““It’s nothing. Really. Never mind.” As humans, we’re very well-schooled in the art of invalidating our own feelings and the art of seeking validation from others, especially family. That singular phrase, “it’s nothing,” sums up everything and nothing we feel all at once. We say it when we’re feeling the most vulnerable, yet that simple phrase stops us from revealing those feelings and asking for help.

I’m continually interested in stories of isolation, especially those of our own making. Self-doubt, competitive nature, and our need for perfection creates a distance between ourselves and those we love. I was immediately drawn to the sisters in this story, recognizing that at face value they seem so different, but at their heart, they’re the same - struggling with relationships, needing to be strong, needing to be seen. It’s in those struggles that we see their love for each other. It is a love that plays out in so many forms, but at the root of all their actions, is a bond fueled by that fierce love for each other.

Not Nothing, at its core, is about family, relationships, and the strength of love in the most necessary of moments. So, I approached this story emotionally. We shot completely hand held to allow the camera to feel all that our characters were feeling and give the audience a fly-on-the-wall perspective to some very intimate moments. I worked with our DP, Drew Ganyer, to establish a clear visual language throughout the film. When filming the sisters we always used an over-the-shoulder single shot to give that sense of togetherness, as opposed to when we shot with other characters, we used clean singles. I wanted the sisters to constantly be in frame together so that at the point of their relationship breakdown the viewer would feel something was missing, in the same way the sisters felt more alone than ever.

I feel strongly that this story of two 40-something sisters and their strong bond is one that isn’t being told in mainstream media. It is a story that will resonate with sisters, brothers, and friends and deserves to be told. It’s Not Nothing, it’s everything.”

“ I was inspired to write the film Not Nothing by events in my own life coupled with what I’ve seen in the world in regard to unconditional love; its strength and its limitations.

I am a person who loves deeply. With love, pain, and the pursuit of peace and happiness, I continue to seek strength through acceptance. To love, yet not to fix. To have gratitude for what is. To love others deeply for exactly who they are while simultaneously valuing myself enough to claim my own joy and worth.  All of this has inspired the film Not Nothing.

I previously called upon Kerith Lemon to guest-direct a comedy series Hey You, It’s Me. She was fantastic. Her storytelling is heartfelt and reflective of the beauty and delicacy of the human experience. When seeking a director for Not Nothing, a more dramatic piece, Kerith was my obvious first choice. I was thrilled when Kerith, after reading the script, jumped in to guide the telling and sharing of this relatable story. Once I saw her on set and felt the heightening effect of her collaboration, I knew we had something special.  

”