Loosen Up: The Short

18 year old Charlie is eager to get to college where she can finally escape her overbearing parents and put her obsession with self-pleasure to rest using a more socially accepted pleasure. Unfortunately, it's there that she discovers sex isn't quite as easy as it looks. Feeling more like a freak than ever before, Charlie must come to terms with an unexpected diagnosis: vaginismus.

  • Maddy Murphy
    Director
  • Evan Macedo
    Director
  • Maddy Murphy
    Writer
  • Evan Macedo
    Writer
  • Maddy Murphy
    Producer
  • Evan Macedo
    Producer
  • Maddy Murphy
    Key Cast
    "Charlie"
  • Nicholas Petroccione
    Key Cast
    "Josh"
  • Krysta Gonzales
    Key Cast
    "Dr. Jones"
  • Alison Hanson
    Key Cast
    "Linda"
  • Seth Brubaker
    Key Cast
    "Frank"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Sex Comedy, Comedy Drama, Dramedy, Coming of Age Comedy
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 24, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    6,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Maddy Murphy, Evan Macedo

Maddy Murphy (she/her) wears many hats as not only the director, but the writer, producer, and lead actor of this project. An actor who enjoys creating her own work, Maddy is the CEO of femme-focused production company Mind the Gap Media, Inc. She has been writing and directing works for her and her friends to perform in since she was 8, comedy always being a favorite genre. She even went on to direct several well-received one-act theatre performances while in school and later transitioned into education, directing and assistant directing young students in an after-school theatre program. She is thrilled to make her film directing debut with this important project!

Evan Macedo (he/him) is a Jewish-Latino director and actor. On this project, he too wears many hats, acting as co-director, co-writer, and co-producer or as he puts it best, “Maddy’s little helper.” An award-winning director, Evan has worked on various shorts, sitcoms, and narrative podcasts. His favorite genre, however, is comedy, for which he won the USC Dramatic Arts Alumni and Friends award for his work “transforming the Suspenders Sketch Comedy Troupe” as Artistic Director and as one of the writers. He is thrilled to be a part of “Loosen Up: The Short” and help educate people with laughter about such important topics.

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Director Statement

“Loosen Up: The Short” is a proof-of-concept for a wider series, entirely inspired by my (Maddy's) experiences with vaginismus and the vulnerability of sexual dysfunction. I hope to use this project as a means to spread awareness and understanding, in addition to helping people experiencing dysfunction feel less alone…with plenty of laughs along the way!