Meet The Team: Kristen Semedo
Producer Extraordinaire
Meet Kristen Semedo — one of the exceptional producers attached to DEADENING! Kristen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Studies from Arizona State University and is a screenwriter, script analyst, and Local 44 property master residing in Los Angeles. She is the writer and director of the short horror film Vermin. Her short screenplay, Deadlock, was recently named an official Filmquest '24 Short Screenplay selection and finalist.
Her love of horror is the cornerstone of her filmography. Since childhood, Kristen has been emphatic about the entire genre, from haunted houses to high-brow arthouse films. She's also known for her Property Master work on Destroy All Neighbors (Directed by Josh Forbes and starring Alex Winter & Jonah Ray Rodriguez,) Scott Derrickson’s segment on V/H/S/85, and Aporia (Directed by Jared Moshe).
You may recall my impressions of Kristen, both as a friend and a professional, when I had the pleasure of producing her short film, VERMIN. Since then, she has been a true foundation of trust, comfort, and reassurance throughout the pre-production of my own project. I was able to ask her more about her career, her preferences in medium, and what it was about DEADENING that enticed her to devote even more of her free time to seeing this production through.
As a writer/director/producer, do you have a preference? Why?
Writing will always be my #1, though the idea of only writing spec scripts and letting someone else bring the vision forward is challenging for me. The thing about writing, for me, is the solitude. When you’re out in the world, you’re collecting stories, conversing with people, or eavesdropping on strangers, making mental notes, and gathering observations to return to the proverbial writing desk. Extracting those observations in quiet reflection is such an intimate process. I find it my favorite form of meditation. Taking the world I experienced and reassembling it within a page is sacred.
Where do you start with your own stories? An emotion, a memory, a concept?
It depends. Many of the scripts I’ve written start with the classic, see-a-scene-in-your-head phenomena that many of us experience. Often, no story is formed around the image; it’s just an interesting visual. However, there are also themes that I tend to revolve my writing (and reading, for that matter) around. For me, that encapsulates things like family dynamics, social contracts, grief, despair, and love. It’s a delicate line to walk to craft stories based on real people you know or events you’ve been shaped by without lazily fictionalizing your personal history.
Is there something about Deadening that resonated with you that you’d like to share?
As I mentioned, I am compelled by stories that revolve around social contracts and personal tragedy (an often symbiotic relationship between the two.) When I read Deadening, both themes were heavily present. Deadening deals with the emotional suffocation of a Black man who is grappling with a generations-long personal and social conflict; Black men should be allowed to emote but often feel pressure to suffer through their inner worlds in isolation. It’s a perspective I could never speak to in my writing, and I think we need to consume the art and perspectives of others to honor the truths of the lives lived by our fellow human beings.
What do you enjoy doing most outside of work?
I’m big on being outside, though I’m not a skilled outdoors person. I try my best to spend time in nature, especially traveling. I make a point to find hiking trails and national parks, if not at least state parks to visit. I’m known to be a video game consumer in the most casual way (The Quarry and Don’t Starve Together are two known favorites.) I am naturally inclined to consume media of all varieties when I’m not outside or traveling!
Any advice you’d like to give to new/aspiring filmmakers?
Curiosity is gold. Though you may be the biggest film aficionado in your family or circle, it is impossible to be finished learning. Here’s what genuine curiosity does: It opens you up to the world—being curious about other people, especially. Your work is directly impacted by the world you familiarize yourself with it. If everyone in your world looks and thinks like you, AND you only ever seek knowledge for your own personal gain, you will become an unmoving writer/creator. This is how you create community of care and reciprocity.
Having a producer who is dedicated, curious, self-motivated, and ambitious is invaluable to any project. Their drive ensures that every detail is handled with care, while their curiosity brings fresh ideas to the table. I am truly grateful to have instilled my faith in Kristen for DEADENING, knowing her commitment will continue to elevate the film. I look forward to our ongoing collaboration and all that we will achieve together.
