Writer, director Sascha Seinfeld and producer Kerry Mack talk about ‘The Final Cut’

God definitely has a sense of humor in Sascha Seinfeld’s “The Final Cut.” And how can He not be quirky, when the former Fonz, Henry Winkler, plays him? The short premieres as part of Shortsfest at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 4, at Wheeler Opera House.

Seinfeld is the daughter of comedian Jerry Seinfeld, which should come as no surprise to those who attended his performance at the Wheeler last month, where he mentioned his daughter’s film. The 24-year-old chose producer Kerry Mack for her first film after seeing Mack’s “Proof of Concept.”

“‘Proof of Concept’ felt like something out of my own heart and mind,” Sascha Seinfeld said. “I also just immediately liked Kerry. It’s honestly rare to find someone that you feel like you’re a match creatively, in terms of communication style and vision, (so) it was an easy choice.”

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Mack gravitates toward comedies and described her script as “so tight and so funny” that it was a no-brainer to jump into.

The inspiration for the story, which features a man who demands a “re-cut” of his life review from a not-so-focused God, came after a bike barreled toward Seinfeld as she stepped into the road. While her life didn’t flash before her eyes, she wondered what the experience would be like.

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“And that made me think, ‘Who’s making these death reels?’ and who else would it be but God because he has all the footage, and maybe he’s actually not a very good director, and the idea went from there,” she said. “I feel like it’s a magical business that I’ve been lucky enough to participate in for this short time, and it’s really a fond tease, I would say.”

When she sent the script to Winkler, he got on board immediately.

“He was truly divine. I don’t think I could’ve had more accurate casting for God — he is as close as you can get,” she said. “I can’t imagine a better actor to work with my first experience because he was just so generous and so charming. He instantly charmed the whole room from the second he walked in. I don’t think I could’ve picked a more kind human to work with.”

Seinfeld was also fortunate to have Amy Schumer sign on as executive producer. Her and Seinfeld’s parents have been friends for a long time, and Seinfeld developed a close relationship with her after the comedian hired college-age Seinfeld to help write a sketch for “Inside Amy Schumer” on college orientation.

“She bets on me every time, and her confidence in me has really been game changing,” Seinfeld said. “I just feel so lucky to have her in my life.”

Of course, the connections that stem from being Jerry Seinfeld’s daughter aren’t lost on her. She even makes fun of that fact by including a line in the film: “Hey, maybe my dad made a few calls, but what was I supposed to do — not use my connections?”

She almost cut that line in final edits, but Mack wouldn’t let her.

“I just feel like everybody knows Sascha’s dad — he’s, of course, beyond legendary, but she’s interested in making her own way in the world too,” Mack said.

She also includes a phrase about embracing “the weirdness,” something her family definitely did.

“I really feel like the weird moments in your day — the things that feel kind of out of synch with what you wanted or something embarrassing — that’s usually what you end up talking about over dinner. I think that’s what makes being alive interesting, and that’s where the real substance of existence is. It’s not all the things that went smoothly. It’s all the things that made you be like, ‘What? What was that? And why did that just happen?’ I feel like the more we can learn to appreciate the imperfections of life, the more we can just embrace accepting all those things that don’t go your way.”

In fact, her family had a rule: You can only complain if it’s funny.

“I feel like we have mastered the art of complaining,” she said.

In addition to connections from her dad, Sascha Seinfeld said the project wouldn’t have happened without Duke Entertainment, Media, and Arts Network (DEMAN), which connects Duke alumni working in creative industries by offering onramps for those pursuing careers in entertainment. A few weeks before shooting, she lost a huge chunk of funding, so she posted in the DEMAN GroupMe and received funds to start production.

“They saved my project from the brink of collapse, and it was really moving to feel Duke’s continued investment in who I’m becoming, even after graduation,” she said. “We would not have made it without the Duke network showing up for one of its creative grads, not just in theory, but when it really mattered.” 

Both Seinfeld and Mack love that their film premieres in Aspen.

“Aspen is full of interesting creative people, and we’re so excited,” she said.

As for future projects, she looks forward to the day she can support herself writing full time, “but until then, I’m under fluorescence” working a full-time office job, she said. Of course, Mack has complete confidence that this isn’t the last the world will see of Seinfeld’s work. Meanwhile, Mack is launching a company with her business partner and working on a slate of films scheduled for release next year, including a documentary about male penile enhancement in the Trump era.