Why Not, Pat?

Pat (Sam Nivola) is a hopelessly romantic New York stoner, desperately and obsessively rewatching the same movie to cope with a recent breakup. When his douchey, self-proclaimed ‘womanizer’ roommate Sascha (James Wilkie Broderick) somehow manages to bring home two young women (Ruby Westhoff and Elisabetta Malanga) from a club, Pat is begged to help his friend get laid, much to his annoyance. Pat reluctantly finds himself slipping into the trappings of love once more, only to have his previous disdain for romance reaffirmed when he falls victim to Amy and Tess’s master plan.

  • Sam Nivola
    Director
    Neighborhood Watch
  • Theodore John Ryan
    Writer
  • Sam Nivola
    Writer
  • Anthony Ertle
    Producer
  • Theodore John Ryan
    Producer
  • Sam Nivola
    Producer
  • Ruby Westhoff
    Key Cast
  • James Wilkie Broderick
    Key Cast
  • Elissabetta Malagna
    Key Cast
  • Sam Nivola
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    March 19, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    6,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Sam Nivola

Sam Nivola is a New York based actor, writer-director, and producer. Having established himself as a writer-director with his debut short film "Neighborhood Watch" which made its world premier at the Tribeca Film Festival, Sam has joined forces with friends and colleagues Theodore John Ryan and Anthony Ertle to launch Cold Worm Productions, whose first short Why Not, Pat? is in post production, set to hit screens on the 2024 international festival circuit. His acting work includes some of the highest profile projects of the past few years - Noah Baumbach’s "White Noise", Bradley Cooper’s "Maestro", William Oldroyd’s "Eileen" to name a few. He made his TV debut in the upcoming Netflix limited series The Perfect Couple opposite Nicole Kidman and Dakota Fanning (set to release late summer), more recently starring in the third season of HBO’s "The White Lotus".

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Director Statement

"Why Not, Pat?" is a film about love, loss, and modern masculinity. The story dives into the aftermath of a heartbreak and the journey towards recovery amidst toxic pressures and new love interests. Taking place in New York's Upper West Side, "Why Not, Pat?" blurs reality and fantasy while moments of introspection take our main character through the rollercoaster ride of love. In this film, I aim to challenge conventional romantic comedy narratives, sparking conversations about love, identity, and mental health in the ever changing modern dating world.