NO WORRIES
Short Film
Project Type: Short Film
Project Status: Pre-Production
Director and Writer: Amber Steigelfest
Producer: Elizabeth Mae Alan and Melissa Vitello
LOGLINE
A man addicted to people-pleasing unravels limb by limb in a grotesque, darkly comic descent into nothingness.
SYNOPSIS
Darkly funny and horrifying, “No Worries” is a modern fable about the cost of surrendering autonomy. Through physical rather than emotional manifestation, the film exposes the slow erosion of personal boundaries and the danger of mistaking self-sacrifice for love. The story follows Mike as he exhausts himself trying to meet the endless demands of those around him. Their lack of gratitude only drives him to give more, until he begins losing vital parts of himself. No one notices his unraveling, and he never takes responsibility for his own healing, allowing his need to be useful to consume him from the inside out.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT ABOUT THE PROJECT
Comedy has always been the way I process pain and make sense of my experiences. “No Worries” is a deeply personal story that took the form of body horror because that’s what self-neglect has always felt like to me. For years, I mistook boundaries as a lack of love. I wanted to give everything to the people in my life, but the more I gave, the more I felt my own life spinning out of my control.
I wrote this after realizing a pattern of being mistreated in both work and personal relationships. I saw how my inability to say no and my need to please were feeding the cycle. Even at my lowest, I blamed myself, wondering who’s really at fault: the one who never says no, or the one who keeps taking. The film turns that question into something physical, showing how self-abandonment eats away at you piece by piece.
This past year I’ve learned that setting boundaries isn’t cruel; it’s necessary for any real relationship to thrive. Honesty and boundaries are how we love others without losing ourselves. With “No Worries,” I want to remind people that you cannot pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself first isn’t selfish; it’s the only way to truly care for anyone else.
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Melissa Vitello
Producer
Melissa Vitello is an award-winning filmmaker with over a decade of experience in the independent film industry. As co-founder of Mooncastle Films, a horror-focused production company, she has produced 11 feature films and directed five. Her work has screened at Slamdance, Dances With Films, and FilmQuest, earning honors such as Best Director (San Diego Film Festival), Best Comedy Feature (Austin Revolution), and Best Original Screenplay (Pasadena International Film Festival). A Top 10 Finalist at Mammoth Lakes Film Festival and Second Rounder at Austin Film Festival, Melissa previously served as Head of Production under producer Larry Kasanoff (Terminator 2, Mortal Kombat), overseeing company-wide creative strategy. She continues to champion bold, atmospheric storytelling in genre film.
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Maddie Chavez
Wardrobe
Born in Orange County, California, Maddie Chavez earned her B.F.A. in Television Writing & Production from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film & Media Arts. Her passion for fashion and storytelling led her to costume design, where she merges visual art with character psychology. Now based in Los Angeles, Maddie works as a Creative Producer at First Media, developing campaigns for brands including The Farmer’s Dog, MUD\WTR, and HelloFresh. She also writes as a copywriter for Dimond Media. Whether through film, branding, or fashion, Maddie brings meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to honest, expressive storytelling in every project she undertakes.
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Amber Steigelfest
Director/Writer
Amber Steigelfest is an award-winning writer rooted in the horror-comedy space, having won Best Horror Comedy Screenplay at the Austin Comedy Film Festival for her feature Kiss Cake. Her short Cultivate screened at Mammoth, with additional projects featured at Another Hole in the Head, Atlanta After Dark Film Festival, and more. A Chapman University graduate, Amber has co-directed two microbudget features, web series, and music videos. No Worries marks her true arrival as a director, as it’s a deeply personal story about boundaries, grief, and the cost of giving too much of yourself away told through her original comedic lens. She sees the film as both a proof of concept for her voice as a filmmaker and a step toward joining the next generation of powerful female directors.
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Lian Uritsky
Makeup & Prosthetics
Lian Uritsky is an award-winning Los Angeles-based makeup artist with over 12 years of experience in film and television. Her work spans commercials, features, music videos, and branded campaigns for clients including NBCUniversal, DreamWorks TV, Twitch, Apple, Nickelodeon, and Roku. Specializing in men’s grooming, character makeup, prosthetic application, and creature design, Lian combines technical precision with an artist’s eye for realism. Passionate about character-driven design, she enhances performance while helping every subject feel confident in their own skin.
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Elizabeth Alan
Producer, Art Department
Elizabeth Mae Alan is an East Coast transplant and award-winning Production Designer, Producer, Graphic Designer, and Actress. Her recent producing credits include the Lionheart Play Festival (2025), as well as The English Rose (2024 Winner, Best Horror/Thriller at PIFF) and My Left Arm (2022 Winner, Best Horror Short at the Winter Film Awards International Film Festival; Nominee at PIFF and FilmQuest). Known for her strong visual sensibility and collaborative approach, Elizabeth’s work bridges design and storytelling, bringing texture and emotional depth to every project she joins.
Your Help
NO WORRIES is a fiscally sponsored project of Cinematography for Actors, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation will be tax-deductible!