Private Project

The Protagonist

A complicated woman named the Protagonist deals with the ending of multiple relationships, staging a performance for all of the men who broke her, and anyone else who is willing to listen.

  • Mattingly Wood
    Director
  • Mattingly Wood
    Writer
  • Mattingly Wood
    Producer
  • Mattingly Wood
    Editor
  • Erielle Amboy
    Director of Photography
  • Elliot Braudis
    Sound Recordist
  • Mattingly Wood
    Key Cast
    "The Protagonist"
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 26, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    500 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:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Massachusetts College of Art and Design
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • The Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival
    Uxbridge, Massachusetts
    United States
    July 27, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Cactus Club Independent Film Festival
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    United States
    August 9, 2024
    Official Selection
  • IQFAF Round 2
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    United States
    July 29, 2024
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Mattingly Wood

Mattingly Wood is an artist, writer, activist, and filmmaker. They explore the idea of identity and self-reflection through creating self-portraits and consistently writing about their life experiences, specifically about being a woman in her 20’s. Mattingly mixes media with the use of 16mm and digital in their films alongside experimenting with interactive elements with the audience and handmade film.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I have made immensely vulnerable pieces about myself and my past relationships. With this intensity, I am representing myself and all of my emotions for the audience to watch, judge, and critique. With The Protagonist, I am playing a character who shares my complicated emotions but isn’t me. This means people aren’t viewing me, they are viewing a character I created. With this separation, the Protagonist gets to be as complex and emotional as she pleases, especially showing off her rage after the ending of multiple relationships with men. This emotion is reflected through a monologue she performs in an empty dark room for the men who broke her. There are multiple sides of the Protagonist as she shows a quieter side when she leaves the dark room, admiring the ocean and trying to find peace within herself. Anyone can watch the Protagonist, she doesn't care about appealing to people. She is ruthlessly herself, becoming a whole new persona separate from me.