A seven-minute movie that will make you laugh and cry – Wired PR Lifestyle Story

You will remember the wonderful Stella Blackmon He did it at the Cup of Jo for three years – he took pictures and wrote about things like that ice cream sandwiches, eat alone, moving away from home and the secret to a happy marriage. He then worked as a photo editor for New York Magazine and is now splitting between Brooklyn and Missouri, where he writes and directs. short films. And you guys, these movies are hilarious, heartbreaking and BEAUTIFUL. I’m excited about sharing his new seven-minute gem, trying to meet your social media character …

How amazing is that? If you’re curious, here are some scenes from Stella:

INSPIRATION

Last summer, my teenage cousin Goldie and I made small statements on social media about what we were doing with our lives (she posted a YouTube video called “How I Got My First Job” the day before. I wrote about continuing my filming hours before accidentally ruining all the footage of a 12-hour shoot). We laughed at how wild it felt to keep up with the online version of yourself, even though it was often our most loyal (and only) audience.

That was the catalyst for the idea for the film, but earlier this winter Goldie joined forces YouTube vlog about a day in his life, and included a swimming practice and a skin care tutorial where his phone was stuck in the mirror. I probably watched this video 20 times because I was amazed at how Goldie was documenting the lives of teenagers in the Midwest. We’re 15 years apart, but his videos were very easy. Also, his audio-visuals reminded me of one of my favorite photo series in swimming workouts Rineke Dijkstra.

WORKING WITH GOLDI

Making a short film with Goldie was the highlight of my summer. We had a great time exploring the common ideas we had in common for the story, such as when we thought we’d get to work on adding things to our online shopping carts (or the pain of getting rid of things when things aren’t going well). ), Putting on Wite-Out shoes, or taking pictures of ourselves after crying to see what we look like. Also, our breaks were when we saw TikTok and drove to Arby to pick up the chips.

HDMI

Have you recently used an HDMI cable? The TV is the one you use to connect to your stereo or DVD player. I was working with my friend Mason on our short film Ghost in the Graveyard, Would use the phrase “HDMI” to describe a moment when you are working with someone and you are so connected that you don’t even have to talk, you already know what that person thinks.

Goldie and I started using this phrase because we were going to record an idea or edit it, and Goldie would start doing it before the thought was reported. “HDMI !!!!” we shouted Goldie wrote me a birthday card a couple of weeks ago and signed it, “HDMI, Goldie.”

MUSIC

When I started filming, I had a list of songs that I imagined would be licensed. But I realized pretty quickly that in order to make these short films on my own budget, it wasn’t possible. Most of the songs cost between $ 1,500 and $ 2,000 for social and film festival rights. Then, on a sweaty summer evening, my aunt Rosie suggested I talk to my cousin Mabel. I commissioned 17-year-old Mabel to complete the project. I would send her video clips and send me messages within a few hours with a Voice note that surpassed everything I could have imagined. Her mother was her piano assistant! I ended up using most of their original mock-ups because I was so attached to the actual moments captured on the recordings that they flipped the music sheet or were talking to their three-year-old brother Sonny in the background.

LOCATIONS

We were thrilled to shoot in our hometown of Missouri, where Goldie did her swimming practice and did her first lifeguard test at the pool. We were able to negotiate an hour-long shoot at each place, so we had to move fast, but we would have moments when we would realize where we were and feel like we were playing Barbies in our real life.

DIRECTORS

Seeing other managers communicate their perspectives makes me want to keep working, working, working. When I saw it Cyclist A couple of years ago at the hands of Chloé Zhao, I felt like the world had stopped touring. The story follows a rising South Dakota rodeo star who suffered brain damage as a result of a Rodeo accident. Zhao made the film with a group of five people and drew real people from the area, rather than the actors. There was a lot of tenderness and power gathered in the quiet moments of everyday rural life, moments you don’t often see in movies.

I’m also completely in love with Joanna Hogg, which she did Reminder and Memorial II, which has just come out. His pace and point of view are magical. And, of course, Queen Greta Gerwig and Queen Sofia Coppola. My list can go on and on, but I feel lucky to be a spectator of these works of art.

EXPECTATIONS AND DREAMS

The dream of all my dreams is to write and direct a feature film. Creating these weird short films gives me the space and time to tell the stories of small American towns on a larger scale. I’m working on a longer script, and my hope is to continue making short fun ones in the meantime. I have a lot to learn, but the most exciting moment seems to me to be at a stage where nothing feels like anything and yet everything is possible.

Thank you, Stella! Watch his other two short films here and here. We love you so much.

PS Stella’s Costume Week, and Stella’s 175-square-foot apartment tour.

(Photos taken behind the scenes Ruby Reddecliff.)