In this episode of In the Room, John Williams and Christopher Shea sit down with the team behind Kill Me, which premiered at SXSW 2026.

Director Peter Warren, producer Natalie Metzger, and producer Keith Goldberg discuss the film’s unusual premise, a murder mystery where the body becomes the detective, and how that idea opened the door to a story about mental health, depression, comedy, mystery, and survival.

The conversation explores how Charlie Day came aboard, why Allison Williams, Giancarlo Esposito, and Aya Cash were such powerful additions to the cast, and what it takes to support a first-time director without diluting the filmmaker’s vision. They also break down the realities of indie production, shooting in Utah, designing a lean but ambitious set, and protecting performance at every stage.

For filmmakers, actors, producers, and anyone curious about how a movie moves from script to screen, this episode offers a rare look inside the creative and practical decisions that shape a film before it meets an audience.

What does it really take to make a feature film when you don’t have the system behind you?

In this episode, SXSW filmmakers Lauren Noll and Dalia Rooni share how Same Same But Different came together, from early concept to production, through persistence, unconventional problem-solving, and complete creative ownership.

This is a conversation about building momentum when nothing is guaranteed, and why creating your own work is often the only way forward.

Filmmaker John Valley joins In the Room to share his journey from a small town in Iowa to premiering films at SXSW, and what it really takes to build a career in independent film.

He breaks down the making of The Pizzagate Massacre, how the film went from festival rejection to viral controversy, and how self-distribution, SEO, and timing changed everything.

The conversation also dives into his latest project, American Dollhouse, a psychological horror film, along with lessons on raising money, navigating the industry without connections, and creating work that actually gets seen.

This episode is an honest look at indie filmmaking, creative risk, and what happens when you stop waiting for permission and make the film anyway.