fiancé and missing engagement ring. That chilling experience became the foundation of the film, but production took the story somewhere even stranger… and far more personal.Actress Cynthia Zitter shares what it was like embodying the apparition, from emotional prep to performing blind in white-out contacts, tapping into the ghost’s longing rather than just her terror. Together, the filmmakers reveal how last-minute inspirations, freezing night shoots, missing crew members, real Jersey Shore locations, and unexpected serendipity shaped the film’s atmosphere and mythology.

Bottles, Survival and Medical Bills

In this Below the Line exclusive from the Dances With Films Los Angeles press junket, host Hannah Satterlee sits down with filmmaker Colin Whitman, director of the documentary short Diminishing Returns a powerful, intimate portrait of a man fighting for his family one recycled bottle at a time. The film follows Ernesto, a former aviation worker from the Philippines now living in Los Angeles, who collects bottles and cans seven days a week to pay for his daughter’s leukemia treatments back home. Colin shares how he discovered Ernesto, how the story shifted once he learned the extent of his family’s struggle, and what it was like filming a raw, vérité-style documentary with no control, no interviews, and no second chances. This interview dives into filmmaking craft, trust-building with real subjects, navigating unpredictable conditions, and the emotional heart at the center of Diminishing Returns: perseverance, dignity, and what it truly means to walk in someone else’s shoes. 🎬 If you love human stories, indie filmmaking, or documentaries that remind you of the strength people carry every day, this is a must-watch.

Victorian Shadows with Modern Hustle

In this Dances With Films press-junket edition of Below the Line, host Judy Nguyen talks with Matt Schuffler (writer/director of The Traveler) and producers Matt Ruccio and Megan-Michelle German. Set in the Victorian era, The Traveler follows a grieving widow who believes she’s being visited by her late husband, until the presence turns hostile and a twist reframes everything. The team digs into making an ambitious period ghost story on a shoestring: seven years of persistence, nights-and-weekends production, a Kickstarter with 200+ backers, post/VFX miracles, and an editor (Dan Roman) who helped shape the film’s tension and reveal. They also trace the film’s DNA, from childhood hauntings to influences like The Others, and share how this short stands as a true proof-of-concept for a feature or anthology. It’s a conversation about buy-in, creative grit, grief, and the pure thrill of hearing an audience whisper, “Ooh… this is scary.”

Kilimanjaro in a Wheelchair

At Dances With Films LA, Below the Line host Judy Nguyen sits down with filmmakers Kody Leibowitz and Allison Norlian to talk about their powerful feature documentary Meandering Scars, a raw, real, and deeply human story following wheelchair athlete Erica Bogan as she attempts to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness about suicide within the disability community.What begins as an ambitious physical challenge becomes a profound exploration of mental health, disability rights, trauma, systemic ableism, and resilience. Kody and Allison discuss the origins of the film, their transition from journalism to filmmaking, working with the only U.S. researcher who studies suicide at the intersection of disability, and how society, not disability, is often the greatest barrier disabled individuals face.They also break down the behind-the-scenes journey: filming on Kilimanjaro, documenting unpredictable emotional turns, navigating COVID delays, and shaping the film’s evolving narrative. Ultimately, Meandering Scars becomes a story of advocacy, identity, community, and what it means to feel truly seen.Whether you’re a filmmaker, a mental health advocate, part of the disability community, or simply love meaningful storytelling, this conversation is one you won’t forget.

From Heartbreak to Thriller

In this Dances With Films press-junket episode of Below the Line, host Judy Nguyen sits down with writer-director-producer Rio Contrada to talk about his psychological thriller Splinter, a film born from personal experience, five years of development, and a deeply emotional creative journey. Contrada opens up about the real events that sparked the screenplay, how the “splinter analogy” used in childhood trauma therapy became the backbone of the film, and why making Splinter forced him to confront his own past while shaping a story about healing, pain, and responsibility. Splinter follows a pill-popping, motorcycle-riding school psychologist whose attempt to help a troubled young girl forces her to face the trauma she’s been outrunning. Judy and Rio discuss the challenges of indie filmmaking in L.A., the collaborative chaos of a low-budget set, the emotional toll of directing your own catharsis, and what Contrada hopes audiences take away from the film, particularly those dealing with trauma themselves. This conversation digs into craft, empathy, and the humanity behind creating art that matters.