After realizing she may want to date women, Anna goes to her roommate’s cousin’s lesbian engagement party in the hopes of figuring out her sexuality, but discovers something much more terrifying instead. Director’s Vision for ‘Happy Place’ After a feature gay rom-com I wrote, A Magical Place Called Glendale, “died” while in development hell (or fell “into a coma” as my producer so kindly put it), I was filled with a deep rage that lit a fire under my ass. I was done letting my work be controlled by others, so I decided to do the scariest thing of all: direct my own work.

I knew Happy Place was the perfect short to make because it so deeply encompassed my experience coming out. When I met my now-wife, I was newly out and very much felt like I was back in middle school – stumbling through dating and still uncomfortably becoming who I was always meant to be. Meanwhile, while my now-wife had been confidently out most of her life, she was newly divorced.

Despite us being at very different places in our coming out journeys, we were both deeply lost and yearning to finally be seen. Happy Place follows that idea – a nerve-wracking desperation to find our happy places, even if it’s just for a moment. Since stepping outside my comfort zone and directing my own work, I’ve felt like I’ve found my place in the world.

Now, I will be directing A Magical Place Called Glendale with one of the leads of Happy Place. Life comes full circle sometimes! To follow along –> glendalefilm.com