From Idea to Laurel: How I Wrote, Directed & Produced My First Short Film in 5 Weeks

If you had told me a while ago that I'd be where I am today, I would've said you were wrong. But "wrong" and "right" are subjective, aren't they? They depend on your goals, ideas, and beliefs. Today, I want to share my filmmaking journey with you, along with some tips that might help you if you're dreaming of directing your own short film. 

My Unexpected Path to Directing

I pioneered female entrepreneurship in Portugal and won the most significant awards a businesswoman could win worldwide. After thirteen years of living between countries (USA, China, Portugal), on planes and hotels without vacations, I decided to sell my company and pursue a new path—helping other entrepreneurs expand their businesses while developing their self-awareness for success.

You might be wondering how I stumbled upon Stage 32. Honestly, it’s a bit of a mystery even to me! I recall rekindling my creative writing in the summer of 2023, after writing a journal with 88 episodes, and even taking a screenwriting TV pilot and feature course at Michigan University. When I decided to dive into the filmmaking community, I somehow discovered I had actually been a member of Stage 32 since June 2022, though I couldn't remember joining! Perhaps my "higher self" knew what it was doing, but the timing wasn't right until October 2023. That's when I finally set up my complete profile with a photo and bio, and truly began to explore and learn to navigate the platform.

My journey really took off with the November Write Club in 2023. Winning this free community competition was a huge surprise and led to invaluable script coverage, which helped me write my first screenplay in just two months. This initial taste of Stage 32's free education and support proved to me that real growth was possible here.

The collaborative atmosphere quickly opened doors. I was thrilled when Geoff Hall invited me to be an executive producer for Seeing Rachel, marking the true start of my filmmaking career.

By March 2024, my screenplay, Soul Mated, was written, and I decided to invest in Stage 32 Education for professional guidance. Marsy Robinson's Script Consulting was crucial, pushing me to rewrite for universal understanding. Later, Kay Ross's "Break my Feature" consultation helped me refine it further, leading to my market-ready fourth draft.

Mastering the pitch was next. Alexia Melocchi's Stage 32 Pitch Lab in October transformed my 20-minute pitch into a concise 7-minute one. This prepared me for Stage 32 pitch sessions, where I secured requests for my screenplay from a producer and a manager – a significant victory. These resources, along with the power of lounge conversations, were instrumental in guiding me through the filmmaking production process.

In December 2024, the "cherry on top" arrived: Ashley Smith, Stage 32's Head of Community, invited me to be a Lounge Moderator. This role allows me to continue learning and help others achieve their goals.

I kept investing in my education in 2025. The Stage 32 Coverage Career Development Program with Nick Phillips deepened my industry understanding, and Sam Sokolow's Global Film & TV Production Summit further inspired me to take on new challenges.

Looking back, my evolution on Stage 32 has been incredible. From a brand-new filmmaker to now having a completed short film just over two years later, my journey shows that anything is possible if you actively engage with all that Stage 32 offers.

Now, my learning journey doesn't stop here! I'm excited to delve even deeper into the craft of directing with a fabulous class from the Stage 32 Education Program in August:

Fundamentals of Directing: From Visualization to Post-Production – 4 Part Class (August 2025) Hosted by: Heath Cullens.

From Idea to Action: The Birth of The Misstep

Last February, an old creative writing piece resurfaced in my mind, a story about a distracted man entering the wrong apartment. This idea had always lingered, and by April, I felt a strong urge to challenge myself. I also knew I needed to build my brand in the filmmaking industry. I'd only written one screenplay, Soul Mated, a romance/fantasy, but I wanted to tackle a thriller and push my boundaries.

So, I pitched my idea to a producer friend: write a thriller short script based on my existing creative writing. She loved it but then asked, "Who's going to direct?"

My immediate reply was, "I'll find a director."

But she quickly countered, "You are the director! You have the whole story and every scene in your mind."

I hesitated, "But I don't know how to direct; I've never done it."

She just smiled. She knows me well.

That conversation was a turning point. The idea became crystal clear in my mind, and I decided to take on the challenge. The result? In just five weeks, I wrote, produced, directed, and completed my debut short film, The Misstep.

