Table of Contents
A rolling blackout at a matchmaker's California dinner party reveals that two of the charming guests are glitched AI companions β and in that flicker, the humans left at the table have to confront what they've traded for love without friction. That's the premise of tAinted love, the first film Lisa Steadman has directed, and it grows straight out of a question she couldn't shake after reading that roughly one in four young adults are already engaging with AI in romantic contexts.
Steadman is a USC School of Cinematic Arts graduate and bestselling Simon & Schuster author who has spent decades examining love, reinvention, and emotional resilience across books, blogs, and a podcast. With tAinted love, she brings that fascination with intimacy and emotional risk into speculative fiction β a story that blends romantic comedy with quiet heartbreak, and lands its punch in an ending that audiences can't stop discussing.
Key Takeaways
- A near-future relationship drama where a blackout exposes two dinner guests as expensive Kindred AI companions, forcing everyone to face the vulnerability behind artificial love.
- Steadman's directorial debut, co-directed with longtime collaborator Brian Thomas and shot by 12-time Emmy winner John Tipton.
- Winner of the Grand Prize in Stage 32's Short Film Contest, earning its screening at HollyShorts in the filmmakers' hometown.
A conversation with Steadman about the leap from screenwriting to directing, the bargain we make when comfort replaces courage, and learning to accept help.
Interview
What drew you to make this film, and why this story, why now?
tAinted love started with a statistic I read in 2025: roughly one in four young adults are already engaging with AI in romantic or sexual contexts. What came next was a question I couldn't shake: if we can experience connection without the risk of rejection, will we still choose real intimacy?
From bestselling relationship books to an irreverent blog series to a podcast about midlife, I've spent decades talking with people about modern relationships and the quiet ways we protect ourselves from vulnerability. We want to be known but not exposed. We crave connection but fear the risk that comes with being fully seen.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly woven into daily life, frictionless companionship feels less like science fiction and more like an extension of where we already are. I'm not interested in condemning technology. I'm curious about the emotional bargain we make when comfort starts to replace courage. At its heart, tAinted love is not about machines. It's about loneliness, longing, grief, and the vulnerable choice to reach for something real, even when we know realness has the capacity to wreck us.
What surprised you most about the filmmaking process, creatively or logistically?
As a longtime screenwriter, I was daunted to try my hand at directing for the first time, which is why I asked Brian to direct this film with me. Brian knows everything there is to know about production, so I didn't have to worry about camera lenses or dolly shots. I could focus on working with the actors and collaborating with the cinematographer on the story I wanted to tell. What surprised me most on set was how invested every single person was in making this story the best it possibly could be, from the homeowner whose house we shot in to our PA who worked tirelessly to ensure we were taken care of in every way.
What was the hardest creative decision you made while making the film?
Once we got into the editing room, we had to make the difficult decision to cut the funniest moment in the film because it slowed down the pacing. It was the right decision, but it took a lot of thoughtful conversation with my editor Steven Nevius, who cut some of Rob Reiner's most iconic films. Steven was right and I'm glad I listened. The film is better for it.
What moment in the film feels most like you, or like something only you could have made?
Oof. The whole thing! But I have to say the ending, because it's the thing people can't stop talking about. Without it, I suppose someone else could have made this film. But the ending is a signature of sorts because of the "big twist" and moral ambiguity it conveys. People can't stop talking about the ending!
What do you hope audiences take away from this film?
As someone who's been examining intimacy and relationship dynamics since my mom made me her marriage counselor when I was 12, I hope audiences come away with a greater appreciation for human connection, flaws, fragility, and vulnerability. That's what makes love worth experiencing. Not the easy parts β the struggles, triumphs, challenges, and hard-won victories of the human condition.
What mindset shift helped most during production, and what would you share with others taking the leap?
The biggest mindset shift for me was accepting help, allowing myself to receive support, and believing that people wanted to help me bring my vision to life. That's been such a beautiful blessing.
At the beginning of this journey, I had no idea I was capable of making this film. I hoped I could, but I really didn't know. The daily steps β location scouting, casting, hiring crew, securing permits, getting insurance, renting equipment β all of it was so informative to my journey, and I am forever changed and grateful. I was fortunate to have filmmaker friends inspire me to take the leap, and since I've taken it, three of my friends have said my journey is inspiring their own. It really is a pay-it-forward journey.
What does it mean to have your film selected for HollyShorts?
Honestly, I'm humbled, giddy, grateful, and thrilled that tAinted love won the Grand Prize in Stage 32's Short Film Contest, which allows us to screen at HollyShorts. This film festival journey is filled with rejection, and getting a yes from a festival I respect so much β in our hometown, where cast and crew can attend β is a dream come true. Making this film has deepened my desire to make more indie films and bring more of my scripted projects to life. I love this collaborative medium and the incredibly talented folks who inhabit it.
Main Cast & Crew
- Lisa Steadman β Writer / Director / Executive Producer
- Brian Thomas β Director / Producer
- John Tipton β Cinematographer / Producer
- Steven Nevius β Editor
- Eusebio Hernandez β "Jorge"
- Diahnna Nicole Baxter β "JoJo"
Filmmaker Opportunities
π Fund your next project with fiscal sponsorship
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π¬ Focus on the creative β we'll help with the logistics
Production Management, CFA's newest member program, launches this November: production insurance and workers' comp, payroll, film permits, gear rental coordination, SAG-AFTRA compliance, contract drafting, production consulting, and crew recommendations β handled by a team of working filmmakers, Γ la carte or all in, in partnership with Creative Access Group. It's waitlist-only until launch. Join the waitlist β
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