Experiencing Interruptions?

Millie's Care Free Day

Weighed down and despondent from crushing depression, Millie tries to escape the daily grind by deciding today will be different. However, she must first confront her trauma before it consumes her.

  • Michael Licisyn
    Director
  • Michael Licisyn
    Writer
  • Michael Licisyn
    Producer
  • Sarah Braun
    Producer
  • Kathryn Miller
    Key Cast
    "Millie"
  • Rachel Keefe
    Key Cast
    "Leah"
  • Kevin Stahl
    Score Composer and Music Producer
  • Spencer Camacho
    "This Time" Songwriter and Performer
  • Michael Licisyn
    Editing
  • Michael Licisyn
    Cinematography
  • Chris Potako
    Sound
  • Sarah Braun
    Assistant Director
  • Mixed Nuts Productions
    Production Company
    STILL, No Footing
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 10 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 21, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Blackmagic Raw
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:4:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Phoenixville Film Festival
    Phoenixville, PA
    September 22, 2023
  • Smodcastle Film Festival
    Atlantic Highlands, NJ
    October 13, 2023
  • Atlantic City Cinefest
    Atlantic City, NJ
    October 14, 2023
    Best Short Drama, Best Actress Short Film
  • Off Page Film Festival
    Philadelphia, PA
    November 4, 2023
  • The Film Collective Short Film Festival
    Bensalem, PA
    November 10, 2023
  • Garden State Film Festival
    Asbury Park, NJ
    Best Song from a Short Film
  • Media Film Festival
    Media, PA
    March 30, 2024
  • Hang Onto Your Shorts Film Festival
    Red Bank, NJ
    April 6, 2024
  • New Hope Film Festival
    New Hope, PA
    April 6, 2024
    Best Short Short
  • Allentown Film Festival
    Allentown, PA
    April 13, 2024
    Best Empowerment Film
  • First Take Short Series
    Doylestown, PA
    April 25, 2024
  • West Chester Film Festival
    West Chester, PA
    April 27, 2024
  • Philadelphia Independent Film Festival
    Philadelphia, PA
    May 11, 2024
  • Jersey Shore Film Festival
    Red Bank, NJ
    July 5, 2024
    Grand Jury: Best of Best Jersey Short / Best Director: Jersey Short
  • Newark Independent Film Festival
    Newark, DE
    August 10, 2024
  • Northeast Film Festival
    Teaneck, NJ
    September 7, 2024
  • New Jersey Web Festival
    Montclair, NJ
    September 27, 2024
    Best Actress in a Drama​ / Best Score/Soundtrack
  • FirstGlance Film Festival Philadelphia
    Philadelphia, PA
    September 28, 2024
  • Reading Film Festival
    Reading, PA
    October 12, 2024
Director Biography - Michael Licisyn

Michael is an Emmy winning filmmaker from South Jersey and co-founder of Mixed Nuts Productions. He has produced multiple award-winning films including the indie feature No Footing, the short thriller STILL and wrote and directed the action adventure short film The Phillie Phanatic Saves the 4th. He is best known for producing the web series Living in 8 Bits which pokes fun at the logic and tropes of retro video games.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Millie's Care Free Day is my most personal film I've ever made. In May of 2020 as we were 2 months into the Covid-19 pandemic, my life like so many other's was entirely upended where I went through multiple major life changes in a short period of time that included losing my dad. My mental health had hit an all time low.

Making movies has always been my personal therapy. It was how I enriched my mental health and we couldn't do it at the time. I am mostly known for making comedic, uplifting and often geeky films. I just always wanted to make people smile and enjoy themselves but I lost my drive to create. In early 2021, I received a handwritten note from Lin-Manuel Miranda in response to a fan letter. He wrote: "Amidst all the uncertainty, maybe you can use this time to make art and take deep breaths and fill the world with more love." I started writing Millie's Care Free Day that day.

This is a film about overcoming crippling anxiety, heartbreak, grief, trauma and depression. Millie represents who I was at the time: a despondent isolationist who was at the brink where no matter what I did to escape my depression was there. Leah represents the part of me that wouldn't allow me to escape the mental madness.

Making this film has been a cathartic experience for me. We had an amazing group of artists who really connected with this film and gave it their all despite the very low partially fan funded budget. Kathryn Miller and Rachel Keefe brought these characters to life with exceptional performances -- the best I have ever captured with my camera. Sarah Braun was there every step of the development offering such invaluable artistic insight. Chris Potako's chilling sound design mixed with Kevin Stahl's beautiful score and Spencer Camacho's brilliant song "This Time" captured the tension and inner feelings of what these characters were experiencing. The entire crew made this film work like a mosaic and it was truly a beautiful experience.

This is a film for those who have felt the same way who can take solace in knowing that you are not alone and there is a path to overcoming no matter how difficult it can be. Because I know for me personally how special this experience has been and I hope it is special for you as well.