Table of Contents
Samantha Joia's Before Anything Happens begins with a plan and ends in stitches β both literal and figurative. When Hannah and her boyfriend Peter decide they're finally ready to take the next step, a freak accident sends them to the ER, and a nerve-wracking milestone spirals into a day of parental scrutiny, embarrassing mishaps, and unexpected honesty. What could have been a broad teen comedy becomes something quieter and truer: a portrait of two people discovering that growing up isn't about a perfect first experience, but about finding someone who makes you feel safe enough to be imperfect.
Joia was drawn to Megan LuLu Taylor's script for its messy vulnerability, and she saw her younger self in characters struggling to connect and communicate. In a landscape where first-love stories are often sensationalized, Before Anything Happens leans the other way β toward the uncomfortable pauses most films rush past.
Key Takeaways
- The film reframes the romantic comedy around awkwardness, miscommunication, and honesty rather than lyrical banter or sweeping gestures.
- A single-location constraint became a creative gift, freeing Joia to work more closely with her actors on comedic beats.
- Its central message: don't place so much pressure on yourself, and remember the people around you carry their own hidden anxieties.
Joia spoke with us about vulnerability on screen, the choices that shaped the edit, and why she believes small stories hold the most heart.
Interview
What drew you to make this film, and why this story, why now?
I was initially drawn to this project through my confidence in Megan's strength as a screenwriter. After reading the first draft of her script, I connected with the film on a deeply personal level through the messy vulnerability of its central characters. I saw a lot of my younger self in the ways they struggled to connect, communicate, and understand each other. That feels especially timely now, as first love stories and high school stories are often sensationalized in ways that can create distance from the very audience they are meant to represent.
What surprised you most about the filmmaking process, including any moment that changed how you saw the story?
We had initially planned to have Hannah getting ready and then cut separately to Peter's preparation as two distinct sequences. However, our editor suggested intercutting between them, and I think that ultimately worked much better. It highlights that they are both equally overwhelmed, stressed, and putting the same amount of pressure on themselves, which helps ground the emotional experience of the scene.
What moment in the film feels most like you, or like something only you could have made?
The awkward fist bump, when Hannah tries to hold Peter's hand and he misunderstands what she's reaching for, was one of the moments I wanted to emphasize. I used the framing of each shot to highlight the emotional and physical distance between them, even when they are trying to connect. I also wanted to use the color red throughout the production design and costuming to subtly foreshadow Peter's injury while also reflecting the stress and intensity the characters are carrying.
What was the hardest creative decision you made while making the film?
We restructured a scene that was originally intended to take place in a hospital room because we didn't have the budget for an additional location. However, a silver lining was that keeping the story contained within one location allowed us to spend more time working with our actors and experimenting with comedic beats.
What tool, technique, or collaborator helped most during production?
One of our actors, Stephanie Kurtzuba, spoke to her character's motivations through the lens of her own personal experience as a mother. Hearing her perspective gave me, as a director, a new way of understanding Lisa's character and the reasons behind why she can come across as antagonistic toward Hannah, while being seemingly overprotective of Peter.
How does your film fit within, or push the boundaries of, its genre?
Unlike most romantic comedies, our film embraces uncomfortable pauses, awkward beats, and the individual eccentricities of its characters. We use these imperfect moments, the ways people miscommunicate, stumble, and reveal their vulnerabilities, to build connection, rather than relying on lyrical banter or sweeping romantic gestures. This has also been a reminder that films don't need to be driven by larger-than-life external factors to be compelling. There is so much heart and emotional depth in these seemingly small moments and personal anecdotes, and those are often the experiences audiences find the most deeply relatable.
What does it mean to have your film selected for HollyShorts, and where do you see it going next?
Having our film selected for HollyShorts has been incredibly heartwarming, affirming, and meaningful. It's been especially inspiring to see that romantic comedies, a genre that is often underestimated, can still resonate with audiences and make a meaningful impact. The greatest strength of independent filmmaking is its strong sense of community β it often feels like everyone is rallying together to bring something to life, and in this case especially, our greatest asset throughout production was the cast and crew's steadfast belief in the concept and their commitment to making it happen. Ideally, we would love for this film to find distribution and reach a wider audience. And perhaps, one day, a feature adaptation.
Main Cast & Crew
- Hannah β Julia Antonelli
- Peter β Jared Gilman
- Lisa β Stephanie Kurtzuba
- Director β Samantha Joia
- Screenwriter β Megan LuLu Taylor
- Producers β Samantha Joia, Megan LuLu Taylor, Isa Nicdao, Sage Spielman
- Director of Photography β Benjy Berkowitz
- Assistant Director β Dorothy Poucher
- Production Designer β Lulu Smith
Filmmaker Opportunities
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