Table of Contents
Murray is a pool guy who doesn't know how to swim. From that small, funny contradiction, Nancy Friedrich builds Pool Guy, a comedy that follows Murray in the wake of a breakup as he's pulled into a party by his eccentric clients. It's a debut with a clear pulse: the buoyant relief of being wanted when you feel most alone.
Friedrich, a working actress with credits on Homecoming, Dr. Ken, Another Period, Mrs. Davis, and The Conners, steps behind the camera for the first time here, and also plays Carol Anne. Her love of the water is not incidental β it's the film's beating heart, and the reason Pool Guy leans toward optimism when it could have gone dark.
Key Takeaways
- Nancy Friedrich's directing debut turns a simple premise β a pool guy who can't swim β into a tender comedy about being valued at your lowest.
- Collaboration shaped the film at every turn, from writer and producer to DP Lili Soto's inventive camera work, including a mirror shot in a fishbowl.
- A filmmaker who usually gravitates toward darker material, Friedrich found that sweet stories can be just as satisfying to tell.
Friedrich spoke with us about pools, the challenge of grounding eccentric characters, and why she now believes it's never too late to learn how to swim.
Interview
What drew you to make this film, and why this story, why now?
Pools! I love to swim, and wish everyone could swim! Why now? Because it's never too late to learn how to swim!
What surprised you most about the filmmaking process, creatively or logistically?
Shooting in a pool can be very challenging. We filmed a very difficult dream sequence involving a brick only to realize in editing that it was too heavy for the tone of the film.
What moment in the film feels most like you, or like something only you could have made?
The joy of swimming speaks to my heart, so all the pool sequences felt very personal.
What was the hardest creative decision you made while making the film?
Capturing the eccentricities of our characters while keeping them grounded in the real world.
What tool, technique, or collaborator helped most during production?
Lili Soto, our DP, was an amazing collaborator, using techniques that I would have never thought of, including shooting a mirror in a fishbowl to capture the nightmare-ish quality of one of our scenes.
What is the greatest strength of independent filmmaking, and how did you lean into it here?
Collaboration. The amount of feedback from our writer, producer, DP, and cast really helped frame the short. I leaned into their advice, and I would say to others: listen to your collaborators.
What do you hope audiences take away from this film, and how has it shaped the stories you want to tell next?
That even when you are feeling your lowest, people may be feeling very grateful to know you. I tend to go dark in storytelling, but this has shown me that sweet stories are just as fun. At the core of all my work is a desire to connect.
What does it mean to have your film selected for The Reel Champions Shorts Fest?
I'm excited and honored to be a part of this festival. I saw a short selection last year at The Reel Champions Shorts Fest and knew right away I wanted to submit Pool Guy! From here, we're headed to more festivals.
Main Cast & Crew
- Nancy Friedrich β Director / Carol Anne. Making her directing debut with Pool Guy. As an actress, Nancy has appeared on Homecoming, Dr. Ken, Another Period, Mrs. Davis, and The Conners. She loves pools and is always ready for a swim. Instagram: @nancyfriedrichvannier
- Emir Yonzon β Murray. L.A.-based, originally from Chicago, IL. Spends his days as a Universal Studios Tour Guide and his nights with his wife Mel Yonzon and their three cats. SAG-AFTRA.
- Kipp Moorman β Mr. Fitzacker. An actor and storyteller based in Los Angeles, where he lives in relative harmony with his wife and two decent cats. kippmoorman.com,
- Teri Gamble β Mrs. Fitzacker. Actor, writer, podcaster, scream queen. Teri has appeared on Mrs. Davis, Dollface, Modern Family, and Superstore. linktree/TheTeriGamble
- Lili Soto β DP. A southern California native and first-generation Mexican-American who grew up immersed in the Latino culture of the Inland Empire. A cinematographer across commercial, narrative, and documentary work, she is drawn to stories that uplift marginalized voices.
- Corina Nusu β Producer. A former Contestant Producer with Jeopardy! and first-time short film producer, proud to have worked on this film with her husband, her friends, and other creatives.
- Mark Vannier β Writer. Mark has written, performed in, and directed for the stage in Chicago, LA, NYC, and elsewhere over the past 20 years. He taught at the Second City and Annoyance Theatre in Chicago and iO West in LA. His writing has appeared in various literary journals, and his digital book The Terrorizer of Hillside Park is forthcoming from Regular Books.
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