STAGE KIDS (a short film)
The FEMME Project of Utah Valley University presents
a short film written and directed by Lynn Chen
starring Grace Lu, Thea Saccoliti, Christy Meyers and Roberta Valderrama
More about the filmmaker: https://lynnchen.com/director
SYNOPSIS:
An hour before showtime, two teenage actresses must decide if this is the life they want for themselves, or if they’re going to take their professional stress and family drama into their own hands.
CREDITS: (full list on imdb)
cinematography by Lucia Zavarcikova
edited by Olivia Martinez
music by ings
production design by Elsa Hintz, Karina Pena
supervising producer Marcie K. Gibboney
produced by Alysha Aldred, Gabi Cuascut, Kelty Heppler
executive produced by Jenny Mackenzie
poster picture by Ruby Tafolla
poster design by Maggie Morris
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT:
I grew up performing professionally in New York City, during a time when there weren’t many roles for children, let alone Asian-American ones. Even though my mother was in the Ladies’ Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera herself, I often regarded show business as a big mystery. When I saw my young colleagues’ parents pushing them to succeed, I felt invisible and frustrated by my own lack of opportunities. Now I understand: I was being protected.
“Stage Kids” is very loosely based on my own childhood experiences backstage, growing up in a very adult world that was never fully explained to me. This film explores the unrealistic expectations we place on young women. If we ask them to be a grown up before they’re ready — or just act like one — there are often consequences waiting in the sidelines, ready to step in and take center stage.
To jump from in front of the camera to behind it has been one of the most rewarding experiences, especially because the pressure of how I look is no longer a job qualification. When the opportunity to write/direct 2022's Utah Valley University's Femme Project was presented to me, I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of it. To be able to mentor a crew of female-identifying students, many of whom were doing this for the first time, is highly unusual. That’s why it was important for me to write a script for an entirely female cast.
I always do best in environments where we are all students, learning how to improve as storytellers, rather than merely getting by for a paycheck. I believe we created that unique experience with “Stage Kids” — and I hope our young cast and crew were able to feel inspired in ways I found lacking, back when I was brand new at all of this.
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