Interview with Filmmaker Matthew Villegas

By: Myriam Akbar

Meet 29 years old Matthew Villegas, a filmmaker and content creator based in Orlando, Florida. He studied film at the University of Central Florida and eventually moved to New York to pursue his career. Originally he wanted to work in post production as a colorist, but his path led him to working in a G&E rental house. During the SAG and WGA strikes, he moved back to Orlando because, “Work dried up and I just wanted to get to a better place mentally,” he says. 

Villegas has a long-standing love for cinema and describes himself in high school as a theater kid. “Aside from going to the movies often on weekends, I spent my formative years acting, singing, and drawing. Over time, I found myself gravitating more towards filmmaking,” he says. However, he feels his journey to this realization wasn’t typical. His path didn’t begin with getting his first camera. “My passion for film grew out of my broader love of the arts. I believe that bringing those outside influences into filmmaking shaped my perspective. This is the acknowledgment of how much cinema is enriched and inspired by other forms of art,” he shares. Throughout his time working on other people’s projects, Villegas decided to self-produce his own animated short film, My Week With Charlie. The plot involves a time he took care of his roommate’s dog named Charlie and the adventures they had, as well as the lessons he learned throughout his time living in NYC. There is a teaser available to watch on YouTube and it’s currently making its runs through film festivals. He is currently working on writing a feature script that he might later adapt into a short film. It’s titled The Love Courier and revolves around a food courier that gets uninvited from his daughter’s birthday party, spending the day delivering and trying to understand the true meaning of love. 

I discovered Villegas on TikTok, where he recently began making content because he wanted an outlet to share his feelings, ideals, and opinions in regard to film and art. He also wanted a way to connect with like-minded people in a creative way. “My initial goal was to talk about the experience of being a beginner in filmmaking and communicate with people who are shifting from working in other departments or need an extra push to make their own indie projects, no matter how big or how small they may seem,” he explains. In his videos  he covers topics like pitching concepts, budgeting, perceptions of success, and equipment. 

Shown to him by a teacher, the documentary Sherman’s March is a film that greatly influenced Villegas. He says it had a profound impact on his perception of storytelling and demonstrated the kind of films he wants to create. “I wouldn’t say I have a single favorite genre, because there are so many that I love. I’ve always been drawn to meta cinema — films that break the fourth wall and reveal something unexpected on the other side. That’s probably why I connect so much with Charlie Kaufman’s work,” he shares. Right now, Villegas feels compelled to make projects that challenge how people think about independent filmmaking. “In many ways, I feel we’ve lost the hunger for telling deeply personal stories,” he says. He feels that phenomenal acting performances and authentic narratives often get overshadowed by technical polish — the latest cameras, lighting setups, or LUTs designed to create a specific aesthetic. While Villegas finds that those elements of filmmaking have their place, he believes that the real power comes from experimentation and discovering your own voice. He argues that most technical skills can be learned from a YouTube video, but that no one else can replicate your perspective or the stories only you can tell. 

Creator Highlight: Jay Urban

By: Myriam Akbar

Meet content creator Jay Urban, from North West London! Despite posting his first TikTok video in February 2024, he has accumulated over 500K followers and has over 90K on Instagram where I discovered his page. Impressed and inspired by Urban’s constant presence at TV and film screenings, I had to hit the follow button. 

Although he has enjoyed screen media since a child, seeing other creators on social media is what made him realize that there was more to learn and discover. “When I started posting videos on TikTok, I became passionate and hungry to expose myself to the film and TV industry,” Urban says. At the moment his preferred genres are crime and thriller, listing The Bear, Breaking Bad, and Dexter as favorite TV shows. As for films, he lists No Country For Old Men and Captain America: Civil War.

The best part of Urban’s content creating success has been the opportunities he has been given and the people he has met.”My favorite premiere was for Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning. It was filled with great vibes and I got to greet Tom Cruise, as well as brush shoulders with Michael B. Jordan,” he shares. Another highlight he mentioned was being invited to the BAFTA Film Awards — a moment that made him realize just how real the feeling of  impostor syndrome is. “I couldn’t believe I was there surrounded by all these celebrities and film stars. I even said hello to Mikey Madison and she said it back,” he says. As for the more challenging side to content creating, Urban lists keeping up with new releases and finding new ways to improve his videos. 

“People always ask me how I’ve managed to do so well in such a short space of time and I always tell them by just being me — by being authentic and honest. And I’m proud of,” he says.

Creator Highlight: Audrie Nightmare

By: Myriam Akbar

Meet horror content creator Audrie Rivera, based out of Los Angeles. She began making TikTok videos in October 2024, because her friends kept asking her what movies they should watch. “I had this ridiculously long notes app list, organized by genre that I’d send them. One day, I thought: Wait — maybe the internet wants this too? And boom — Audrie Nightmare was born,” she shares. Rivera’s passion for the art began when she was a child and as a teen was singing with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. She also did musical theater and participated in plays, switching to film and TV once she moved to Los Angeles. “I was auditioning until last year, when I realized the industry was in disarray. However I knew I had to feed that creative beast, so I married my love of performing and horror —and here we are,” she says. Her other preferred genres are thriller and mystery, listing Army of Darkness and Thirteen Ghosts as favorite films.

Rivera says the best part of being a content creator is connecting with other horror lovers that are just as passionate and excited about the genre as she is. “The friendships I’ve made are priceless,” she says. An accomplishment she’s proud of is overcoming the fear of internet trolls and having the confidence to put herself out there. As for highlights while being in the field, she lists meeting other creators and being invited to film screenings. An event for the upcoming horror film, Keeper was a memorable experience for Rivera because Osgood Perkins was there. “Hearing about his fears and inspirations for the film was fascinating. He’s such a compelling storyteller. I’m counting down the days until we get the full release,” she shares. “The challenge of making content is finding time between my full-time job and side hustles to actually make it happen. I also procrastinate like it’s an Olympic sport. However, the true villain is editing,” she admits.

