DIMAS FILMS

The Room: Meeting the Stars of the Upcoming Horror Short Film By Dimas Films

EXCLUSIVE: Amber has always been tuned to a frequency no one else can hear. But when a evening with friends leads to a forgotten board game, it sparks the dark rebirth of something ancient. Produced by Dimas Films, The Room brings together a striking ensemble led by Sophia Peterson (Amber), alongside Luis Dimas Rivero (Alejandro), Emily Vines (Courtney), Jennifer Poole (Carol), Benjamin Jadlos (Josh), Vinny Carty (Joey), and Irene Vass (Sarah)—with Josh McFadden driving the mystery as Auge.

The Room marks the debut horror short film from Dimas Films, led by Luis Dimas Rivero, who serves as writer, director, and co-star. The film promises to deliver an exciting entry for horror fans, bringing back the classic mystery of an iconic board game reminiscent of timeless genre favorites.At just 21 years old, Venezuelan filmmaker Luis Dimas Rivero is stepping into the spotlight as one of the promising future voices of Hollywood. As the writer, director, and co-star of The Room, he has spearheaded the project from concept to screen, bringing a distinct vision and dedication to his craft. He founded Dimas Films with the mission to build a platform where everyone has the opportunity to showcase their potential—just like the talented cast of The Room. Driven by a passion for cinema, Dimas is committed to shaping the future of entertainment by telling deeply meaningful and impactful stories.

Powered by a talented team that gave everything on set, we sat down with the cast to discuss how they first fell in love with acting, their journey into the craft, and how they ultimately landed their roles in The Room.Leading the film, Sophia Peterson steps into the spotlight as Amber, anchoring the story with a compelling performance that captures the quiet, haunting intensity of horror icons like Carrie.Born in Odessa, Texas, Sophia Peterson divides her childhood into three main chapters: West Texas, London, and Malaysia. She lived in Odessa until age eight, spent a year and a half in London, and then moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia around age ten, where she lived until graduating high school before returning to the U.S.As an only child, Sophia was raised bilingual—Spanish was her first language, taught by her Mexican mother, while her father is from North Dakota. Living in Odessa meant being surrounded by extended Mexican family and growing up close to a younger cousin who felt like a sister. Whenever she met family friends who were surprised she spoke Spanish, she would say, "Mi mamá es Mexicana y mi papá es Gringo." She carries fond memories of simple times in West Texas, particularly watching storms and sunsets with her mother from their covered porch.

She became deeply fascinated by Emma Stone—studying her Easy A audition tape and admiring her distinct raspy voice, even wondering at age 12 if it was too late to achieve a voice like hers after reading how Stone got it.Her connection to the project began early during its initial development. Recalling how she joined the film, Sophia said, "Luis first told me about a horror film idea he had, and as a huge horror fan, I was immediately interested and wanted to be involved. From day one, the team felt incredibly collaborative. Everyone was excited to be there, and there was this great balance of having fun while staying completely focused once the cameras were rolling."When asked about her process for finding Amber’s voice, Sophia highlighted the collaborative nature of the role, stating, "Luis and I talked a lot about Amber's past and the experiences that shaped who she is. He shared his vision for the character, but he also gave me the freedom to find her and portray her in a way that felt authentic to me."Beyond the scares, Sophia hopes the character's core emotional resonance lands with viewers. Looking toward the audience's reaction, she noted, "I hope audiences genuinely get freaked out. That’s part of the fun of horror movies — there’s such an adrenaline rush that comes from being scared. But I also think the best horror films are the ones that go beyond the scares and have a vulnerable truth at the center, whether that’s through a character or the story itself."

Vinny Carty joins the cast as Joey, bringing to life a funny, outgoing, and delightfully annoying character who adds a lively dynamic to the tension in The Room.
Born and raised in a small, calm New Hampshire city, Vinny grew up as the youngest of five siblings. Being the baby of the family meant having the longest leash and plenty of perks—a fact his older siblings still like to remind him of today. Growing up in a busy household with four distinct personalities shaped who he is, and as an adult, he credits his siblings for inspiring his unique sense of humor, personal tastes, and love for new experiences.His love for movies started at an early age, though his desire to act came later on. As a teenager, he would often act out random, movie-like moments to himself, leaving a lasting impression that stayed tucked away in the back of his mind through his school years.Alongside his passion for film, a constant driving force in his life has been his desire to make people laugh. For him, making an impression on others has shaped who he is, making his pursuit of acting a natural continuation of that passion.Vinny spoke with us about bringing his character to life:"Joey is a chill guy but likes having fun and that I can easily identify with. I think the part that was a little difficult was just not having much to build off of in the script, but with that also came plenty of freedom."

