Everyone Has Issues…

A film by Christie Lynn Smith

Sara, a neurotic and determined woman, struggles to connect with her unusual new boyfriend.

TRAILER

Writer /Director
Christie Lynn Smith

Christie Lynn Smith is an award winning actress who has appeared in over 90 television series and films. Christie can currently be seen recurring in HBO’s hit series I Love LA, the 2026 SXSW drama Downbeat, and in Amazon’s hit comedy, The Other Zoey.

Christie’s probably best known for playing Deadra Farnum in Breck Eisner’s remake of The Crazies and recurring in FOX’s hit series Bones. Other notable credits include: Grey’s Anatomy, 9-1-1, Chicago Med, Gods and Generals, NCIS, Togetherness, Weeds, Justified, House, Malcolm in the Middle, Dexter, Castle, Boston Legal, ER, and General Hospital.

Christie co-wrote and starred in the short film, RATED (2016), which garnered 23 awards while playing more than 60 festivals around the world. The feature version of RATED, in which Christie stars, co-wrote, and produced will have its World Premiere this October at The Austin Film Festival (2026).

Christie marks her directorial debut with her new short film, EVERYONE HAS ISSUES, which she also wrote and stars in. The film will have its World Premiere at the iconic Music Box Theater in Chicago at the Cinema Femme Short Film Festival October 2026.

Christie is currently in development writing an uplifting road trip film focused on three generations of women who come together to transcend a familial tragedy.

Director’s Statement

My hope is that our short film, EVERYONE HAS ISSUES, reminds us that in relationships, ‘healthy doesn’t always mean perfect’ and our imperfections are what make us beautifully human and yes, indeed, resonate that EVERYONE HAS ISSUES. This is my constant daily struggle as a married woman (of many years!) not to give up and keep trying. I believe that if we all took a deeper look within, we might find out we are all doing our very best. Life is messy and relationships are hard, but perhaps after watching EVERYONE HAS ISSUES, we can be a little bit gentler with each other, our partners, and our perceptions of ourselves, and realize human connection is vital in this crazy world we call life. I aim to continue making films with an absurdist lens in a gentle, yet humorous, way that highlights our collective struggles to help bring us together as one.

CAST

Christie Lynn Smith
as Sara

Sara is a neurotic and determined woman who broke up with her boyfriend, Brad, a few months ago and is struggling to connect with her new partner, George. Sara learns through therapy and her own realizations that Everyone Has Issues and that we are all just doing our very best, including herself.

Bio

Sadie Stratton
as Carrie the Therapist

Carrie is Sara’s therapist for the past ten years and is a voice of reason. Carrie questions Sara’s outlook on her new relationship and asks her, What does a healthy relationship look like? Sara takes this to heart and attempts to answer, but is left feeling more confused.

Bio

John Fortson
as “Butt Face” Brad

Brad is Sara’s ex-boyfriend. He is a good guy, but has issues. Don’t we all? Brad desperately misses Sara and won’t stop calling her, and eventually apologizes for Sara’s bad birthday. He expresses he wants to redo her birthday, and this is why he is a good catch!

Bio

TEAM

Writer/ Director – Christie Lynn Smith

Producers – Christie Lynn Smith, John Fortson, Morgan Lester
Co-Producer – Abby Ryder Fortson
Associate Producer – Erin Brown Thomas

Composer – Blake Collins
Cinematographer – Olivia Kuan
Editor – Oliver Best
Production Designer -Michelle L. Hall

Gaffer – Lee Narby
1st AC- Amber Buchanan
2nd AC – Cooper Venzon
Grip – Breo Freeman
1st AD – Andrew Roman Ochwat
Property Master – Dustin Blankenship
Script Supervisor – Laurisha Yniguez
Sound Mixer – Scott Solan
DIT – Avi Kaye
PA – Julia Schott
Key Makeup /Hair – Sara Irving-Lipetz
Stills Photographer — Michael Jacobson

Re-Recording Mixer/ Supervising Sound Editor – Garrard Whatley
Sound Designer – Gary Zacuto
Color By – Matteo Saradini
Visual Effects Artist – Avi Kaye

Boy on Bike- Joshua Fortson
Hiker – Abby Ryder Fortson