Lily's Mirror
Lily is out on a dinner date with her boyfriend Bart, expecting a proposal, when he unexpectedly chops off her hand. As Lily works on recovering, she begins to feel phantom pains where her hand used to be, so her doctor gives her a therapeutic mirror box to help with the discomfort. However, as she begins to use the box, she realizes there's a side effect: she can see real phantoms in the mirror. Specifically, she begins to see the obituaries of multiple dead women who experienced recent and mysterious deaths come to life. As Lily learns these women's stories, their lives and deaths begin to intertwine in a journey of self-discovery, female empowerment, and the quest for justice.
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Linnea FryeDirector
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Adam PinneyDirectorThe Arbalest
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Linnea FryeWriter
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Adam PinneyWriterThe Arbalest
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Megan DahlProducerThat Was Awesome!, Hart of America
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Linnea FryeKey Cast"Lily"
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Jamie MooreKey Cast"Tim Davis"Let's Be Cops, Identity Thief, Anchorman 2, Drop Dead Diva, Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?
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Vivianna ChavezKey Cast"Maria Estando Cortez"WandaVision, Cobra Kai, The Resident, Dynasty, The Walking Dead
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Katie HawkinsDirector of PhotographyWhat's Your Problem?, Archer After Hours, Altromare
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Thomas BarnwellComposersCracks, Poor Jane, The Theta Girl, The Arbalest, A Is for Alex, Congratulations!
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Ian DeatonComposersCracks, Poor Jane, The Theta Girl, The Arbalest, A Is for Alex, Congratulations!
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Sara SlickComposers
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Karen FreedCostume DesignerThe Resident, Stranger Things, Mandy, Hidden Figures, Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell
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Jenny WentlingProduction DesignerThunderforce, Sweet Magnolias, Vacation Friends
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Mike BruneAssociate ProducerDie Hart, Sweet Magnolias, Creepshow, Easy, Atlanta, Your Pre
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Jamie ShepardSound Designer
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Chris NalesnikVisual EffectsGood Grief Suicide Hotline, Lemonade Stand
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Project Type:Short
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Genres:Comedy, Drama, thriller, horror, women's issues
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Runtime:17 minutes 14 seconds
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Completion Date:November 20, 2021
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Production Budget:15,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:4:3
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Fantasia Film FestivalMontreal, Quebec
Canada
July 23, 2022
World Premiere
Official Selection -
GenreBlastWinchester, VA
United States
September 3, 2022
US Premiere
Winner: Best Short Film, Nominated: Best Short Film, Best Comedy Short, Best Actress - Linnea Frye -
MOTEL/XLisbon
Portugal
September 12, 2022
European Premiere
Official Selection -
Court Métrange Rennes International Fantastic Short Film FestivalRennes
France
September 29, 2022
French Premiere
Official Selection -
Miami Short Film FestMiami
United States
November 11, 2022
Southeastern US Premiere
Official Selection
Linnea Frye - Co-Writer/Co-Director/Actor:
Linnea is a Chicago-based writer, actor, and improviser. Currently, she's a professional actor with Big Mouth Talent, a teacher at The Second City, and a freelance writer. Her goal in life is to create meaningful comedy with friends that help people to grow, heal, and change. Originally from Atlanta, GA, she cut her teeth at Dad’s Garage Theatre Co. where she was part of the company for over ten years. While there, she was a performer as well as a writer for their stage shows and their online arm, DGTV.
Adam Pinney - Co-Writer/Co-Director: Adam is a writer/director whose 2016 film, The Arbalest, won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2016 SXSW Film Festival, and was previously selected to participate in the 2015 IFP Narrative Labs. Adam was the cinematographer for Joe Swanberg's 24 Exposures, and for Adult Swim's viral short, Too Many Cooks. He is also an illustrator and Graphic Designer who has created posters for Jeremy Saulnier's Green Room and Macon Blair's Sundance-winning film, I Don't Feel at Home in this World Anymore.
Lily’s Mirror was created after my world was turned upside-down following a life-altering emotionally abusive incident. As I shared what happened to me with my close female friends, they all had similar stories to share. Almost every woman I knew had experienced abusive treatment from within a personal and/or professional relationship, and yet it was never spoken about.
Psychological abuse is an invisible epidemic, and is often overlooked or dismissed, even though it can be equally as devastating as physical abuse. With Lily’s Mirror, I wanted to give a visual representation to psychological abuse and violence against women while exploring women’s journeys around recovery and a search for justice.
In order to keep the film approachable and encourage dialogue, the story was framed in a semi-fantastical way, using small comedic elements to allow for levity and relief. Set in 1990, color choices were inspired by early 90's tennis windbreakers and Claude Monet's Water Lilies. Dark and moody lighting was used to indicate Lily’s despair, and further references of blue and yellow with bits of red were used to reference Snow White and her own mirror-based odyssey.
I was incredibly lucky to be joined by my long time friend and creative partner, Adam Pinney as my Co-Writer/Co-Director. Making this movie with him, along with my power-house Producer Megan Dahl, and a largely female cast and crew helped me take my power back and see myself through my own eyes again - and not through the distorted reflection of another’s.
- Linnea Frye