Emily Vines joins the cast in a standout supporting role as Courtney, bringing a unique dynamic to the screen as the party girl who doubles as the grounded "mother" of the group.Born in San Bernardino, California, to a Puerto Rican father and Mexican mother, Emily credits her early life experiences with shaping the person she is today. Her defining spark for acting came at just seven years old while watching Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. Captivated by the iconic scene where the title characters meet across an aquarium, she was deeply moved by the emotion on screen.Learning from her father that the actors were portraying a story inspired her life's calling: to tell meaningful stories and evoke powerful feelings through performance.Growing up in San Bernardino exposed her to a wide variety of personalities and life experiences, which she now draws upon to bring depth and authenticity to every role she takes.Emily spoke with us about bringing her character to life:"Courtney is the ultimate baddie party girl. While I had the baddie part down, I’m actually not too much of a party girl so getting into that groove was a bit tricky."She added that she felt a profound duty to maintain the integrity of the story and do it justice, knowing she was fully committed to doing whatever was necessary to ensure it was told authentically.

Ben Jadlos joins the cast as Josh, the annoyingly simple yet entertainingly argumentative friend who is always fun to watch debate with everyone in the group.Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Ben spent his childhood playing every sport imaginable alongside his brother. His passion for acting was first sparked not by a movie, but during a middle school theater class, where he discovered his natural talent for the craft.Growing up around people who never took things too seriously and were always able to laugh at themselves, he learned never to force things and to go with the flow—a mindset that ultimately helped him find his character's voice.Additionally, he found that working with clear boundaries alongside total creative freedom allowed him to stay calm, relaxed, and out of his head. By doing thorough research on his character beforehand, he stepped onto the set feeling confident and fully prepared when it came time to shoot.

Another key piece of this horror short film is Irene Vass, who plays Sarah—a direct, no-nonsense character with an unmistakably "mean girl" vibe.Born in the cozy city of Lviv in western Ukraine, Irene grew up in a loving home with her parents and brother, spending her summers on adventures in the countryside with her grandparents. From an early age, she was drawn to the arts, spending her time painting, writing poetry, and playing musical instruments.Her passion for cinema was sparked at just five years old during her first trip to the movie theater to see Star Wars on the big screen. Captivated by the magic of storytelling and playing pretend, she fell in love with the idea of stepping into different lives through acting—a spark that only grew stronger as she matured and deepened her study of the craft.Her creative process relied on tapping into the core motivations and underlying feelings of the role.When describing her approach to bringing the character to life, she shared:"I tried to understand the emotional truth of the character and the world they’re living in. I spent time thinking about the character’s inner life — their fears, motivations, relationships, and what they may be struggling with. I also tried to emotionally connect to the themes of the story like “The Room,” because I wanted the performance to come from a real place."She also noted how she personally related to Sarah's situation, explaining that she could connect with the character's loneliness and the feeling of not seeing her parents often. To bring depth to the role, she focused on understanding the emotional reasons behind Sarah's behavior. For her, the biggest challenge was discovering a distinct tone for the character, as she wanted to avoid playing a stereotypical "mean girl" and instead portray Sarah's authentic truth and inner world.

While the core group of friends brings energy and dynamic to the screen, every dark story needs a force that threatens to pull them apart. Shifting from the ensemble to the dark center of The Room, we turn to the mysterious figure behind the suspense.Josh McFadden brings an intriguing presence to the film as Auge—a name translated from the German word for "Eye"—serving as the mysterious antagonist of The Room.Born in the United States, Josh moved to Melbourne, Australia, at six months old, where he spent his early childhood exploring the outdoors before returning to the U.S. Influenced by his well-traveled father, he developed an early appreciation for diverse cultures and history.__His path to acting wasn't defined by a single moment, but rather a series of continuous sparks. As a child with ADHD, movies were often his favorite escape, instilling a deep love for storytelling as he found himself constantly imitating memorable movie lines and characters. His passion evolved in high school, where he began writing and directing his own short films—often playing every single character himself. Over time, connecting with like-minded creatives solidified his journey into the craft.He noted that while playing a villain with limited screen time can feel intimidating or deceptively simple, it also presents a unique creative opportunity. He recognized that as the primary source of conflict in a horror film, the antagonist naturally carries a distinct weight and dramatic presence. For him, the key to delivering a powerful performance was identifying what the character symbolizes to both the story and the audience, and using that deeper interpretation to maximize the role's impact.He added that the biggest challenge was balancing sympathy for the character with his core role in the narrative, cautioning against letting understanding overshadow the villain's primary function.When reflecting on that delicate balance, he shared:"At the end of the day, you’re the bad guy and the first thing people are supposed to feel when they see you is fear, but once they’ve sat with that fear, that little nugget of empathy should come through in some way."

