Table of Contents
Three Key Takeaways
- Brittany Ashley’s Take Care explores the desperate human need for care through a dark, intimate body horror lens.
- The film features standout performances by Courtney Pauroso and Stephanie Courtney, who bring layered emotional depth to the story.
- Independent filmmaking’s strength lies in community and preparation, values Ashley credits for the film’s creative success and smooth production.
Brittany Ashley, a Los Angeles-based writer, director, and producer, brings a uniquely raw and heartfelt voice to her latest film Take Care, selected for FilmQuest 2025.
Known for her work at BuzzFeed and her podcasts exploring grief and pop culture, Ashley crafts a story about loneliness, longing, and the lengths one goes to be cared for.
The film stars Courtney Pauroso, Stephanie Courtney, and features a score by Jess Abbott’s solo project Tancred, blending dark humor with body horror in an intimate setting.
What drew you to make this film? Why this story, and why now?
More than anything, I want to be taken care of. My mom died when I was really young and as I've gotten older, I've realized that the feeling of someone else taking care of me is what I've always been missing and have always wanted. So I started from there... What's the most insane thing I'd do to be taken care of? Where do people go to be taken care of? It all really started to click once I unlocked the hospital / nurse aspect because it brought in the body horror element in a way that really served the story and character.
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?
I was honestly most surprised by my own body's reaction to the entire experience. I've been on set many times before, but never as the director. But for both 12-hour shoot days, my body locked IN. I didn't pee once on set and I don't even think I slept the night before the second shoot, I was just running on pure adrenaline. My body really took the responsibility seriously, but for next time, I'll definitely put in more effort to take care of myself.
Is there a moment in the film that feels the most you—something only you could have made?
Truthfully I feel like the entire film is very me – it's dark and unhinged but it also has a lot of heart. The story itself is reflective of real feelings and desires I've felt my whole life. We've all been lonely but what we're each willing to do in exchange for connection is unique to our own experiences.
"The story itself is reflective of real feelings and desires I've felt my whole life."
What was the hardest creative decision you made while making this film?
The hardest decision I made (with the help of my editor, Claudia Restrepo) was cutting out some backstory bits that were shot as written in the script – that telegraphed to the audience that the main character's mom had died recently. So it helps justify what she's looking for from the nurse and why. But it just didn't translate as well in the edit and felt slightly more confusing than additive. When we cut it and audiences took away their own interpretations, I was super relieved because it reinforced that it was the right decision. Thank you Claudia for helping me see the light.
"More than anything, I want to be taken care of."
What do you hope audiences take away from your film?
I hope people call their moms afterward.
How has this film shaped or shifted the kind of stories you want to tell next?
More than anything, it reinforced my desire to keep centering freaky, messy women. And to cast Courtney Pauroso in everything I do for the rest of my life.
What’s a tool, technique, or resource that really helped you during production?
Sounds obvious but preparation! I made a shooting bible that was about 70 slides long, filled with references, action verbs and just feelings I wanted to remind myself of while shooting. It made me so much more confident that I got the shot I wanted while shooting, which made us finish ahead of schedule.
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?
"Community! There is no greater strength than having a community of other creatives who are just as passionate as you are about telling interesting stories."
So many friends of mine (very generously) worked on this film and it helped make the set so fun & light, while still being super efficient. And there's nothing more valuable (to me) than having people you trust weigh in when you're uncertain or need another eye or ear.
What does it mean to you to have your film selected for FilmQuest, one of the world’s top reviewed genre film festivals?
It's such an honor to not only have been selected but to also receive three awards nominations (Best Actress - Courtney Pauroso, Best Supporting Actress - Stephanie Courtney and The Minerva Award - Brittany Ashley).
FilmQuest celebrates the majesty and might of genre filmmaking across fantasy, horror, sci-fi, action, thriller, western, kung-fu, and beyond. How does your film fit within—or push the boundaries of—genre storytelling?
I love body horror, especially female-led body horror. Traditional horror has predominately featured other people committing violence against women, whereas in recent films like The Substance, Sick of Myself or Titane, it's women being in control of the violence, by committing it themselves. I've been incredibly inspired by those films and wanted to push in a different direction: What if the violence this woman was committing against herself was for a more pure / heartfelt reason?
Where do you see this film going next?
I'm trying to get this made as a feature!
"At the core of all my work is a desire to show the full complexity of women's messy, interior worlds."
Cast & Crew
- Brittany Ashley — Writer, Director, Producer; LA-based filmmaker with a background at BuzzFeed and creator of grief and pop culture podcasts.
- Courtney Pauroso ("Leah") — Actress, writer, director, comedian; known for Edinburgh Fringe shows and the Apple TV series The Studio.
- Stephanie Courtney ("Nelly") — Actress famous for the Progressive commercials; member of The Groundlings Theater.
- Henry Loevner — Producer; writer/director of romantic comedies showcased at SXSW.
- Claudia Restrepo — Editor; writer/director/actor with credits at SXSW and Palm Springs International ShortFest.
- Jess Abbott — Composer; solo artist with acclaimed indie albums, making her film score debut here.
- Matt Miller — Director of Photography; cinematographer with experience in commercials, music videos, and films screened at Sundance and SXSW.
For more on Take Care, visit their Instagram.
