April X

momo🥀3.0

watching everything connor is in

kat2.5

For the first time, it feels like Gen Z is experiencing the birth of a star. I've long been fascinated by star studies in film, watching the projects that launched big names and attempting to map the formation of their public image. That has all primarily been retrospective; this is the first time I'm actively witnessing and participating in the formation of a star. It *is* so thrilling, as a filmmaker and film fan, to see a film festival sell out a screening of an independent feature. There are eyes on independent film and shorts that haven't previously paid attention to smaller projects like this; it proves the value in various modes of movie making, as well as the necessity to seek talent that may otherwise be unknown. There's something hopeful to me about a room full of people seeking out film not made by major studios, particularly at a time where said studios are being consolidated and/or censored. The talent you dream of, interesting faces and the next big actor, are waiting for you at festivals around the block. Seek them out. Be curious. See what you don't know. Connor Storrie is one of those discoveries. The timelines are wobbly here, and you feel that while watching the film; this is an actor striving for something and working diligently, unknowing of the way their life will change. It's the same feeling I get watching something like Risky Business, where a baby faced Tom Cruise stutters and blushes, not yet a household name. Once he crosses the floor in his tube socks, you know its over; he's someone else now, separate from whatever person came before. Watching Storrie here feels similar; you are coming to a project with a newfound fascination, drawn specifically to a figure onscreen. The second he appears, cigarette dangling from his mouth, he's a star. Even with April X coming before Heated Rivalry, there's characteristics that seem to stick. He's beautiful but edgy, never without his fraying edges. Cigarettes, liquor, and heavy kissing-- there's a sense of desire that always surrounds him, a confidence that makes an audience breathless. To me, a good actor is a visual storyteller. They embody a script, able to communicate it silently as well as verbally. You never want to look away, desperate to find the story in the shine of their eyes and wobble of their lip. Storrie is one of those actors. I truly am impressed by him and excited to see more, especially in various genres. All that being said, I have some major qualms with this film, most associated with the script. I have trouble turning off my screenwriter brain and fully allowing myself to be an audience member, particularly when a script irks me. The concept of this film is compelling; I'm attracted to the topic of female bodily autonomy and how men think they are entitled to ownership. I especially liked how that manifested in Baxter, Storrie's character; even as April's brother, he still desired power and control over the women in his life. I loved the world when we finally got to the cloned sisters and Baxter's spiral into finding the original, or at the very least, a scrap of who previously existed. The problem for me was the entire first act. The movie felt like it started around the forty minute mark, when we hit the 5 years later mark. The exposition was wobbly, not clearly establishing the world or its rules. You had to piece together what the technology was, what made April special, and what type of futuristic world we were existing in. In my time writing, I've come to find that sci-fi is the genre you specifically need to be overly clear with. It is SO important that your audience understands the world you are placing them in and what makes it unique. I think of Minority Report, Strange Days, or Blade Runner, where the openings are used to establish tone, rules, and characters seamlessly. You know EXACTLY what to look out for and why it matters and can strap in for the remainder of the film. Strange Days feels the most natural as a comp, handling similar themes of memory reproduction; that film does so articulately. I was actively attempting to piece together stuff throughout this film, perplexed by the way it was organized scene-wise and script wise. The dialogue did not help; truly every line matters in a film and there were so many moments I felt did not utilize the space correctly. Too many conversations where one-word questions. Each scene should be doing something; many of these scenes were just there. April's character often felt underwritten and mishandled, more of a prop than a proper person. I think more time with the first act of this film would've helped it; I think that comes in the form of rewrites and also potentially more runtime. The edit was also wacky and I think did a disservice to parts of the story, perhaps furthering confusion. Looked great for the most part, but there was one specific wide shot that completely threw me out of the film and it took me about 5 minutes to move on from it.Once again, I'm not mad that a room full of people came to see an independently produced feature. I am also grateful to witness new and exciting talent enter our industry. It makes me more eager to write and create, encouraged that there's still potential for those of us who dream about making it happen.Also don’t take photos of a movie in theaters and go on your phone… Have some decorum…

Tapasya

Why does he look so russian or he's actually ilya ROZANOV