How to Cry on Command
Another Look
•
Comedy, Short Films, 19-Sep-2023
At a dystopian grade school, a determined 11-year-old girl struggles during her final exams. Wylie Anderson directs “How to Cry on Command,” a hilarious satire looking at the requirements and consequences of pursuing stardom. At “Celebrity Preparatory for Girls,” there are classes on how to speak with talk show hosts, how to model, self-brand, and, of course, act. These lessons seem to come naturally for most of the young students, however, this isn’t the case for Mattie. Struggling to channel what's needed to naturally cry on command, Mattie has a secret meeting with her teacher, Miss H, that moves the film into darker territory. Anderson’s brilliant world building is grounded by the lead performance of Colyse Harger — one of the most notable elements in a film about performance is the performance itself. -Jinho Myung. Director/Writer/Executive Producer: Wylie Anderson. Cast: Colyse Harger, Lane Townsend, Wylie Anderson. Producer: Roxanne Griffith. Executive Producer & Casting: Caroline Pommert-Allegrante. DP: Rachel Bickert. Production Design: Ashley Kron. Editor: Lily Judge. Music: Peter Lam.
Up Next in Another Look
-
Close the Gap
During the 2020 BLM protests, a white protester loses his head trying to corral a group of fellow demonstrators. Alex Bliss directs “Close the Gap,” a satirical character study that boldly examines the loose ends of a young man’s mind amidst a high-tense moment. As he marches, he broadcasts live ...
-
Superfan
During a sleepover, a tween celebrity obsession tests the boundaries of friendship, privacy, and a young girl's heart. Directing duo Karina Lomelin Ripper and Marc Ripper present “Superfan,” a sharply-crafted modern coming-of-age film. Sleepover gear in hand, Selena arrives to a Pacific Northwest...
-
A Reason to be Larry
A high-schooler named Larry tries to embrace the harsh reality that he may never be one of the “Great Larrys.” Oszkar Nosek directs “A Reason to be Larry,” a surreal character study of a young man trying to conceptualize his persona. Larry struggles to find confidence toward his own name, especia...
