They say you can’t always get what you want. That seems to be especially true when it’s difficult to articulate your wants and desires out of shyness or fear.

A new short film explores that struggle. “The Girl who Couldn’t Come,” based on a short story by Joey Comeau, follows one young woman’s journey toward being open about her sexual desires to the person she wishes to be most intimate with. The project began in May 2011 and was completed in early May. The film was screened at El Cid’s Short Film Showcase in Silver Lake for the month of June.

Mariana Lui, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker, produced the film. This is the fifth film she has produced and the fourth with her husband Director Kenneth Lui. Her husband, Kenneth Lui, directed both films with the production company Mental Pictures. For more information, visit the company’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MentalPicturesProductions.

 Mariana is a freelance media designer and illustrator. Her blog Pistola Grafik http://pistolagrafik.wordpress.com/ shows the breadth of her design skills and creative talent. She took time to answer some questions about “The Girl who Couldn’t Come.” The following is a Q&A with Lui.

WAOH: Based on the trailer, the main character of the film seems to have a fetish that has become such an important part of sex that she can’t orgasm without it. Can you describe this character’s fetish and how she tries to address her problem?

Lui: Lily, our main character, can’t orgasm unless she’s listening to Johnny Cash’s voice.  It’s something that she can’t control, and she feels so embarrassed about it that she decides to see a therapist for help.  She wants to be able to enjoy sex with her boyfriend, but she’s afraid that if he finds out, he’ll break-up with her.  She doesn’t know how to approach him.

WAOH: Is there any particular message you were hoping to articulate in the making of this film?

Lui: I wanted to show how that even though Lily is afraid that her boyfriend won’t understand her kink, she is able to come to terms with what she needs in a relationship.  She decides to be brave about it and own her sexuality.  We have all been in that position of insecurity with ourselves, and I want people to feel brave enough to share even our insecurities with our partners.

WAOH: How might this film address issues in sexual and romantic relationships?

Lui: We can relate to the internal agony that Lily goes through when debating whether or not she should tell her boyfriend about her kink.  It’s a silly way to discuss speaking up about your sexual wants and desires.  I want to show everyone that no matter how weird you think you are, you deserve to feel fulfilled, and that being honest with yourself really pays off in the long run.  I know everyone says it, but it’s never any less true:  Communication is important!

WAOH: How would you say audiences have reacted to the film so far?

Lui: So far, audiences have really enjoyed the story.  Once the crowd gets over the initial shock of talking about a woman masturbating and having orgasms, they get really involved in Lily’s struggle.  It’s been a lot of fun screening it so far.

WAOH: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Lui: Yeah!  The show is a part of the Stay-Tuned TV Awards as a part of POPCon-LA and will be screening at the LA Convention Center on July 5th at 10pm.  So come by and check it out!