NYWIFT Blog

By Tammy Reese

Congratulations are in order for multi-hyphenate filmmaker Chantel Simpson, whose compelling short film A Drastic Tale will make its world premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. A proud member of New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT), Simpson brings a unique perspective to the screen, having served as the director, producer, screenwriter, and editor of the film.

Centered around the Drastic Auto Club — one of the oldest lowrider groups in New York City — A Drastic Tale offers a raw and moving exploration of brotherhood, identity, and the soul of car culture in the urban Northeast.

In this exclusive interview, Simpson shares her journey, creative process, and hopes for how her story will resonate with audiences everywhere.

NYWIFT Member Chantel Simpson (image courtesy of Chantel Simpson)

Congratulations on the world premiere of A Drastic Tale at the 2025 Tribeca Festival! How does it feel to have this powerful project debut at such a prestigious event?

It’s truly surreal. I submitted A Drastic Tale to the Tribeca Festival on a whim and it was an amazing surprise when I found out it was accepted.

But the most eye-opening experience was when the programmers shared how they resonated with certain themes in the film. It’s a huge accomplishment when you want to elicit certain feelings in your work and you successfully achieve that.

You wore so many hats in this project — producer, screenwriter, director, and editor. How did you manage the creative and logistical demands of juggling all those roles? What was the most rewarding and the most challenging part of that process?

I’ve been producing for over a decade so managing the logistics of the shoots came easy. And I had to edit the film out of necessity, which I enjoyed a lot because I was able to take my time and really solidify the film’s story and visual narrative.

Directing the film was the most challenging aspect for a number of reasons. On one hand, I felt like I had a lot to prove. I’m relatively new to directing and while undertaking this project, I was still trying to find my voice. I was trying to answer the question: what is my unique lens into this story?

And secondly, I started filming this project without truly knowing what the story was. It was scary at first dedicating resources to something that didn’t have a clear focus, but I knew there was something special about Drastic Auto Club, and I was determined to unravel who they were beyond the cars.

Still from A Drastic Tale (image courtesy of Tribeca)

Without giving too much away, what can you share about the emotional journey audiences can expect from A Drastic Tale?

The members of Drastic Auto Club, one of the oldest lowrider clubs founded in New York City, have forged a unique bond that at times supersedes the support and acceptance of their own families.

The film shows an alternate representation of the masculinity often associated with car culture and provides an honest glimpse into what it means to dedicate one’s life to lowriding–the blood, the sweat, the sacrifices.

The word “drastic” means extreme or outside the norm. But in the context of this film, drastic defines the all-consuming relationship between a group of men, their cars, and lowriding culture.

Still from A Drastic Tale (image courtesy of Tribeca)

What inspired you to tell this story?

I got the idea to do this film when I read a New York Times article about East Coast lowriders. I’ve always associated lowriding culture with California so I was immediately drawn to the novelty of the culture’s presence in New York.

After some research, I found Drastic Auto Club and reached out via email. The president of the club, Marvin Shivnarain, called me the same day and invited me to the group’s next meeting. During that meeting, all of the members showed up in their most stunning vehicles. It was as if they were excited that someone outside their culture cared about what they did.

Initially, I thought I’d create a film about the relationship between each member and their cars. But as I spoke with each member, I realized that Drastic offered these men something deeper than the opportunity to build beautiful cars. And that’s what the film focuses on.

Still from A Drastic Tale (image courtesy of Tribeca)

As a member of New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT), what made you want to join the organization, and how has being part of this community impacted your career and creative work?

I’m relatively new to the organization. I joined last Fall. I wanted to expand my network and interact with other filmmakers. But also to be a part of a creative community, something I craved a lot. So far it’s been pretty great. I’ve really enjoyed the events I’ve attended so far.

What advice would you give to other women, especially women of color, who aspire to take on multiple creative roles in filmmaking like you have?

Being a filmmaker requires a lot of risk. And for me, it’s totally worth it. I can’t imagine my life without creating. And so I just find a way to tell the stories I want to.

Create because it’s fulfilling. Create because it’s a calling. And be willing to accept the challenges that come with your creative pursuits.

Lean into your network. Find like-minded people who want to help you achieve your goals. And help them in return.

Don’t be afraid to learn new skills! It’s never too late. I’m not a professional editor, but I edit my films and I teach myself new things as I face gaps in my knowledge. It only makes me a stronger creative.

As an artist and storyteller, what do you hope audiences walk away with after watching A Drastic Tale?

I hope people walk away inspired. I certainly was inspired by the members of Drastic. It was awesome to witness other people dedicate their heart and soul and resources into their art.

I no longer felt crazy for wanting to do what I do. They are so unapologetically about lowriding culture and they will live and die by it. I hope people identify with this feeling.

Outside of A Drastic Tale, are there any other projects or creative ventures you’re currently working on that you’re excited about and can share with us?

I’m working to raise funds for my next documentary short! It’s centered around gun violence in Chicago and how youth are using a local art form to transcend the issues around them. It’s another passion project and I hope to be able to get it off the ground.

Learn more about Chantel Simpson’s work on her website chantelsimpson.com and follow her on Instagram at @thelenswoman.

Check out A Drastic Tale at Tribeca: https://tribecafilm.com/films/drastic-tale-2025

Learn more about the rest of the NYWIFT member projects at Tribeca 2025!

Chantel Simpson is a producer and director of commercials, branded content, and documentaries.

Her most recent independent project, Children of the Zulu Kings (2024), is a short experimental film that pays homage to a living legend of NYC’s breakdancing culture. It was featured on Girls In Film and Curation Hour. In the past, she was a video journalist at media companies including VICE where she reported on stories at the intersection of music, culture, race, and social issues. She’s based in Brooklyn, New York.