Believe it or not, this film has been on hold twice and been in the making for five years. In 2019, after taking the festival circuit by storm with my award-winning short Zombie Debt, I was eager to dive into my next project, May I Put You On Hold. I kicked off casting in early 2020, and then—well, you know the rest. The pandemic hit, and like so many other things in our lives, May I Put You On Hold got put on hold. The irony is not lost on me.

But as time passed, the film took on a much deeper meaning. In early 2021, I unexpectedly lost my father. Due to COVID restrictions, I hadn’t seen him in over a year and wasn’t able to be by his side in the hospital. Instead, I spent his final moments with him over the phone, wishing I had called more often.

Because of this, the film’s message—that life is fleeting, that we have to stop putting our lives on hold and tell the people we love how much they mean to us—hits closer to home than ever. And I know I’m not alone in that feeling. After everything the world has been through these past few years, I believe so many of us can relate to Liz when she finally picks up the phone to call her mom. Now more than ever, this story needs to be told.

But the world also needs to laugh. As a comedy storyteller, I love to explore deep, meaningful themes while finding the humor in them. That’s what I love most about this script—how it reminds us that even in the hardest moments, we can still find something to laugh about. My father taught me that, with his deep love for both film and comedy.

As a female director, I’m also committed to creating opportunities for other women and non-binary filmmakers. I know firsthand how challenging it can be to break into this industry, so I make it my mission to foster inclusive sets. I’m proud to share that 80% of our cast and crew are women, including our cinematographer, Becky Davis. In fact, all key creative positions above the line—aside from writer Ryan Self—were filled by women.

Technology has made it easier than ever to connect, yet it still takes a conscious choice to reach out. My biggest hope with this film is to remind people to pick up the phone and call their loved ones—because every day we have with them is a gift.