Although she is currently building her career behind the camera, Rivera is still very much pursuing acting. Looking forward, one of her biggest goals is to play a villain in a horror film. “Once you’re in this world, it’s impossible not to want to get involved. That’s my dream, getting to be unhinged on screen,” she says. 

Why is 2025 Horror Divisive? My Thoughts: Expectation, Scare, Evolution, and Multi-Genre Films

 By: Myriam Akbar

From the very beginning of the year, I noticed that audience opinions on horror releases were incredibly divisive. From Presence, to Wolf Man, to The Woman in the Yard. This has continued throughout the year with Him and Shelby Oaks. I want to preface this essay by saying that we’re all entitled to like and dislike films for whatever reason we have. However, I will be examining why I think it is that some are simply labeled “trash” and others held with a little more care. 

From the outside looking in, it appears to me that a mix of excitement and expectation leads to disappointment. I often hear criticism followed by, “It’s just not what I thought it would be about.” I believe that trailers play a significant role in assumption. I have seen people dislike a film entirely because the plot was different from what they had in their mind—forming this opinion without critical thought and analysis. I think with this, it’s important for people to remember that cinema is art. The artists—the filmmakers created their project with their personal vision in mind, so it’s not always going to fit what is preconceived. Accepting and respecting an artist’s work for what it is, can make way for a more balanced viewing experience.

Because fear is a critical component of horror as a definition (along with shock and disgust), whether a film is “scary” or not is often a topic of discussion. Which brings about the question: do horror films need to be scary? Let’s start with the obvious, when it comes to on screen media—this is subjective, uniquely experienced by each individual. Fear is an emotion that is felt when one believes danger is near. In other words, it involves the anxieties associated with impending harm. This as an element of horror, means that films in the genre explore dread and injury in the human condition. A good script will demonstrate a believable situation where characters find themselves in danger, are a danger to themselves, or to others. Within this, various themes are incorporated to reveal all that scares us. I believe horror films are a method of introspection and discussion, rather than a tool only to make us sleep with the lights on. I have even started to categorize scary films as almost separate from horror films—ones that rely on jump scares, horrifying visual imagery, and chilling sound. For example: two of the scariest films I’ve ever seen are Last Shift, as well as its remake, Malum. Both of these use the devices above to create fear within the characters and for the audience, more than exploring thematic concerns about the human condition. Sub-genre and proximity to reality plays a role as well, in this case being supernatural. Yes they’re horror films but to me have the intention of scaring viewers. With all of this being said, I don’t believe horror films necessarily need to be scary and as the genre expands, this will become more apparent. 

One of my favorite novels titled Scream Writing by Zack Long, thoroughly discusses the history and definition of horror, as well as teaches aspiring writers how to bring terror alive on the screen. Long explores the rise of the genre in cinema and its cycles, censorship, sub-genre, and the evolution of horror. He lists early examples (pre-1960s); such as: German expressionism, Gothic and the monster, exploitation and gore, giallo, and occult. Horror has developed and transformed over the years, as it has spread throughout continents. Culture, history, socialization, and technological advancements all impact the themes and concepts explored in these films. As of recently for example, we’ve seen an uprising in AI related concerns demonstrated on screen. Some other examples are the demand for inclusivity or the highlighting of mental illness to spread awareness. I have found that some people treat horror as monolithic, not allowing it to take on serious and relevant topics in the way that other genres do. This limitation results in confusion, disappointment, neglect of media literacy, and dismissal of critical analysis. While sometimes I’m in the mood to watch a film like Halloween, entertained by a masked man chasing a babysitter with a knife. Other times I want to feel deeply, by watching a film like His House — one that demonstrates the pain and isolation of escaping war. Within a house there might be grief and memories of trauma, haunting a family who is struggling to heal. Alongside a monster might be their true self, living in fear of the transformation taking place inside them. Behind the brave face of a final girl might be exhausted hyper-vigilance, stemming from a stressful upbringing. Horror is the vehicle in which a writer sits, unleashing stories from the heart as they push hard on the pedal. 

The three reasons for divisiveness in horror that I discussed above are expectation, scare, and evolution of the genre. The fourth is one that’s associated with all of them: multi-genre horror films. One of my favorites from this year is Companion, a sci-fi horror film with some comedy. Although I would say that most people enjoyed it, many said that it wasn't what they expected and wasn’t scary enough to be considered a horror film. I don’t view it as just that and don’t think it was intended to be. The trailer played a role in expectation and depending on which one you watched (I typically skip them altogether), the plot-twist was spoiled. I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly impressed, feeling that the various genres were well-balanced. Multi-genre horror films have existed for quite some time. For example the popular franchise, A Nightmare on Elm Street. It mixes supernatural horror with slasher and fantasy. As the genre evolves, I see filmmakers using this method more often and creating more divisive discussions. Some people love traditional horror films that fall heavy into scaring the viewer. While I’m a fan of all of the above, I can see how this throws people off. 

As someone who is pursuing script-writing and plans to make horror films, it’s important for me to understand public opinion on these subjects. While I’m grounded in my own beliefs surrounding them, it’s critical knowledge that will allow me to adapt to trends and create projects that resonate with people. So as a second part to this essay, I will be conducting interviews and sharing what social media content creators think about these subjects.

Photo Creds: Collages made from IMDB.com