ShortFest 2024: Francesca Scorsese charts her own film journey with 'Fish Out of Water'

Francesca Scorsese may share a last name with one of the most legendary directors in the world, but she's charting her own filmmaking journey.

Her father, Martin, has shone a spotlight on the mean streets of New York City, the sinners lurking among us and how far some will chase their greed, becoming one of the most well-known filmmakers of all time. Francesca doesn't seem to let that intimidate her. With her second short film, "Fish Out of Water," she takes on a mature and personal story of family and redemption, one that seems strikingly unique.

The film portrays a young mother, Lexi (Jade Pettyjohn), who is given an opportunity to reconnect with her estranged family when her mother's (Welker White) health takes a turn for the worse. However, the past makes it difficult to forgive her now-sober father (Steve Witting).

"Fish Out of Water" is one of 310 films being shown at the 30th annual Palm Springs International ShortFest, taking place June 18-24. It will screen at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 23, at Regal Palm Springs as part of the "Crossroads" program.

Much of Scorsese's film is different from her real life. For starters, she and her father have a strong relationship, as is seen in their endearing TikTok videos, and she doesn't have a child. However, her mother has lived with Parkinson's disease — a chronic, progressive brain disorder that affects the nervous system — for four decades, and she's seen firsthand how an ill loved one can bring people together.

"With my mom's illness and watching her get sicker every day, my dad and I have become so, so close. We're the only two people who understand it," Scorsese said in a recent interview. "(This film) was how I was trying to cope with the new normal."

It should come as no surprise that Scorsese always saw herself pursuing filmmaking, which she studied at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts ("Fish Out of Water" was her thesis film). Over the years, she's had an opportunity to act, including Luca Guadagnino's teen series "We Are Who We Are" and some of her father's projects, and move into the director's chair with her two short films, "Crimson Ties" and "Fish Out of Water."

The "dilemma of her life," she said, is deciding which avenue she wants to prioritize. So far, however, the two tracks have been "flowing perfectly" — when she has an acting gig, she doesn't have a directing job, and vice versa.

But both have been important for her, especially when she's directing. Scorsese said she's learned how to speak to actors and understand what their job entails, which only makes her feel more confident giving direction. That especially came into play in "Fish Out of Water" while directing Pettyjohn and Witting's scenes.

In the film, Lexi's only means to provide for her child is through prostitution, at least until she can be accepted into a nursing program. When her father comes looking for her and essentially begs her to come home, tensions and hurt feelings between the two of them resurface. While we don't know the full extent of what happened between them, Lexi holds resent toward her father for his alcoholism and all the responsibility that was put on her to take care of her ill mother in the past.

"(Steve's) a more comedic actor. I think this role was a challenge for him, and it was such a challenging character to even direct. He’s a bad guy, but he’s so sweet to her. You have to like him, but you also know that he’s done some horrible things," Scorsese said. "With that character specifically, there was a lot of work. We were constantly talking through every single scene, doing different takes on it. I remember telling him at one point, ‘Just be really horrible, be evil right now. Be as awful as you possibly can be to her,’ and I think that was the best take."

Overall, filmmaking has been a difficult journey to navigate, she admits, especially since she's been labeled a "nepo baby," a term referring to celebrities whose parents have succeeded in the same careers. Scorsese knows she's "never going to escape that," but she tries to be as humble as possible and do as much as she can on her own.

"Although it's difficult because my dad can be very nosy," she laughs, "but in the best way. He wants to know everything I'm doing and wants to know if he can help."

All jokes aside, Scorsese can't help but gush about her larger-than-life father. The world may know him based on his iconic filmography, but to Scorsese, he's just "dad," and she "couldn't have asked for a better parent."

"I have the biggest support system. My dad is always there for me if I need an ear or need advice. I mean, I had a horrible week and I went home the other night and sat with him and talked to him for hours," she said. "He’s really become the one person, aside from my therapist, that I can genuinely have a really special conversation with and learn even more about, too."

With a few short films under her belt, Scorsese is setting her eyes on making her first feature-length film, although she didn't share any details about it yet. She did consider making "Fish Out of Water" a feature, but she believes she got "a lot out of my system" and she's ready to move on to something new. Maybe that could entail a father-daughter collaboration in the future.

"We want to work together at some point because we're very similar and we get very excited about ideas with each other and it's really fun," she said. "I feel like I have a creative outlet with him."

If you go

What: "Fish Out of Water" screening at the 30th annual Palm Springs International ShortFest

When: 2 p.m. Sunday, June 23

Where: Regal Palm Springs, 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs

Cost: $15 for general admission, $12 for Film Society members

More info: www.psfilmfest.org/shortfest-2024/

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @ema_sasic.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Francesca Scorsese talks new short film, dad, Palm Springs ShortFest