My 12 Steps to Directing a Short Film

Here's how I did it:

1. Outline & Script in a Day: I wrote the outline and a 10-page short script in just one day. May 1st.
2. Co-Producer Onboard: I invited my producer friend, Carolina Afonso, to co-produce with me. She smiled and accepted the challenge!
3. Community Power: My first stop for guidance was the incredible Stage 32 community. I initially sought advice on my logline, and Maurice Vaughan and John Mezes were absolutely incredible with their insights. Their help, along with the advice I received from all of you on the Producing and Filmmaking/Directing Lounges was invaluable. Your collective wisdom, guidance, and tips became my real-world "certification."
4. Finding a Cinematographer: I asked fellow Stage 32 member Samita Nandy for recommendations for a cinematographer who could shoot in a cinematic style. She recommended Richard Osborne, a Lisbon-based professional with an impressive portfolio, including work with Steven Spielberg, James Bond, and House of the Dragon.
5. Pitch & Partnership: We met for coffee, and I pitched him my story. He accepted my invitation to come on board, and I was over the moon.
6. Casting the Lead: I knew I wanted a native English-speaking female actor. Richard suggested Joana Raio, an international actor trained at East 15 Acting School in London. Her simple reel, especially her poker face, instantly hooked me. We met, and she agreed to play Claire, our protagonist.
7. Director's Shot Deck and Shot List: With our cast and crew coming together, the next crucial step was to finalize the visual blueprint for the film: the Director's Shot Deck and Shot List. My cinematographer, Richard, specifically requested these two documents. The Shot Deck was particularly important for determining and renting the necessary lighting equipment. I created the Shot Deck using SHOTDECK - Home, which proved to be an invaluable tool. For the detailed Shot List, I turned to Celtx, my preferred screenwriting software. I dove deep into Celtx's features to build out a comprehensive shot-by-shot plan. A game-changer for the Shot List was generating the accompanying photos using Google's Gemini AI. This allowed me to maintain a consistent visual identity for my characters across all the reference images, something that's incredibly difficult with traditional methods. The secret, as I discovered, lies in crafting the right prompts. It's amazing what we're capable of when we push ourselves to explore new tools!
8. Rehearsals & Shoot Date: We held rehearsals and set the shooting date for May 23, 2025.
9. Production Puzzle: Carolina and I shared the immense task of production. We handled pre-production, production, and every detail from budgeting and crew to locations, wardrobe, props, catering, and makeup. Our business experience proved incredibly helpful here.
10. Micro-Budget, Maximum Quality: We self-funded the film as private equity, opting for a micro-budget. I prioritized quality, which meant investing our own resources.
11. Dream Team Assembly: I assembled the best team I could imagine: an eight-person crew including the director, producer, cinematographer, lead actor, gaffer, graphic designer, hair & makeup artist, and, crucially, a food production team. We decided on a one-day shoot to manage costs, as our micro-budget only allowed for it.

1. Shoot Day Success: On May 23, 2025, we shot The Misstep at my home and a nearby forest. We started at 1 PM and wrapped at 3 AM the next morning. We did it!
2. Post-Production & Festival Submission: Post-production took two weeks, with Ricard handling the editing under my supervision until we achieved the final version I envisioned. On June 10, 2025, the film was finished, and we immediately submitted it to the Female Film Festival.
3. First Laurel! Just two days later, on June 12, 2025, we received incredible news: The Misstep was selected for screening at the Female Film festival, supported by the British Film Institute (BFI), and will be screened at the BFI screening rooms in London on July 11th. We got our first laurel!

You might call me "crazy," but that's life, isn't it? When you dream, you can make it happen. What's meant for you will always find you. And considering all of us have other professional occupations, we truly achieved the impossible. I am incredibly proud of this accomplishment.

The Misstep is a thriller, a proof of concept that I aim to develop into a feature film later. As a director, this short film emerged from a personal desire to translate an emotional truth into a visual language. Rather than follow convention, I leaned into the surreal, the symbolic, and the sensory, crafting a world that invites the viewer not just to watch, but to feel. My intention was never to explain but to evoke; not to diagnose but to illuminate.

Next Steps For The Misstep

I'm thrilled to announce that The Misstep will be available for streaming starting July 15th on our official Vimeo channel!

You can also follow our journey and stay updated on all things The Misstep on our Instagram!

I genuinely invite all of you, my fellow filmmakers, directors, producers, and screenwriters to watch the short and share your honest opinions. Your sincere feedback is incredibly valuable to me. I appreciate every one-of you, and remember: "What is meant for you will always find you."

Thanks to Stage 32's powerful education and community, I am what I am today. Thank you!

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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