For writer Amanda Ross, Stay In The Car began as something deeply personal, a memory carried quietly over time. What ultimately brought that memory to the screen was the realization that even a single moment could hold the weight of an entire story.
“It’s part of a much larger experience I’ve carried with me my whole life,” Ross explains. “But I realized that one small piece of it could stand on its own.”
That realization became the foundation for her debut short film, directed by Calvin Ghaznavi, which captures one night in the life of a young girl navigating a moment of profound emotional clarity.
Set against a backdrop of stillness and silence, the film explores themes of survival, resilience, and the complicated dynamics of family. For Ross, authenticity was the guiding force throughout the writing process.
“I tried to stay as close as possible to what actually happened,” she says. “But even more important was staying true to the emotional chaos of that moment.”
Writing the script proved to be both cathartic and challenging. Revisiting difficult experiences required a careful balance between personal truth and storytelling restraint.
“The biggest challenge was showing the inner life of a young girl without explaining everything,” Ross says. “People might ask why she doesn’t leave, but for many children in those situations, it’s not that simple.”
Rather than over-explaining, Ross chose to trust the audience, allowing the emotional reality of the moment to speak for itself. That approach extended into her collaboration with Ghaznavi, whose direction helped bring clarity and depth to the story within the constraints of a short film format.
“He asked questions that helped uncover what was really underneath each scene,” she says. “That helped bring the emotional stakes forward very quickly.”
One of the most defining creative decisions came when a scene that had been repeatedly rewritten was ultimately removed.
“Sometimes when something won’t come together, it’s a sign the story is asking for something simpler,” Ross reflects. “The film became stronger without it.”
At its core, Stay In The Car centers on a single, transformative moment, the decision to step out of the car.
For Ross, that moment carries a meaning that extends far beyond the film itself.
“Choosing yourself means believing your life can be more than the circumstances you were born into,” she says. “It’s realizing that no one else is coming to save you, and that you have to take that step yourself.”
While sharing such a personal story came with hesitation, Ross ultimately found purpose in the possibility of connection.
“I’m a very private person,” she admits. “There were moments where I questioned whether my story was important enough to tell.”
But as the film continues to meet audiences with a successful film festival run, that uncertainty has given way to something else, hope.
“I hope people feel less alone,” she says. “If it helps even one person feel seen, then it was worth telling.”
With Stay In The Car, Amanda Ross transforms personal memory into something universal, a story that speaks quietly, but leaves a lasting impact. Visit: www.stayinthecar.com for more information and details of where you can find a screening near you.
