Eat My Heart Out

"Two men on the edges of society find romance in their shared doom and fear of who they've become."

19 Minutes, 2025. Color/B&W, Romance/Horror. Produced in the Park School at Ithaca College. Written/Directed by Byrne Mazzella, Starring Jared Jefferson and Mikey Champion.

Synopsis

Victor (Jared Jefferson), a cannibal stricken with a bout of conscience regarding his affliction, has turned to eating cadavers from his job at the morgue. In an effort to take his mind off of the growing hunger for flesh, he goes on a date and meets Peter (Mikey Champion), a free spirited postgrad living in a motel. After a successful date and many drinks, they end up back at Peter's motel room where Victor accidentally confesses to his secret. On their second date, Peter proposes a fortuitous arrangement, to solve both of their problems.

Stil l s from the fil m

Director's Statement

Part of the queer experience, beyond hiding oneself in the beginning, is the hesitancy to trust any kind of acceptance, fearing it may be too good to be true. But finding someone who understands, accepts, and loves you can be so freeing, and so fulfilling, it satisfies a hunger. Developing this story, it always centered around the unspoken level of connection between Victor and Peter, and their complex relationship. Victor is hungry, not only for flesh, but for some kind of recognition. But when Peter gives that to him, maybe it's not all he wanted. But in the process, you need to find the connection and motivation behind the kind of love that someone spends their whole life waiting for, a kind of love that is worth giving up your body for. Exploring Victor and of Peter as individuals and together, as their paths in life collide in such a bloody way felt like the only way to express that kind of love.

Key Crew & Bios

Byrne Mazzella

(Writer/Director/Producer)

(they/them)

Born and raised in Washington DC, and by classic romance films, Byrne Mazzella felt compelled to make a love story with all the mess and confusion of today. Recipient of the Pendleton Production & Research Grant at Ithaca College for this project, they have made the utmost effort to share this intimate story to audiences. Their other projects include "Memory Lane" "Greetings from Amrica!" and "A Rushed Ending"

Ryan Williams-Abrams

(Director of Photography)

(he/him)

Ryan Williams-Abrams is a filmmaker born in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in Kansas City Missouri. As a film student at Ithaca College, he worked as a director on projects like "Greetings from America!" and "Where the Light Cannot Reach" and as a cinematographer on projects like Eat My Heart Out (2024), and Speck (2023).

Gracie Ferguson

(Producer)

(she/her)

Gracie Ferguson is an Illinois native and a graduate of Ithaca College, where she earned a degree in Cinema & Photography with a minor in Legal Studies. In school she found her love for filmmaking lies in the pre-production side of filmmaking. She finds the most joy in casting, and has worked as lead producer and head of casting on films such as "Greetings from America!", "Strike!" and "Eat My Heart Out".

Behind the Scenes Images

Contact info

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Full Credits

Writer/Director - Byrne Mazzella

Producers - Gracie Ferguson, Alec Elan, Matt Minton, Ryan Williams-Abrams & Byrne Mazzella

Cast

Victor - Jared Jefferson

Peter - Mikey Champion

Frank - Chad Maurice

Motel Manager - Sam Litton

Bartender - Gracie Ferguson

Bar Extras - Chike Nezianya, Monti Yoo, Jodi Resnick

Director of Photography - Ryan Williams-Abrams

Editor - Ryan Williams-Abrams

Supervising Sound Editor/Mixer - Lily Lipka

Composer - Ratewenniio George

Colorist - AT Rodgers

Gaffer - Jodi Resnick

1st Assistant Director - Jonah Barresi

2nd Assistant Director - Alec Elan

Script Supervisor - Nadia Arain

Intimacy Coordinator - Taz Foreman

1st Camera Assistant - Daisy Bolger

2nd Camera Assistant - Joshua Relyea

Key Grip - Monti Yoo

Grip - Chike Nezianya

BTS Photography - Allie Inniss, Gracie Ferguson, & Daisy Bolger

Location Sound Recordist - AT Rodgers

Boom Operator - Jackson Gruenke

Prop Coordinator - Celeste Seraydarian

SFX Makeup - Brooklyn Moore