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Should Amy Swim
Written & Directed by
Mason Bendewald
The Machine doesn’t offer easy answers—it demands dialogue. Set in an airless classroom where a diverse group of parents, teachers, and students are tasked with a simple vote, the story unravels into something far more complex. As perspectives clash and tempers rise, the film exposes the fragile fault lines of modern discourse. Shot in stark black and white as a nod to 12 Angry Men, The Machine reflects a world where issues are seen in absolutes—right or wrong, good or bad—yet nothing is ever that simple. In a time when media and politics thrive on division, this film invites viewers to confront their own biases, sit with discomfort, and reclaim the power of honest, empathetic conversation. The goal isn't to win an argument—but to listen, reflect, and ask: what kind of society do we want to be?
"Doesn’t a taller woman with more muscle mass, like Serena Williams have an athletic advantage over another woman?”
– Trevor James
Math Teacher and
Musical Theater Director
“Let her swim, just not in my pool”
-Melissa Wagner, Swim Team Captain
“Can we leave God out of this? We don’t all think the way you do.”
- Tim Chef, Single Parent and Chicago Blackhawks Asst. Coach
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