Matthew Shear on the Personal Story Behind Fantasy Life

Matthew Shear — writer, director, and star of Fantasy Life — joins us to talk about the deeply personal story behind his debut feature.

In this conversation, Shear reflects on how his own experiences with anxiety and depression shaped the film, and why he wanted to portray mental health in a way that feels lived-in rather than sensationalized. Instead of leaning into extremes, Fantasy Life finds something more honest — where these struggles are simply part of everyday life.

We also talk about the challenge of directing himself in the lead role, working alongside a remarkable cast including Amanda Peet and Alessandro Nivola, and what it meant to bring such a personal story to the screen for the first time.

Fantasy Life premiered at SXSW, where it won the Audience Award, and has quickly become one of the most talked-about indie films of the year.

This is a conversation about vulnerability, craft, and the courage it takes to tell a story that close to home.

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