The creative team behind 5 Ways I Didn’t Marry You, has created a short film that feels inventive and deeply human.
Directed by former Tarrytown resident Tom Dunn, conceived by Christine Stoddard, and co-executive produced by Aaron Gold; the film explores alternate realities of love, the tension between what we choose and what we leave behind, and the humor in the unexpected turns of relationships. The trio also collaborated on the comedy television show Don’t Mind If I Don’t, created by Gold which adds another layer to their creative chemistry.
What first grabbed Dunn’s attention was the film’s multiverse style premise. When Stoddard pitched it to him, he saw an opportunity to play with parallel timelines and emotional possibilities. He had always been drawn to the “what if” storytelling, where characters shift slightly with each scenario, allowing the director total freedom to shape the tone and world. After building trust on Don’t Mind If I Don’t, she knew he brought the right balance of patience, humor, momentum, and cinematic love to guide the material. Gold, who performs in the film, was energized by the structure itself, a series of connected scenes that lean into nuance rather than the overly polished romance depicted in the media.
Their intuition about how the film would be a hit was validated on the festival circuit. 5 Ways I Didn’t Marry You recently earned the Best Editing Award at the iWoman/NYWIFT Film Festival, with additional screenings at the New York Shorts International Film Festival. Dunn describes the recognition as “wonderful” emphasizing that joy comes from sharing the success with the cast and crew, including editor and co-executive producer Jacob Serlen.
The film’s distinct visual rhythm is shaped, in part, by Dunn’s own environment. Having lived in Yorktown Heights, White Plains and Bedford in addition to Tarrytown, he grew up aware of how dramatically one neighborhood can differ from another. The diversity of environments appears in his filmmaking: Each scene in 5 Ways has its own atmosphere, energy and emotional palette. Stoddard, who visited Westchester often through family ties, has long been inspired by the county’s blend of character-rich towns and natural beauty.
Through only a short film, 5 Ways carries layers of emotional detail. Dunn approached the storytelling by beginning each scene in a familiar, relatable moment: a couple making out in a car, and two people navigating a painfully awkward date, and letting the actors drive the tension. Once a small visual or emotional distance forms between characters, the scene grows on its own. Gold noted that each scene had to be treated like a standalone story trusting Dunn and Stoddard to connect the threads.
Directing the project offered Dunn a contrast to his work on the series Don’t Mind If I Don’t. While the television show relies on capturing wide open comedic space, 5 Ways leads into emotional movement, dramatic framing, and at times absurdity rooted in heart. The team’s ongoing collaboration made this possible; years of shared creative history allowed for open dialogue, improvisation and trust.
As more filmmakers turn to Westchester and the Hudson Valley for production, Dunn believes it’s time for others to recognize the opportunities the area has to offer. Stoddard points out that the rise of DIY digital creative platforms has expanded opportunities far beyond New York City’s traditional studio landscape.
With more projects underway, including Dunn’s upcoming feature script Uncle Gangster and a new short film for Stoddard titled Shanda, the Stoddard-Gold creative ecosystem is only improving with each day and each project. You can watch their evolving body of work at https://www.youtube.com/@StoddardGold.
