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Shrike
TYPE: Narrative Short
GENRE: Drama
STATUS: Pre-Production
LOGLINE
In the immediate aftermath of sleeping with one another, two numb and jaded Angelenos discover just how far they'll go to break the monotony of their lives, uncovering the mutual strangeness lurking beneath them both.
SYNOPSIS
Carolyn is a Rockstar's girlfriend (fiancé, actually) who finds herself entangled with John, a shallow LA jerk after they sleep together. As the film progresses, we get a sense of Carolyn's deep dissatisfaction and general numbness to the world. She clings to John, provoking him in more and more sinister ways. Ultimately, 'Shrike' is an exploration of female personhood through the lens of desire, rage, and the strangeness lurking just beneath the surface in all of us.
ARTISTIC STATEMENT
'Shrike' has an entirely female-led production team, a hallmark of the film's themes and the writer/director behind them. If the rousing success of the novel 'My Year of Rest and Relaxation' and Julia Ducournau's 'Titane' is any indication, themes of female rage and their glorious messiness are at the forefront of art created by and for women. In an essay I wrote for Lithium Magazine entitled 'The Feminine Urge to Not Shower,' I outlined the power of unlikable women and what their beauty or perceived "cleanliness" had to do with the media's perception of them. Visually inspired by the photography of Nan Goldin and Ron Galella and films like 'Waves' and 'Punch Drunk Love,' 'Shrike' emphasizes the intersection of performative sexuality, self-surveillance, connection, and apathy. The relationship between John and Carolyn embodies all of these themes. Utilizing a hard diegetic light (streetlights, car headlights) with lots of blues, purples, and greens, the nighttime setting in 'Shrike' is something to be embraced. Photographed on 35mm film, we will shoot on 2-perf to allow for the many long takes within the film, giving a naturalistic, effortlessly vintage look. Drawing from the sensuality of Wong Kar-wai's 'Fallen Angels,' Gia Coppola's 'Palo Alto,' and Baz Luhrmann's 'Romeo + Juliet,' the film takes a fresh approach to romance and the realities of building a connection with someone in today's hyper-individualistic society. Only here, the romance between our leads remains tumultuous and far less straightforward. Inspired by the 'Before Sunrise' trilogy, the film will feature multiple long takes depicting the nuances of Carolyn and John's complex relationship. 'Shrike' interrogates morality, intimacy, and what true female rage looks like. Carolyn and John might not be entirely likable all the time, but they are complicated, dynamic, and endlessly fascinating.
KEY CREW
Rebecca Loftin - Director
Hailing from Austin, Texas, filmmaker Rebecca Loftin grew up on the films of Texas-born directors Richard Linklater and Terrence Malick. An essayist and screenwriter, her writing has been featured in the likes of Lithium and Adolescent Mag, primarily focusing on feminism, complicated women, celebrity, and its intersection within pop culture. After working as a Writer's Assistant on 'The Continental' (Peacock), she continued to be mentored by its Showrunner Greg Coolidge ('Wayne,' 'Employee of the Month'). She went on to direct and co-star in the Kickstarter-funded, 9-part web series 'Evie Gets a Boyfriend,' as well as write and direct two short films, 'Marcy Avenue' and 'Nora.' Inspired by LA writers Joan Didion, Francesca Lia Block, and Eve Babitz, directing 'Shrike' is a deeply personal endeavor.
Martha Ruby Clark - Star, Producer
In addition to starring in 'Shrike' as Carolyn, actor Martha Ruby Clark is a tour-de-force producer for the film. After giving notes on original script development, she helped create the character of Carolyn from the ground up. As the second half of Drover Productions, she also co-produced and starred in 'Nora' and 'Evie Gets a Boyfriend.' Recently, she also starred in a music video by pop artist Ashe, set to premiere this October.
Jennifer Levinson - Producer
Jen is a Tribeca Film Festival NOW Creator, recognized for her achievements both on and offscreen. As she awaits the premiere of her first written feature, ‘Trust,’ she is also in development for her next feature, 'How to Hunt a Narcissist.' A Chapman University alum, Jennifer is a former staff writer on the interactive TV series SOLVE and a co-creator of a successful multi-platform VR series. While her current focus is in the traditional narrative space, Jen's digital work, both scripted and unscripted, has amassed over 100 million views and gained recognition from popular media outlets RightThisMinute, FunnyOrDie, Seventeen Magazine, and Whohaha, amongst others.
Madi Bready - Producer
Known for her role in 'Infamous' (starring Bella Thorne), actor Madi Bready’s additional experience behind the camera is extensive and impressive. After being everything from production assistant, producer, and director, Bready's wide-reaching experience is invaluable to the project. Ultimately, she is the linchpin for the production side of 'Shrike.'
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