Self Sabotage

A girl recovering from a failed suicide attempt, struggles with the guilt of destroying everything and everyone she loves.

  • Brialynn Massie
    Director
  • Brialynn Massie
    Writer
  • Brialynn Massie
    Producer
    Vengeance Girl
  • Hunter Johnson
    Producer
    2 Jennifer
  • Chris Kato
    Producer
    Forgetting Regret
  • Charles Chudabala
    Producer
    2 Jennifer
  • Brialynn Massie
    Key Cast
    "Girl"
    Vengeance Girl
  • Jennifer Nangle
    Key Cast
    "Mom"
    Malvolia Queen of Screams
  • Ashely Fain
    Key Cast
    "Monster"
  • Nikki Hicks
    Makeup Design
    Malvolia Queen of Screams
  • Amy Mcginnus
    Music Composed By
  • Paula Chrichton
    Music Composed By
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Horror, Drama
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 5, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    200 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Brialynn Massie

Bria is a queer filmmaker in remission from Borderline Personality Disorder. They tell compassionate stories from underrepresented mental health perspectives and their misunderstood, sad, dark and sometimes ugly experiences, rather than the Hollywood romanticization or vilification of it. They utilize surreal elements, grounded in reality to transport the audience into the lives of the characters and what they are experiencing first hand. It is important to them to not only have a call to action, but to incorporate language, skills and science from the psychological community into their films.

Bria’s focus in post-production has highlighted their decade worth of experience working with both studios and independents. Their short film, Self Sabotage and latest feature Vengeance Girl delve into mental illness, revenge, and regret.

I never want anyone to feel as alone as I do.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This was Bria's first short film and holds a special place in their heart. It encompasses the terrifying fear that they, and many people with Borderline, have struggled with since childhood... that they will always be poison to everyone and everything they love. That no matter how hard they try, how "good" they are, the other shoe will always drop.

One of the hardest lessons they've had to wrap their head around was to finally say "I am not a monster" when the world around them and their loved ones consistently convinces them otherwise.

"The fact you keep trying every single day to love and cherish this beautiful world that hates and rejects you, to nurture it and treat it with care in fear of destroying or poisoning it further, is a good sign that maybe you aren't such a villain after all. You are not your mistakes. You're what you do about them"

They had a fantastic group of friends help pull this together and finish it.

"I am so proud of this piece and am relieved to have finally found the "words" to express this unique feeling of Self Sabotage. Thank you so much to everyone that pulled together."

Elle is back home after a recent failed suicide attempt and must struggle with intrusive fears, thoughts and feelings of herself that sabotage her relationship with her cautious but optimistic mother.

This film explores the feeling of being labeled as the "problem" which becomes internalized by children, especially if your motives are constantly presumed by those around you as malicious rather than a cry for help.

Further more, this film is unique in that it explores the intriacies of the moments returning home for the first time after a suicide attempt. Most films end after the "excitement" of the act but don't address the residual feelings of having to face your loved ones and the fear and guilt associated with rekindling the damaged relationships from your mental illness.

It is an apology to my mother whom I have had to go no contact with most of my life.