Finding a voice: NM director Sheridan O'Donnell gets introspective in writing 'Little Brother'

Oct. 19—Sheridan O'Donnell has a vision for what he wants to accomplish in film.

It's stories that captivate and begin conversations.

Mission accomplished as the New Mexico native wrote and directed the feature film "Little Brother."

The film is set to screen at the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival on Saturday, Oct. 21, and Sunday, Oct. 22.

"Little Brother" follows Jake, played by Daniel Diemer, as he drives his older brother Pete, played by Philip Ettinger, home for a family intervention after his most recent suicide attempt.

The majority of production took place in New Mexico.

Ettinger says he was won over by reading O'Donnell's script.

"I found that it was a rare script that talked about mental health, family and suicide," Ettinger says. "It felt nonjudgmental, and it affected me really deeply. I met with Sheridan and his story is so amazing. I felt like I needed to be a part of the film."

Ettinger says in recent years, he's gone down the path of finding projects that navigate and represent mental health in a nonjudgmental way.

"I've always wanted to be part of a project that makes me feel less alone," Ettinger says. "This film had everything I needed."

O'Donnell says the film has screened at a few film festivals, and he's been touched by the response.

He remembers hearing director Paul Schrader talked about how he came into movies, which made an impression on a young O'Donnell.

" 'Taxi Driver' was a favorite of mine," O'Donnell says. "Even though that movie is dark and strange. I had never seen a movie like that and the humanity of wanting to empathize. That made me feel seen as a person. Growing up in New Mexico and being half Asian, I had a very difficult childhood and it made me feel alienated from the world. Cinema is where I found myself. And that's the power I have."

When O'Donnell sat down to write the script, he wanted to represent the community not being spoken for.

"In the back of my mind, it was about finding a way to make this truthful," O'Donnell says. "It took a lot of work to get it right."

While Ettinger was impressed by the script, O'Donnell says Ettinger was the right person to play the character.

"I couldn't imagine this movie without Phil," O'Donnell says. "I've been a fan of his for a long time. During the pandemic, I was watching '(I Know) This Much is True' and it was so good. Then I realized it's the guy from 'First Reformed.' When I was writing the script and imagining it, I had to get the character of Pete right. I was struck by Phil's work and he has more dimension than my writing does. He's operating on 15 to 20 dimensions and brings everything to another level."

O'Donnell worked with Albuquerque-based production company Inspirado on the film.

"(This is part) of our new initiative for self-generated independent films in New Mexico that's been in the works for quite some time," says Keagan Karnes, executive producer. "Our goal is for New Mexico to make films from the inside out, not from the outside in."

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