Adding another layer of mystery to the story, Jennifer Poole steps into the role of Courtney's creepy aunt—a character carrying an unmistakably dark secret.Born and raised in Romeo, Michigan, a small orchard town, Jennifer describes her younger self as a self-proclaimed "theater geek." Her fascination with performance began early, sparked by seeing the original Star Wars in theaters as a young child. Captured by the magic on screen, she spent months pretending to be Princess Leia.That early passion officially took root years later during her freshman year of high school. After taking a leap to audition for a school play and landing a lead role, she was instantly hooked on acting and never looked back.To build her character, she immediately connected with her bohemian vibe. She found that the most challenging aspect of the role was walking the fine line of creepiness—striking just the right unsettling tone without making the performance feel over the top.Her process was also shaped by the strong rapport she shared with the cast. Having worked with several of the team members previously in the same acting studio, she felt comfortable pushing creative boundaries on set.When reflecting on how that atmosphere of trust influenced her performance, she shared:"I didn’t feel like we had to play it safe, so I was more willing to try weird choices or go a little off-book if it served the scene."

When discussing the vision behind the project with Luis Dimas Rivero, the owner of Dimas Films, we asked about the origin of the film, his aspirations for it, and how collaborating with such a talented team has fostered both personal and professional growth for the company.Reflecting on the journey, he shared:"I believe films are meant to leave a positive mark on people. The Room started as a minor project back in 2024 and stayed on the table until I met the right people—talented individuals who were so excited to participate in a project. They brought unique personalities, talent, and experience that allowed this film to be created with purpose: to move people, inspire, and above all, learn. The Room plays with a 90s concept that brings unique elements and new stories. People sometimes think films are just entertainment, but for me, it is about teaching and lighting people's lights with stories."He also made a point to express his deep gratitude to the entire crew, giving a special thanks to the cinematographer. He emphasized that James was an integral part of the production, noting that the film simply would not have turned out so amazing without his invaluable help and the dedication he brought to the project.

Speaking on the future of the project, Luis Dimas Rivero noted that The Room promises to be a return to original horror films. He emphasized that although it is currently a short film, it holds significant potential to evolve into a full series.When asked about what lies ahead, the owner of Dimas Films shared:"I'm working nonstop. I finished another drama short film, Let it Out, with amazing actors Emma Victoria Dixon and Michael Loria, and now I'm focusing on a new project—a fantasy/comedy. It promises to keep you laughing. In relation to The Room, who knows? Maybe it can end up being the pilot for a series. But for now, I'm working on other projects."

Across the board, the actors agreed that working with Dimas Films was a remarkably fun, seamless, and organic experience. The production environment gave the cast the creative freedom necessary to build something truly unique, while offering a supportive atmosphere that allowed everyone to bring their best to the project.For future actors wondering what to expect when collaborating with Dimas Films, the cast shared their thoughts on the experience:Sophia Peterson: “I would tell future actors that they’re about to have a ton of fun and make a helluva film. I would absolutely love to work with Dimas Films again”.Emily Vines: "I would tell anyone that has the opportunity of working with them to snatch it!"Irene Vass: "It was such a great and pleasant experience! I’d tell future actors who want to work with Dimas Films that they made it so effortless and easy, so they will have a blast!"Josh McFadden: "I would absolutely work with them again! They call, I’m there. I’d say to anybody working with them is to just relax and enjoy the ride, it’s a fun time that gives you a lot of room to breathe creatively with a lot of good people."Ben Jadlos: "I would tell them Dimas Films is a very grounded production. I would love to work with them again. "Jennifer Poole: "It was a fun and creative experience and I would definitely work with Dimas Films again. "

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