How Filmmakers Matt Black and Ryan Polly Took Charge of Their Short Film ‘Monitor’ When Others Tried to Adapt It Without Their Consent
Filmmakers Matt Black and Ryan Polly Premiere Horror Film ‘Monitor’ at SXSW
Filmmakers Matt Black and Ryan Polly have unveiled their horror film Monitor at the Midnighter section of the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival. Uniquely, the project originated from a case of intellectual property theft that propelled them to create their own feature adaptation.
The duo, based in Texas, initially collaborated on a short film eight years ago, but it was four years later that they learned their work had been appropriated by another filmmaker. According to Polly, this individual had downloaded their short, changed its title and credits, and proceeded to pitch a feature version to a major studio without their knowledge.
While they chose not to disclose the name of the filmmaker involved, the incident ignited a determination in Black and Polly to bring their vision to life as a full-length film. “When we found out what happened, it was like a fire lit under us,” Black noted.
With backing from the producer of Smile, Temple Hill, and the Spanish company Nostromo, production took place in Spain and the Canary Islands. Monitor stars Brittany O’Grady as Maggie, a content moderator grappling with guilt over her sister’s suicide. After she flags a mysterious video uploaded by an anonymous user, she and her colleagues are targeted by a malevolent force that stalks them through their screens.
The film was shot using nine different types of cameras, from GoPros to night vision goggles. Black described the experience as “nerve-racking,” especially since many of the critical scenes relied on grainy peripheral footage. Despite the challenges, both filmmakers feel optimistic about their future in the industry. They draw inspiration from genre filmmakers like Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, whose success with Final Destination Bloodlines motivated them.
In a conversation about the origins of Monitor, Black referenced his admiration for an episode of Frasier that sparked a fear of disconnection from reality. This was compounded by their experience of intellectual property theft, which helped shape their narrative. Polly elaborated on the convoluted journey from short film to feature, detailing how they wrote a spec script in reaction to the theft and eventually transitioned to independent producers.
While they remain guarded about the individual responsible for the theft, Polly expressed that the experience ultimately catalyzed their collaboration and led to their current success.
As they look ahead, Black and Polly reaffirm their commitment to genre filmmaking, eager to tell compelling stories across various narratives. “Moving on from here, we’d love to make more horror, but we’ve written all across the genre spectrum,” Black said, highlighting their desire to engage audiences with rich characters and thrilling plots.
Both filmmakers remain grounded despite their ascent, working remotely from Denton, Texas. “We still have normal jobs,” Polly shared, signaling their awareness of the industry’s complexities. As they continue their journey, the duo hopes that Monitor will resonate with audiences and pave the way for future projects.
