Sandra Isabel Correia

Director of

The Misstep

A complete interview with Sandra Isabel

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the director Sandra Isabel for taking the time to answer our questions.

Whole team of Liverpool Indie Awards is wishing you the very best in all your future projects. We hope to see more of your exceptional work in the years to come. Thank you once again!

The Misstep is a surreal psychological thriller that serves as a visceral exploration of the ADHD mind. This project is particularly significant to me as it marks my debut as a writer-director. I was inspired by the desire to move beyond the “clichés” of neurodivergence. Instead of explaining ADHD from the outside, I wanted to plunge the audience into the internal experience—where a simple distraction can spiral into a high-stakes nightmare, but at the same time, a journey toward healing. I’ve always been fascinated by how our minds can reshape reality, and I wanted to see if I could tell a deeply personal story for my first film using the language of suspense to explore a parallel existence and a parallel cure in a cinematic way.

My vision was “subjective realism.” I wanted the audience to feel the world entirely from Claire’s POV, experiencing her reality as she does. Every camera movement, lighting shift, and sound was designed to feel like it was coming from her nervous system. To bring this to life on a low budget, we relied on creative blocking and atmosphere rather than expensive effects. By using tight frames and disorienting perspectives, we ensured the audience remains anchored in her subjective experience, feeling the same claustrophobia and confusion that the protagonist feels; an experience that is intended to be unsettling, but at the same time, enlightening.

As the writer-director, I had the advantage of hand-picking my entire team, which allowed for a very unified creative shorthand from day one. I was incredibly supported by my producer, Carolina Afonso, whose collaboration was instrumental in navigating the complexities of this production. We were a small group (8 in total) but comprised of incredible professionals who were deeply committed to the vision. Interestingly, one of our biggest anchors for success was our food producer; having high-quality catering was essential for maintaining morale and energy, especially since we had to push through a grueling 15-hour shoot day. That sense of care behind the scenes allowed the crew to stay focused on making the internal world of the film feel external and visceral.

Our biggest challenge was definitely the budget and time. Due to our limited resources and equipment rental constraints, we only had a single shooting day to capture a complex, surreal narrative. We overcame this through meticulous planning, agility, and of course, because of the amazing crew that stood by the vision. We shot across three different locations, with the apartment being the most significant challenge; for every single scene within that space, we had to stop, strike the equipment, reset the lights, and move to the next setup, repeating this grueling process for every room and sequence. When things didn’t work exactly as planned, we leaned into the “misstep” of it all, using the environment’s natural grit to enhance the film’s tension.

I am particularly proud of the “apartment entry” sequence until the white room. It’s the pivot point of the film where a mundane mistake becomes a surreal trap. The pacing in those scenes had to be perfect, just slow enough to be unsettling, but fast enough to feel like a rabbit hole. Seeing the tension hold in the edit was a very rewarding moment for me, and that success was largely due to my amazing cast and DP who executed the vision with such precision.

I think every director looks back and wishes they had “one more hour” for a specific shot! However, the lesson I learned was the power of trust. I learned that when you trust your actors and your crew with the emotional intent of the scene, they often bring ideas to the table that are better than what was originally on the page.

While The Misstep is my directorial debut, I am deeply proud of it because it carries forward a mission I began with my “Let’s Talk About Consent” project at the European Parliament. I believe in filmmaking as a form of social responsibility—a way to bring awareness to humanity. Just as I advocated for consent, The Misstep uses the medium to advocate for a deeper understanding of ADHD and mental health. It stands out to me because it proves that even within the framework of a thriller, we can create a vital dialogue about neurodivergence and the human condition.
Don’t wait for permission or a massive budget to tell your story. Start with what you have. The industry needs unique voices and specific perspectives. Focus on the “why”—why is this story vital today? If you have a strong “why,” the “how” will follow, and people will want to join your journey.
I approached working with the cast with a focus on sensation rather than just dialogue. We talked a lot about the physical and emotional feeling of being overwhelmed or distracted, and I encouraged the actors to lean into the discomfort of the scenes. My goal was to create a safe space where they could be vulnerable, allowing the performance to feel raw and authentic rather than rehearsed. In this project, I had one actress performing two distinct characters, and she was absolutely amazing. I asked her to be herself and gave her the room to truly utilize her performing skills. I trusted her completely, and she read my vision perfectly. Joana Raio embodied both Claire and The Double in a way that was a true masterpiece. Additionally, the “abduction team” was incredible and brought great energy to the production.

Sound is 50% of the experience in a thriller, especially one about the mind. I wanted the soundscape to be hyper-focused, magnifying small noises to create anxiety. My DP, Richard Osborne, and I handled the post-production ourselves; he managed the sound design while I selected the music. Our collaboration was centered on finding that “uncomfortable” frequency that mirrors the protagonist’s state of mind. The music isn’t just a score; it’s an extension of the protagonist’s heartbeat and thoughts.

I view feedback as a gift to the film. During the shooting, we had a few moments where the “surrealism” was confusing rather than intriguing. To align the crew with the same vibrant mood, we joined hands and performed a small meditation to align our vibrations; from that moment on, we were all in sync. Their role was vital to the success of The Misstep. I am a director who listens to crew suggestions and aligns them with my vision, which is why we did such a tremendous job together. The viewer feedback until now has been amazing, though I’ve received some helpful advice specifically about the sound. I know it could have benefited from a more extensive post-production, but given our low budget, I’m taking those lessons and will follow that advice for my next project.