Heads or Tails | A Short Film by Dylan Stewart

My approach to filmmaking has always been a mix of practicality and creativity. In the same way that I could tell a story with just a pen and paper, I could make a film with a camera and editing software. As a filmmaker, I’m interested in subverting expectations because, like life, nothing is foreseen. I prioritize writing a story a viewer could be immersed in. Inspired by magical realism, my stories blur the line between reality and fantasy. As a kid, I spent some years in Jamaica, amidst the many exotic fruit trees, colorful birds, and many superstitions. Looking back at those memories always felt surreal and magical. When later in life I was introduced to Toni Morrison, she inspired many ideas with her poetic and descriptive approach to literature. Her books helped me connect to a more vivid memory of my childhood, embracing the superstitions and expanding on them for a broader story. Her work, similar to my own experiences growing up between Jamaica and New York City, exemplified how through the right lens, even the mundane can be made magical.
Inspired by The French New Wave movement, my films reflect the world around us, through social commentary and existential themes. I admire how the French new wave brought forth a more theoretical approach to filmmaking, with a freer editing style and loosely constructed scenarios. I want to implement this in my filmmaking to create a setting that feels lived in. Growing up in the Bronx, I was surrounded by many cultures and traditions, with many interesting people. Individuals who are morally gray in character. Highlighting these individuals, I’ll be showing the complexity of people in my community.