PFF32 CHESTNUT Q&A with Jac Cron

Post Screening Q&A took place Sun Oct 22, 2023 during the 32nd Philadelphia Film Festival with writer/director Jac Cron (debut feature) and her producer Lizzy Shapiro. Moderated by Philadelphia Film Society All Year Programmer Trey Sheilds.
Synopsis: On the precipice of a new finance job in Los Angeles, college grad Annie (Natalia Dyer, STRANGER THINGS) finds herself spending her last summer in Philadelphia as a lone barfly at a local dive bar, dreaming of becoming a writer. Her literary ambitions are put aside when she encounters a group of servers and bartenders-including the flirtatious Tyler (Rachel Keller) and her chill bud Danny (Danny Ramirez, TOP GUN: MAVERICK)-as they celebrate the night’s shift with shots of tequila. Through the haze of countless nights out and hungover mornings in bed, Annie begins to develop feelings for Tyler and Danny, which threatens the group’s dynamic and will change Annie forever. First-time filmmaker (and Drexel grad) Jac Cron authentically explores the purgatory of life after college and the terror that a future of normalcy brings. Dyer and the rest of the film’s excellent ensemble beautifully embody the bartenders and chefs of Philly who have become confidantes, friends, and lovers to many who call this city home.
Tinsel & Tine #MiniMovieReview: I can relate to that time in life transitioning from college adolescence into adult responsibilities, particularly a first real job, and trying to put it off as long as possible. This aspect of the film I totally got; however, this is the second movie I've watched during PFF32 where I feel like I'm too old to understand or appreciate its rhythm. I realize this is a film that's about sense memory, evoking a time period in the filmmaker's life, with less detail and more a feeling. Not unlike last year's festival darling, Charlotte Well's AFTERSUN. I gotta say, I don't care for these types of films because I feel like they are exclusionary and that I have to sit through a lot of nothingness and repetitiveness without a payoff.
That being said, I do feel Jac Cron has a good eye for directing in terms of use of color and shadows and shooting intimate scenes, not sexual in nature, rather in terms of expression.
Cron and her producer Lizzy Shapiro were in attendance at the Philadelphia Film Festival - Check out the post screening Q&A - • PFF32 CHESTNUT Q&A wit...
CAST: Natalia Dyer, Rachel Keller, Danny Ramirez, Chella Man
#philly #restaurantscene #directorialdebut