Take One Press

After years shaping messages in the political arena, filmmaker Kevin Cate discovered that the stories he wanted to tell couldn’t fit inside a campaign cycle.

Before Open Door became a viral horror sensation and before Unbearable Christmas attracted attention as his feature directing debut, Kevin Cate spent years working in political communications.

It was a career built around persuasion, messaging and helping shape public conversations. But eventually, Cate found himself wanting something more.

“I was just ready to tell my own stories,” he said.

While politics taught him valuable lessons about communication and human behavior, he felt increasingly drawn toward storytelling that could explore people and ideas without the rigid constraints of campaigns and elections.

“In politics, there isn’t a lot of room for nuance,” Cate explained. “It was time to tell bigger, more universal, and long-lasting stories.”

That desire ultimately led him into filmmaking.

Building a Viral Phenomenon

When Open Door was released, audiences responded immediately.

The short film connected with viewers through a simple but powerful concept: a universal fear presented in an unexpected way.

Cate believes part of the film’s success came from its openness to interpretation.

“It’s a universal fear, twisted in a new way,” he said. “And left open for anything and everything the viewer wants to put into it.”

What followed was a wave of audience theories, discussions and speculation that continues years after the film’s release.

For Cate, however, the success of Open Door wasn’t simply about views or viral attention.

It was about honoring the people who helped bring the project to life.

Before production began, Cate made a promise to the cast and crew that he would do everything possible to ensure the film found an audience.

Many members of the team worked below their normal rates. Others volunteered their time entirely.

“They were doing this for me—for the story,” he said.

Even after the short gained traction online, Cate refused to let it disappear.

Nearly three years later, he is still promoting the project while developing a feature-length expansion of the story alongside co-writer Charles Spano.

The Power of Collaboration

One theme emerged repeatedly throughout the conversation: filmmaking is never a solo endeavor.

Cate may write and direct, but he views every project as the product of collaboration.

When discussing Open Door, he quickly shifted attention toward the contributions of his creative partners.

The film’s striking visual style, memorable sound design, performances and atmosphere all came from artists building on the original idea.

“None of these things existed until we started collaborating,” he said.

That belief has become even more important as he transitions from short films to feature filmmaking.

Moving from a small production team to a much larger operation presented new challenges, but it also reinforced how essential collaboration is to the filmmaking process.

“Making movies is a team sport,” Cate said.

Knowing When an Idea Works

For many writers, the hardest question is determining whether an idea is worth pursuing.

Cate admits he doesn’t always know immediately.

Instead, he watches for a simple reaction.

When he’s telling a story and someone leans forward, wanting to know what happens next, that’s when he knows there’s something worth exploring.

“You can certainly feel it,” he said.

From there, the process becomes one of momentum and discovery, allowing collaborators to add layers that transform a simple concept into a finished film.

Advice for Independent Creators

Cate’s advice for aspiring filmmakers is refreshingly straightforward.

Create stories you’d genuinely want to watch.

Have fun making them.

Then share them with people.

He points to a recent short film he shot with his daughter and her friends at a local fairground as an example. It wasn’t designed to go viral or launch a career. It was simply an opportunity to create something, learn something and enjoy the process.

“That’s indie filmmaking,” he said.

For Cate, the future is filled with stories still waiting to be told.

His debut feature, Unbearable Christmas, is set for release this year, while the world of Open Door continues to expand.

If his journey from politics to filmmaking has taught him anything, it’s that the best stories often begin when you’re willing to leave behind the path everyone expects you to follow.