Stay True Darling

Download Press Kit (1.5 MB zip file, includes production stills)

Short Synopsis

Jane Desmond has moved from a small town to a big city to pursue her dream of becoming an actress.  She spends her days going to auditions and her nights working in a diner, all the while fantasizing about her future stardom.  But soon the painful reality of failure begins to close in on her.

Director’s Statement

Since moving here four years ago, I have found that living in New York City can be simultaneously wonderful and terrifying.  You are in a world full of opportunity.  On the other hand, everyone in that world is racing against you for the same opportunity, all seeking the same prize.  You don’t have to be a mathematician to figure out that the odds are not in your favor.
All over the world, artists of all kinds continue to fight for their dreams regardless of the insurmountable odds.  They are bizarrely optimistic – most of them recognize that they must remain that way to keep going.  As a struggling filmmaker, I consider myself to be in this category of wandering dreamers.  I’m still not really sure if the pursuit is honorable, childish, or a little insane, and this is the reason I wanted to make Stay True Darling.
Many of us are guilty of Jane’s sins.  We ignore our misery and try to focus on an imminent, vaguely defined happiness, and we fail to see how the two connect.  In my mind, Jane is like a gambler in a casino.  While some consider gamblers to be fools, someone will in fact win the lottery.  Whether or not you agree with Jane’s goals – and the sacrifices she makes – isn’t the point.  It’s about understanding the basic human drive to succeed against all odds and logic.

Crew

Director
James Morrison

Producer
David Mandel

Co-Writers
Joshua Goolsby and James Morrison

Composer
Ivan Sandomire

Editor
Mark Thiedeman

Director of Photography
Henry Chen

Sound Mixer
Matthew Farler

Production Designer
Mark Thiedeman

Production Coordinator
Katie Lane

Gaffer
Andrea Moya

Offline Editor
Tara Rose Stromberg

Still Photography
Kwaku Kufuor

Assistant Camerman
Tom Cryan

Best Boy
Darin Quan

Still Photography
Kwaku Kufuor

Production Assistant
Kaitlyn Ide

Catering
Sarah Ide

Post Sound
JR Skola

Colorist
Ben Powell

Special Thanks
Vox3 Films
Clock Wise Productions
Friends in Deed
Bon Vivant Diner
Henry Prince

Cast

Jane Desmond                  Erin Cunningham
Brenda                                Gretchen Poole
Sally                                     Eva Dorrepaal
Mr. Tinstein                       Andrew Fierberg
The Reporter                     Alexis Macnab
Jane’s Husband                Mike Smith
Jane’s Daughter                Daisy Smith
Restaurant Manager        Daniel Angus Cox

Waiting Room Girls

Amanda Marino
Caley Rose Bulinski
Rebecca Keren
Valentina Arena
Donna Victoria Weaver
Carolyn Alicia Moretti
Callie Chaffin
Leslie-Ann O’Brien
Frances Lozada
Dina Lucchesi
Elsa Pupko

Paparazzi

Martin Joyce
Carmen Amoros Goldberg
Daniel G. Fainman
Fernando Alicea
Emeka Onodyo
Kyle Sachs
Hal Hirshorn

Restaurant Patrons

Tito Espinosa
Kwaku Kufuor
Andrea Moya
Tara Rose Stromberg
Ryan Haupt