By Monique
There’s a new short film on the horizon, and it’s got the Tessa Thompson seal of approval.
There aren’t many details on this film, except that it’s spearheaded by Rebecca Theodore, national media critic and co-host of film podcast Cinema In Noir, fellow filmmaker Cynthia (@cynfinite) and is starring actor Jake Choi (Front Cover, Hawaii 5-0, Younger) and actor/model Melanie Ennis.
So…we found our leading lady for our first short. Say hi to the beautiful and talented @thesoulasylum w/ leading man @TheJakeChoi pic.twitter.com/GsyfJVin2L
— FilmFatale_NYC 🇭🇹 🇩🇴 🇺🇸 (@FilmFatale_NYC) May 21, 2017
Clearly, there’s tons of chemistry from these pictures, but there are some other reasons to look forward to this film as well, starting with the big news of the day:
• The Tessa Thompson bump. This short film is already gathering its cult following, but now the film’s fanbase will get even bigger now that Thompson has cosigned it and wants the first available seat at the screening.
The entire exchange started when, in response to a conversation about the new season of The Bachelorette in which Blake, an Asian American contestant, gets shafted by Rachel, the series’ first black Bachelorette.
@jasminephd @FilmFatale_NYC Black women and Asian men are apparently the least matched on dating sites. Sigh.
— Tessa Thompson (@TessaThompson_x) May 24, 2017
Can someone write an article about this fact? Instead of that trash article on @newsweek? https://t.co/h7YCLBHm7w
— Black Girl Nerds (@BlackGirlNerds) May 24, 2017
@jasminephd @FilmFatale_NYC Or better yet… a romantic comedy… starring ?
— Tessa Thompson (@TessaThompson_x) May 24, 2017
Campaigning For A Blasian …Anything
— Tessa Thompson (@TessaThompson_x) May 24, 2017
When she found out about Theodore’s film, she was all over it.
I'm on it! https://t.co/JKuNw90Jir
— FilmFatale_NYC 🇭🇹 🇩🇴 🇺🇸 (@FilmFatale_NYC) May 24, 2017
@thesoulasylum @TheJakeChoi MY GOD that's a v sexy cast . oy
— Tessa Thompson (@TessaThompson_x) May 24, 2017
Excited for you all. Truly, can't wait to see!
— Tessa Thompson (@TessaThompson_x) May 24, 2017
Ok. I can die happy now. Thank you! https://t.co/UkaL9WG4kA
— FilmFatale_NYC 🇭🇹 🇩🇴 🇺🇸 (@FilmFatale_NYC) May 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/cynfinite/status/867206188777263105
Just invite to the advance screening, please.🙋🏾
— Tessa Thompson (@TessaThompson_x) May 24, 2017
• It’s one of the few pieces of media about Asian men and black women in relationships. Rarely are these relationships showcased in the media (as well as other POC interracial relationships) in favor of the heavily prevalent black/white interracial relationship dynamic. However, these couples are out there and they deserve to be represented.
On a related note, this is one of the many reasons folks were excited about Into the Badlands (including me, as you can read here). This is also why so many people were upset about the Season 2 finale (you can read my thoughts at Black Girl Nerds).
• The leading lady is the size of the average woman. You’d think the “average woman” would be represented in the media more, seeing how most women nowadays are between sizes 14 to 16. But instead, actresses that are in these size ranges and upwards are usually billed as comic relief (case in point: the trailer for Girls Night). However, that’s not the case in this short film; Ennis, who is a size 14, is clearly the leading lady in control of her relationship destiny. I mean, Choi practically wants to eat her face off. It doesn’t get much more primal than that (and keep these pictures barely safe for work).
In short, I, like Thompson, will be on the lookout for this film. What do you think? Give your opinions in the comments section below!
Julian 