Table of Contents
In a popular ski town during the off-season, Sarah—a once-promising pro skier sidelined by a career-ending injury—now cleans the seasonal homes of second homeowners. Desperate to make ends meet, she ropes her brother Danny into robbing one of those houses, only to come face-to-face with its wealthy owner. What follows is an exchange between two people who live worlds apart yet both call this town home.
Townies (or, My Little Town) marks the directorial debut of Callum Adams, an actor known from BritBox's I, Jack Wright and Showtime's City on a Hill. Drawing on his upbringing in a Vermont ski town, Adams turns a crime setup into something deeply human: one moment in a person's life that happens to involve a crime, and a hard look at how she got there.
Key Takeaways
- A directorial debut rooted in the wealth inequalities of American resort towns, from Vermont to Jackson Hole to the Hamptons.
- A dialogue-driven two-hander that culminates in an overlapping, chaotic scene shot as a single take.
- Executive produced by three-time Emmy winner Tom Fontana, with a cast including Maren Lord and Michel Gill.
Adams spoke about the town that shaped the story, the discipline that shaped the set, and the empathy at the center of his work.
Interview
What drew you to make this film, and why this story, why now?
Growing up in a popular Vermont ski town, I experienced firsthand the realities of living in a resort community. These towns are often defined by their extreme wealth inequalities, with locals living in the shadow of affluence and tourism. I've come to appreciate the parallels that exist in places like Jackson Hole, Nantucket, Bozeman, the Hamptons, and realized the same conversations were happening in communities all across America—not just ski towns—where an influx of new residents, wealth, and tourism are transforming these communities and pushing them beyond their limits. I wanted to make a film that provides an insight into the desperation felt by many locals as they try to stay rooted in a place that is increasingly pushing them out, as well as exploring the complex nuances that exist in these communities when year-round locals are not the only group that have a meaningful connection to the town.
What surprised you most about the filmmaking process, including any moment on set that changed how you saw the story?
This shouldn't feel surprising, because we had incredible actors in Maren Lord and Michel Gill, but the level of focus and commitment from the two of them was truly remarkable. A lot of the film is a back and forth between their characters, and I remember they came in and ran the entire thing in one go, hitting every beat, every shift. It was so impressive to witness. Their preparation certainly made my job easier and gave us all the opportunity to play and dig even deeper. That level of meticulous focus really spread throughout the set, with every member of our crew giving 110% every day. I haven't experienced anything quite like it, and I commend every person who dove into the deep end with us on this project.
What moment in the film feels most like you, or like something only you could have made?
This is certainly not unique to me or our film, but Townies is very dialogue heavy, and there was a certain precision with which I felt the text needed to be handled. There is a sequence towards the end of the film where the dialogue is almost entirely overlapped, but there are specific moments and beats that need to land and be heard for the scene to work, while still having it feel chaotic and alive in the moment. The specificity and respect given to this scene was really special—especially because it was shot as a oner, which is no easy task for anyone, so it required full focus not just from the actors, but from everyone on set. I'm very proud that we were able to pull that off.
What was the hardest creative decision you made while making the film?
I think the work that was put into the score, and nailing down how we wanted Townies to sound, was a necessarily challenging part of the process. Andrew, our brilliant composer, came aboard the project pretty late, and he and I spent many hours on Zoom discussing ideas ranging from the possible instruments that could be used for certain characters, to how we could incorporate wood and earthy sounds into the film. It was such an in-depth process, but an incredibly rewarding one, and I just love walking around listening to the score on my headphones. It's beautiful.
What is the greatest strength of independent filmmaking, and how did you lean into it here?
I'm a believer that the more barriers or constraints you have, the more creative you have to be. With limited time, money, and resources, it forces you to come up with all kinds of creative ways to execute your vision. This is the epitome of independent filmmaking and can lead to such exciting results. We relied heavily on thinking outside the box on this film, and I would encourage people to always embrace that indie mindset, regardless of the budget or time you may have. Give yourself limitations and amazing things will happen—I promise!
How does your film fit within, or push the boundaries of, its genre?
It's funny—when we found out we got into HollyShorts, I started speculating which program we might be in. I didn't think Townies was a crime film, but of course it is. What's so interesting about crime stories is asking how we got here. What has led to this moment, and why are the characters making these drastic decisions? Our film is deeply human, and we are seeing one moment in a person's life, which happens to involve a crime. But the drive behind that, and the circumstances that got Sarah to this place in her life, is where the real story lies. I think that's a really fascinating element of the crime genre.
What does it mean to have your film selected for HollyShorts?
Honestly, we're still pinching ourselves every single day. As a first-time filmmaker, I didn't know what would come of this experience. All I knew is that I wanted to get behind the camera and tell this story. To be recognized by a festival like HollyShorts far exceeds the expectations we had for our film. I could not be more proud, or more grateful. Our screening at HollyShorts will be the first time this film has been seen by an audience, and that is both a terrifying and exhilarating thought.
Main Cast & Crew
- Callum Adams — Writer/Director/Cast (I, Jack Wright, City on a Hill)
- Tom Fontana — Executive Producer (three-time Emmy winner, creator of HBO's Oz)
- Maren Lord — Cast (Fear the Walking Dead, Iron Fist)
- Michel Gill — Cast (House of Cards, Mr. Robot)
- Mark Freeman — Producer
- Brandon St. Cyr — Producer
- Michael Kohlbrenner — Director of Photography
- Erica A. Hart — Casting Director
- Andrew Hind — Composer
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