Table of Contents
Three Key Takeaways
- Morgan Gruer transforms a deeply personal family moment into a universally resonant story about sibling rivalry and artistic recognition.
- The film’s uniquely choreographed dinner table chaos captures the complex dynamics of family life with sharp precision and emotional depth.
- Independent filmmaking’s agility and creative resourcefulness were essential in shaping the film’s intimate, lived-in atmosphere.
Morgan Gruer, an Emmy® Award-winning writer and director known for her female-driven stories blending humor and emotional resonance, returns with Fire At Will, a short film inspired by a real family moment.
Featuring a talented cast led by Scott Cohen and Amy Stiller, and shot in Gruer’s childhood home, the film delves into the volatile dynamics of a family gathering over a will.
Supported by a skilled crew including producer Sandra Tan and cinematographer Jared Levy, Fire At Will has earned a coveted selection at HollyShorts and is poised for wider festival exposure and feature development.
Q&A Interview
What drew you to make this film? Why this story, and why now?
Fire At Will was inspired by a real-life event when my parents gathered my siblings and I to solidify the family will, and decided leave some of us (me) out of the will. The story felt pressing, relevant, and simply too good to pass up sharing with others.
“Watching a personal story break away from reality and develop its own life was so surprising yet rewarding.”
What surprised you most about the filmmaking process this time—creatively or logistically? Was there a moment on set or in post that completely changed how you saw the story?
Fire At Will was a deeply personal project — inspired by my family, cast with actors who resembled them, and shot in my childhood home. And yet, once we started rolling, the story evolved past my own family and became its own living, breathing thing. Watching a personal story break away from reality and develop its own life was so surprising yet rewarding.
Is there a moment in the film that feels the most you—something only you could have made?
Early in the film, the entire table is talking over one another, each character convinced their point is the most important. It’s a precisely choreographed chaos, like an orchestra of dysfunction, and it feels so specific to the family dynamic I grew up with. It’s my favorite kind of scene to direct; it requires deep precision but also embracing the mayhem, and the combination of those two is where I shine.
What was the hardest creative decision you made while making this film?
It’s always hard to “kill your darlings.” The script was originally longer, with moments that I personally loved, but ultimately, we had to cut things down in order to keep the pacing tight and the tension simmering.
What do you hope audiences take away from your film?
The film is about sibling rivalry and family hierarchies, but at its core, it’s about the way artists are perceived and treated – when they are “successful” versus when they aren’t. I hope audiences walk away reflecting on who gets valued in a family and why.
How has this film shaped or shifted the kind of stories you want to tell next?
I love exploring family dynamics that feel both painfully real and a bit absurd – stories where you recognize your own family, but you’re also grateful that you are not at this dinner table. I aim to keep exploring family dynamics on larger and deeper scales.
What’s a tool, technique, or resource that really helped you during production?
Building a team of collaborators who are excellent in their craft and genuinely supportive and kind people was essential. On a project this personal, it was imperative to have a crew who could protect the specificity of the concept while bringing their own artistry to the table.
“It’s a precisely choreographed chaos, like an orchestra of dysfunction, and it feels so specific to the family dynamic I grew up with.”
Independent filmmakers often rewrite the rules out of necessity. What do you think is the greatest strength of independent filmmaking, and how did you lean into that on this project? Is there a lesson or breakthrough you’d share with others navigating this path?
“Independent filmmakers know how to get things done with limited budget and resources.”
Limited finances and single locations often leads to creative choices born out of necessity. Small crews allow you to be agile and shift decisions without having to wait on approvals or permission. These elements really pushed us to dial into our one location and make it feel as lived in and dynamic as possible.
What does it mean to you to have your film selected for HollyShorts?
It’s an honor to screen at HollyShorts and have a film this personal connect with a festival with such a broad reach.
How do you hope being part of HollyShorts will shape the life of this film?
HollyShorts has such an engaged audience. I’m excited for the film to be seen by people who love championing shorts and who can help propel it into the next level.
Where do you see this film going next?
We’ve had a full summer of festivals (Tribeca premiere, Young Director Award at Cannes, Nantucket, Indy Shorts, San Francisco Jewish Film Festival), and our European premiere is coming up soon, at Nòt Film Festival in Italy! But, the next big one is developing Fire At Will into a feature.
"At the core of all my work is a desire to capture the absurd and often contradictory ways family show love, especially when they are terrible at saying it out loud."
Cast & Crew
- Justin Lacob — Co-Producer
- Nicola Smith — Co-Producer
- Kyle Moriarty — Editor
- Cast includes Lucas Zelnick, Ellie Sachs, Julia DiCesare, Rebecca Gever
For more on Fire At Will, visit the film's website, studio, and director's Instagram.
Visuals
Behind-the-scenes and film stills showcase the intimate atmosphere of Fire At Will, highlighting the film’s single location and the detailed production design that brings the family home to life. These images reveal the collaborative energy on set and the precision involved in capturing the film’s signature dinner table chaos. Together, they provide a vivid glimpse into the making of this deeply personal and sharply observed family drama.
