Award-winning short film from Staten Islander cautions people about the dangers of social media - SILive.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Social media has our lives in a stronghold, and a new film aims to show just how dangerous that can be.

“The Romano’s,” winner of this year’s best romantic drama award at the Manhattan Short Film Festival, is meant to show the negative impacts of social media — in a “psychological thriller kind of way.”

“We wanted to convey the message to be careful about what could happen on social media,” said film producer Renee Wood, who stars in the film alongside writer-director Joseph D’Onofio (“A Bronx Tale,” “Goodfellas”).

lfs renee wood — - Staten Islander Renee Wood is an actress, writer, director and producer whose most recent film, "The Romano's" took home the award for best romantic drama at the Manhattan Short Film Festival. (Courtesy of Renee Wood)

Filmed on the South Shore of Staten Island, the pair “creatively collaborated together” to deliver a powerful message of caution in an enthralling way, said Wood.

This isn’t the first project of Wood’s to carry an important message: The Staten Island native is also behind the award-winning film “Just Be Yourself,” shot during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown of 2020. The film focuses on the mental health of three adults with a psychiatrist going through the COVID-19 era. Wood filmed it on her iPhone to create a unique authenticity to the social distancing that was required.

“When I was in the quarantining during the COVID lockdown, I said to myself, I want to write a movie, and I want it to be my gift to humanity,” said Wood, who also stars as Francesca Turmo in the Amazon Prime show, “Gravesend.” “I’m a huge advocate for mental health, and I wanted to do a film to basically help the world, so I infused my dramatic art skill sets with my social work skill sets, and that’s how we got the film, ‘Just Be Yourself.’”

For their work, Wood and co-director Michelle Frantzeskos won for best director at the Cutting Room International Short Film Festival for “Just Be Yourself,” Wood took home the prize for best actress in an indie film at the Los Angeles Short Film Awards, and the film was recognized by a bevy of other film festivals from the United States to Europe.

“Just Be Yourself,” which also stars Staten Islander Steve Daniels, will be released before the end of 2022, according to Wood.

The creative and sincere Wood — a former social worker who has deep roots in the Staten Island community — has been acting since she was a young girl after realizing it was a passion; the Sea View Playwrights Children’s Theatre counts her as an alum.

“It’s like, you know how some people like musicians just become one with their instrument? I think with me, with me with acting, I’ve just become one with the craft,” she said, adding that she has studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and the T Schreiber Studio.

”I’m continuously educating myself. It’s a craft, and your brain’s a muscle. You have to constantly use it and use it.”

The community-oriented Wood said she wants to continue to generate purposeful projects in the future, whether behind the camera or in front of it.

“I wanna keep creating, I’m all about creating film content. And stuff that is meaningful to everyone and where it’s relatable,” said Wood. “So if you’re watching it, I wanna be able to touch your heart. I wanna be able to touch your grandmother’s heart, or your son or daughter’s hearts.

“I’ve got a lot of stories I want to tell, and I can’t wait to sit down and [write], and start shooting more.”

For more on what’s on tap for Wood, visit her IMDb page or follow her on Instagram at @officialreneewood.

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