In a seedy club where vice reigns, Olivia, a pregnant stripper, faces peril at the hands of Victor, the ruthless club owner.

In STEEL MOTHER, director Nik Kacevski delivers a high-octane fusion of action and sci-fi, set in the neon-drenched underbelly of a ruthless underworld. The film follows Olivia, a pregnant stripper who finds herself at the mercy of Victor, a merciless club owner. But when a brutal encounter awakens an extraordinary invulnerability within her, she flips the script—transforming from victim to an unstoppable force. What begins as a fight for survival quickly becomes a relentless takedown of those who sought to exploit her.

Blending raw intensity with a deeply personal journey, STEEL MOTHER is more than just a revenge thriller—it’s a story of resilience, transformation, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her unborn child. Kacevski, previously featured on Film Shortage with Soulmate, brings his signature kinetic energy and bold storytelling to this gripping short. With pulse-pounding action sequences and a striking visual style, STEEL MOTHER delivers a powerful statement on strength, survival, and the fierce instinct to protect.

Steel Mother combines action and sci-fi with an emotionally charged story. What was the inspiration behind this film?

The inspiration for Steel Mother came from exploring the strength and resilience of motherhood in the face of extreme adversity. Collaborating with Ennio de Masi and Jennifer Van Gessel, we crafted a story that fuses raw, visceral action with an emotionally charged transformation. The film reflects the sacrifices and struggles many women face, wrapped in a sci-fi-infused revenge narrative.

Olivia’s transformation from victim to warrior is both physical and emotional. How did you approach crafting her character arc?

Olivia’s arc was built around the idea of resilience and rebirth. At the start, she’s trapped in a world that exploits her, physically and emotionally vulnerable. But after enduring an unthinkable attack, she is reborn, both literally and metaphorically… as something indestructible. Her emotional shift is just as important as her physical one. She moves from fear to defiance, from survival to vengeance. The key was balancing these two aspects so that her journey felt earned rather than purely reactionary.

The club setting plays a significant role in the film’s atmosphere. How did you design this world to reflect the themes of power and resilience?

The club in Steel Mother is a world of beauty and power, masking the dangers beneath its elegance. We crafted a slick, seductive atmosphere that reflects the illusion of control held by those who exploit Olivia. But as she transforms, she shatters that illusion, turning the space from one of oppression into the stage for her rebellion, where she reclaims her power.

The film features intense action sequences. Can you talk about the stunt work and choreography involved in bringing these moments to life?

The action in Steel Mother was designed to be brutal and impactful, emphasizing the raw intensity of Olivia’s transformation. Working with fight coordinator Masa Yamaguchi, we focused on choreography that felt instinctual and unforgiving. Every fight had to serve her journey. Starting with her being overpowered and vulnerable, then shifting as she discovers her invulnerability. As she grows more fearless, the brutality escalates.

Olivia’s invulnerability is a key turning point. Was it important for this to be metaphorical as well as literal?

Absolutely. Her invulnerability is more than just a sci-fi twist, it’s a manifestation of her emotional state. She’s endured immense pain, yet she keeps going. Her physical indestructibility symbolizes an unbreakable will. This deeply ties into the theme of motherhood, her body instinctively protects her unborn child in a near-supernatural way, reinforcing the fierce, unyielding power of a mother’s love. I witnessed this kind of strength firsthand with my son’s mother, how she pushed through hardship with an almost unstoppable force. That resilience was a major inspiration in crafting Olivia’s journey.

What were some of the biggest challenges in blending sci-fi elements with a gritty, grounded story?

The challenge was keeping the world grounded while introducing an extraordinary element. The film is dark, raw, and steeped in reality, so Olivia’s transformation had to feel like a natural escalation rather than a genre shift. We approached it by treating her invulnerability as something eerie and unsettling rather than flashy or superheroic. The sci-fi elements had to serve the story’s emotional core rather than overshadow it.

The film is visually striking. How did you approach the cinematography and lighting to enhance Olivia’s journey?

We wanted the cinematography to reflect Olivia’s state of mind, and I worked closely with our DOP, Jack Saltmiras, to bring this vision to life. The club is slick, elegant, and beautifully lit, creating a seductive yet controlled environment that contrasts with the chaos beneath its surface. In contrast, Olivia’s home is gritty and raw, visually representing her reality outside the illusion of power in the club.

The film explores themes of power, survival, and vengeance. What do you hope audiences take away from it?

I hope audiences see Steel Mother as more than just a revenge story. It’s about reclaiming power and refusing to be defined by trauma. Olivia’s journey is brutal, but it’s also cathartic. I want viewers to walk away with a sense of awe at her resilience and perhaps a deeper reflection on the strength it takes to rise up when everything is against you.

If Steel Mother were expanded into a feature, what aspects of Olivia’s story would you want to explore further?

We’ve already developed a feature script for Steel Mother, which takes a deeper dive into Olivia’s psychology while amping up the intensity of the action. Her powers remain mysterious, but it’s alluded to that they come from her child, adding a deeper emotional and thematic layer to her journey. The feature explores the psychological toll of being unbreakable. How Olivia processes her transformation and what it means for her relationship with her child. It also allows us to push the sci-fi elements further while keeping the raw, grounded intensity, raising both the emotional and physical stakes to even greater heights.

What are the books, podcasts, or YouTube channels that you recommend young filmmakers to get their hands on?

Books:
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder – A great breakdown of story structure.
Into the Woods by John Yorke – A deep dive into storytelling fundamentals.
Rebel Without a Crew by Robert Rodriguez – A must-read for indie filmmakers.
In the Blink of an Eye by Walter Murch – Essential for understanding editing.

Podcasts:
Team Deakins – Insightful cinematography discussions.
The Director’s Cut (DGA Podcast) – Conversations with top directors.
Scriptnotes – Excellent screenwriting advice from pros.

YouTube Channels:
Lessons from the Screenplay – Breaks down story mechanics.
Every Frame a Painting – Analysis of visual storytelling.
Film Riot – Great for DIY filmmaking techniques.

Can you share with us some of your favorite short films you’ve seen lately?

A few standout short films I’ve been impressed by recently:
Baghead – A gripping supernatural horror with a strong emotional core.
Curve – A masterclass in tension with minimal dialogue.
Fish Night (from Love, Death & Robots) – Stunning visuals and an eerie atmosphere.
Slut – A brilliantly executed horror short with a great payoff