Break A Leg
dir. Matt Schmittdiel
2021
Running time: 11 min.
Film
Break a Leg follows the journey of a Missouri actor and filmmaker who has always dreamt of the red carpets of Hollywood and the bright lights of Broadway, as he auditions for the most prestigious acting programs in the world. This film transports you into the room with him as you watch him audition in real time. The only problem is, due to COVID-19, the auditions this year are completely virtual—and actors only get two minutes to perform? Will months of rehearsal, years of planning, and lifetime of dreams be fulfilled in 120 seconds…over the internet?
Matt Schmittdiel
Matt Schmittdiel is an actor, filmmaker, and multimedia journalist who strives to tell visually compelling and critically engaging stories. Originally from Chesterfield, Missouri, he is excited to be graduating a second time from the University of Missouri with a Master of Arts Degree in Documentary Journalism. Schmittdiel spent this past semester living and working in New York City and hopes to return the Big Apple after graduation to seek a job in the entertainment industry and pursue his dream of professional acting. Schmittdiel has been acting for as long as he’s had two legs to break and as a documentary filmmaker, it was only a matter of time before these two passions came together to create Break A Leg. Making it in the industry is not easy, but it was an easy decision to press “record” on a camera and bring you along for the ride.