Inside Florida: A Film About Manipulation and Recovery
I met Kasey a couple of years ago through mutual friends during one of those random summer weekends in Fargo, where a group of us ended up at a rooftop bar, cocktails in hand, gathered around the patio fire. We talked about everything: dating, relationships, work, life. I remember liking her instantly. She was kind, genuine, and quietly intriguing, like there was a deeper story behind her expressive blue eyes.
We didn’t cross paths again until this past winter at a friend’s baby shower. But when we did, reconnecting felt easy and immediate. We found common ground quickly: two single women in our early 30s, both drawn to growth and involved in our own creative pursuits. Mine through writing, hers through filmmaking.
She mentioned she was working on a film, a psychological thriller based on real events from her life.
That piqued my curiosity.
We made the usual promise to get coffee and actually followed through. A few weeks later, after the holiday chaos settled, we met at Moonrise Café in downtown Fargo on a lively Sunday morning.
Curled into the vintage gold sofa, with the bustling crowd around us, I asked her more about the film.
“You said it’s a psychological thriller, but also autobiographical?”
“Yeah… it’s based on real events in my life.”
I hesitated, wanting to be mindful. “In what way?”
And just like that, she told me.
Openly and honestly.
I sat there, completely absorbed, feeling shock, sadness, empathy, and a deep sense of respect. What she shared was layered and complex, and with every detail she offered, I knew there was so much more beneath the surface that words could never fully hold.
And in a way I hadn’t expected, I understood.
Our experiences are not the same, but I, too, have known what it feels like to be pulled into something psychologically manipulative, to have your sense of self slowly eroded, your instincts questioned, your reality distorted. To lose trust in yourself and in the world as you once knew it.
So when she told me she was turning her story into a film, I didn’t just find it compelling. I found it powerful.
Because creating something from pain like that isn’t simple. It requires a kind of courage that requires you to revisit what once broke you and shape it into something that speaks and connects.
Something that lets others feel seen, even in the confusion, even in the questions that don’t have answers.
Her series, Florida, does exactly that, pulling viewers into the disorientation, emotional whiplash, and quiet control that can exist beneath the surface. In this interview, Kasey shares more about the story behind the film, the process of bringing it to life, and what it means to finally tell it.
Film premiere of Florida
March 27th, 2026
In your own words, what is this series—and what do you hope people take from it?
This series is based on my real life. It’s moments pulled out from a true experience I went through with a man I met in college. The series Florida drops you in the middle of Andrew and Katie’s story without any context. You’ll see a different side of Andrew in each episode - his attitude towards Katie changes, his words change and you're left wondering if he hates or loves Katie.
I chose to write the series like this because I wanted to focus on the emotional reaction than the plot. I wanted people to get pulled in, get struck by the intensity, left feeling shocked and with a lot of questions.
That may sound strange to want from an audience, but emotion is powerful. I hope that reaction helps this series gain the momentum needed to become a full feature film.
Were there moments where you had to balance honesty in the story with protecting yourself?
The series isn’t just based on my real life, it is my real experience. I didn’t want to embellish, hide or twist the truth. I needed people to know what I endured and understand that this wasn’t easy for me to live through.
I carried a lot of shame and embarrassment over how badly I let Andrew ruin my life, so realism was very important to me. That being said, I do have a certain amount of discretion when it comes to more specific details, such as names of characters to protect myself from any retaliation Andrew may seek. During the time I dated him, he made threats that I would experience consequences if I ever talked to anyone about him.
What was the most personally challenging part of creating this?
When I started planning this project, I was surprised by how detached I already felt from the story. I think the challenging part was the tiny details that go into making a film. It was exhausting and overwhelming to translate what’s very clear in my head onto paper and into words for the crew and talent to understand.
There’s a strong sense of confusion and emotional intensity throughout—how intentional was that in reflecting your experience?
That was the main point for this series. I didn’t want to tell a full story with a start, middle and end. I cared more about the music and imagery than the story. I wanted the audience to become Katie as they watched the series. I wanted them to be so immersed in their emotions that it felt shocking and confusing to be released. Emotions are powerful and I knew that was the best way to help people understand what I went through - if they felt it the same way I felt it, then maybe they can all find ways to relate.
Did creating this feel connected to healing for you, or was it a separate process?
I wouldn’t have been able to make this film if I was still healing. I was afraid of Andrew for a very long time. Even when I appeared back to “normal” I still feared him.
I do feel a lot of pride and vengeance, though, and that is very healing. Finishing this project felt like me giving Andrew the middle finger (he was very against the middle finger) with a giant grin on my face! I already knew I won when I didn’t fear him anymore but this felt like winning too.
What do you hope people who have experienced something similar feel when they watch it?
I hope people who have experienced something similar feel heard and validated. The hardest part about getting caught up in an abusive relationship is the embarrassment and shame you feel when someone says “how did you let it get so far?” “Why do they stay?” “How didn’t you see the signs?" It’s easy to say those things when you’re on the outside looking in after the abuse has happened. I want people to know how easy it is to get wrapped up in something that seems innocent until it’s not.
As you continue telling this story, what feels most important for you to hold onto or protect?
This might be the last thing anyone would think I would choose, but I want to hold onto Andrew’s character. I will care more about his character development than even Katie’s because I want the world to see how good he was at manipulating. He was smart, charismatic and terrifying. I want his character to hold true to the real experience.
Healing doesn’t always look quiet or linear. Sometimes it looks like creating something bold from what once tried to break you. Watch Kasey’s film, Florida, below.