How Freddy MacDonald Made His Feature Debut at 24 with Sew Torn

      Some fathers teach their sons to throw a ball or tie a tie, and it’s clear that Sew Torn director Freddy MacDonald’s dad taught him those skills as well. However, he also introduced him to filmmaking at a young age.

      “My dad operated an animation studio, and he taught me stop-motion when I was nine,” MacDonald shares. “When I was eager to animate simple things like bouncing balls, he advised me, ‘No, no, no — don’t do that. Create something with a beginning, middle, and an end — and an ending that surprises, like a joke.’

      “I was astounded by the realization that I couldn’t just jump in. I needed to think things through beforehand.”

      This dedication to thoughtfulness and craftsmanship is evident in the endlessly creative Sew Torn, a crime thriller set in Switzerland that heavily incorporates thread. The film is now in theaters following its successful premiere at SXSW last year.

      In the latest episode of the MovieMaker podcast, we chat with Freddy MacDonald, which you can listen to on Apple, through your preferred podcast platform, or here:

      MacDonald’s father, Fred MacDonald, served as CEO of Olive Jar Studios and collaborated with Disney and Dreamworks, among others. He co-wrote the short film “Sew Torn” in 2019 with his son, which Freddy submitted as part of his application for the American Film Institute.

      Freddy MacDonald gained admission, but perhaps exceeded expectations — the film garnered so much attention that he also secured a meeting with Joel Coen, representation from Coen’s agent at UTA, and a deal with Searchlight Pictures to screen the film in theaters before the horror hit Ready or Not.

      Freddy MacDonald discusses his experience with Joel Coen.

      On the set of Sew Torn, Freddy MacDonald is seen here. Courtesy of the filmmaker.

      Meeting Joel Coen was particularly rewarding since “Sew Torn” drew inspiration, in part, from the Coen brothers’ Oscar-winning film No Country for Old Men, especially the scene where Llewelyn (Josh Brolin) inadvertently discovers a failed drug deal.

      MacDonald vividly recalls the encounter with Coen.

      “He was simply sitting in a coffee shop with a notepad, planning his next project, entirely alone. I thought, here’s a legend, sitting there, and he’s so humble.

      “The first thing he said to my dad and me was, ‘You both have to keep collaborating. If working with family works, do it. It’s the most special thing. Sometimes you might want to kill each other, but that’s part of it. Just continue working together.’

      “The second piece of advice was, ‘Transform this into a feature.'”

      The MacDonalds took that advice to heart. However, adapting the short into a feature took several years, filled with ups and downs.

      Also Read: Watch a Seamstress Pull Off the Perfect Crime in a Sew Torn Exclusive Scene

      The short version of “Sew Torn” centers on a seamstress who uses her sewing talents to execute the perfect crime during a failed drug deal on a picturesque, secluded road in Switzerland.

      The feature film Sew Torn (noted with quotes for short titles and italics for features) opens with a replication of that striking sequence but explores three different scenarios where the seamstress (Eve Connolly) either takes the money, calls the police, or simply moves on.

      Freddy MacDonald and his father conceived the feature idea during one of their frequent brainstorming walks. They ultimately determined that the feature should revolve around themes of choice.

      “She’s at this road, facing a decision, and she’s torn. As cheesy as it is, it aligns with the title,” he notes.

      In the film, the seamstress, Barbara, has taken over her mother’s mobile sewing business and doesn’t particularly enjoy it. Freddy MacDonald is also pursuing a career similar to his father’s — but he claims he’s never felt pressured into it. He recalls spending countless hours in the family's dark garage in Santa Monica, with his father ensuring that filmmaking was truly what he wanted.

      “I don’t feel constrained at all,” he clarifies. “The reason it’s such a prominent theme in the movie is that it’s a frequent topic of discussion between my dad and me. Throughout my upbringing, he was very conscious of it. He would often say, ‘You don’t have to pursue film; you can follow any path you desire.'”

      While his father played a vital role in the film, his mother and sister contributed as well. His mother is a Swiss sculptor and photographer, which explains the film's setting. His sister has a passion for sewing — her own sewing box was used by Barbara in the film. “She’s still really annoyed that I used it for both the short and the feature and messed it up,” he laughs. “She says, ‘I don’t even want it back anymore because it doesn’t look the same