In this ScreenFish 1on1 Interview, writer-director Maya Gray and producer Michael Jasper discuss ANIMALS, exploring the psychological progression of occupation and how power dynamics evolve throughout the story. They reflect on the manipulation of power through grace and restraint, and how subtle behavior can shape control and influence. The conversation also examines the bystander effect, considering why people hesitate to act and how silence or observation can become a powerful force within the narrative’s social and emotional landscape.ANIMALS premieres at the Raindance Film Festival on June 25th, 2026.