‘Would You Like to Try Again?’ premieres at Dances with Films

Would You Like to Try Again? is the female-driven gamer short film of our dreams. Here’s why you need to catch the short film at Dances with Films 2019. This short movie, created by Michael Felker and Jori Lynn Richman, is sure to be one of the highlights of the festival.

Would You Like to Try Again? puts women and video games at front and center, telling the story of a recently bereaved teenage runaway Jennifer (Kate Buatti) who fled her home after an argument with her elder sister Rachel (Olivia Stuck). Jennifer happens upon a mysterious arcade and plays a game that takes her back to moments of conflict. Determined to beat the machine, she is taunted by the question: “Would you Like to Try Again?”

Would You Like to Try Again? comes from the creative minds of Michael Felker (writer/director) and Jori Lynn Richman (producer). You can check out their previous and future work over at their production company site here.

Michael Felker

Michael Felker is an LA-based filmmaker originally from Huntsville, Alabama best known for his extensive work as an editor in feature films, television, music videos, and commercials. Felker is also known for his work as a writer of video game focused content: indie feature Pixel Edge, fast-paced drama set in the gaming industry Four Out of Five, romantic comedy Congratulations! You’re Divorced!, and short Save & Continue, which he also directed. Felker’s writing has been recognized in Script Pipeline, Tracking Board, and Cinequest. He’s been an avid gamer for his entire life, with particular affinity towards point-and-click adventure games (Monkey Island), RPGs (Final Fantasy), puzzle games (The Witness), and platformers (pretty much everything). He later directed the feature Things Will Be Different, which premiered at SXSW 2024 as a time-travel sci-fi thriller. Felker also served as editor on Something in the Dirt in 2022 and continues writing within sci-fi and horror.

Jori Lynn Richman

Jori Lynn Richman is an LA-based producer who hails from the cruel winters of Chicago. After disappointing her family and not pursuing her Neuroscience degree upon graduation, she transitioned into entertainment – surviving the harsh mailrooms and desks of various agencies and management firms. Jori has slain short films and web content over the years and has most recently transitioned to behind the page, writing her debut magical-realism indie Between the Raindrops, which reached semi-finals in Script Pipeline. After a long day’s battle, Jori tackles games, graphic novels, and books in her free time. She especially loves science fiction and plays mostly Zelda, Kirby, and Pokemon games. As an avid supporter of all things fandom, Jori seeks to take down popular misconceptions surrounding nerds, especially female gamers. P.S.: Winter is coming. — Follow them on Facebook. Buy your tickets for the premiere now. She is now credited professionally as Jori Felker and has taken on cast appearances along with co-writing credits in later projects.

Availability and Distribution

Years after its festival debut, the short found a permanent home on the DUST streaming platform. Recent promotions on DUST have kept Would You Like to Try Again? in rotation for new viewers who missed the 2019 screenings. The platform’s science-fiction focus aligns with the film’s blend of gaming mechanics and emotional stakes, allowing the story to reach audiences beyond the original festival circuit.

Filmmaker Career Trajectory Since 2019

Felker’s profile shifted significantly when his first feature, Things Will Be Different, premiered at SXSW in 2024. The time-travel sci-fi thriller expanded on themes of regret and alternate choices that the short had already explored. Between editing Something in the Dirt and continuing to develop new sci-fi and horror scripts, Felker has maintained the same mix of genre curiosity and technical precision that shaped his earlier shorts.

Jori Felker’s Continued Creative Work

Now working under the professional name Jori Felker, the producer has stepped into additional creative roles. She has taken on small cast parts and contributed a co-written short story to Haunted Reels II. These later credits show how her interest in fandom and genre storytelling has grown beyond the production side of the 2019 short into writing and performance work as well.

Reception and Legacy of the Short

Early reviews praised the film’s emotional handling of grief through its sci-fi gaming premise. That response helped the short maintain visibility long after the Dances with Films slot. Its continued presence on DUST and periodic resurfacing in streaming recommendations indicate that the story’s central question about second chances still resonates with viewers who discover it years later.