Playing Pretend
Two idiosyncratic young adult girls await the results of a pregnancy test in the crappy bathroom of the Chinese restaurant they waitress at. As a line of customers outside grows, so do their chances of getting fired. Lauren wants to leave, Bobbi knows she won’t. We watch the dynamic of their fun but toxic relationship as they try to keep their lives together and grow up.
Interview with Director/Producer Kaitlyn Scardino and Writer/Producer Valaniece
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
KAITLYN: I wanted to tell a story for all the 20-something-year-olds out there who feel like they're messing up or playing pretend in life. As a 20-something-year-old girl, I often look around and feel light years behind. I feel like I should already have a steady income, be in a relationship, and be happy… but that’s not even close to the reality of things. Film and television glorify young women and make them seem like they have it all together, but no one in real life ever does. This is the story for the girls who spend their workday commute hung over, the girls who smoke cigarettes just to look cool, and the girls who make playlists about one-night stands. I made this film as a love letter to all the girls out there, to let them know they’re not alone, and it’s okay to be behind. We’ll all make it out alive.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
KAITLYN: This film is targeted towards young adult women but honestly anyone can enjoy it. There are universally comedic moments between the girls and their chemistry is something that everyone can see. I'm sure every 40-year-old man out there can relate to not fitting in. Any 70-year-old woman can see herself and her best friend in Bobbi and Lauren. This isn't just a story about pregnancy, it's a story about two best friends who are in it for the long run. It's full of funny snippets, heartwarming sentences, and stressful moments. It's a film for anyone.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
VALANIECE: Thus far in what little of adulthood I’ve lived, I still feel like a little kid running around in my mother’s oversized clothes and I’m playing pretend. This was a thought that occurred to me after turning twenty. I didn’t feel like an adult then, and I still don’t now. I feel like that’s what defines young adulthood, just constantly thinking “what the f*ck is going on?” Growing up we always have an idea of what life will be and where we will be by a specific age. By twenty-two I’ll graduate, by twenty-five I’ll get my dream job and make loads of money, and by thirty I’m popping babies. Now you’re an adult and all of a sudden life becomes incredibly strange and disheartening yet fulfilling and exciting and you never get to where you be you would just yet.
This was a major theme I wanted to portray in this film. The misconception of adulthood told through these two characters at two different stages in their twenties. Bobbi is naive yet hopeful and Lauren is realistic yet ignorant. Their outlook clashes throughout the short film until finally, life knocks on the door forcing them to realize they’re both playing pretend.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
KAITLYN: From the beginning, we knew this would be a fun story to tell. It started with just being about two girls awaiting the results of a pregnancy test but throughout the process, it became about so much more than that. We explored the complex dynamic between two young adult girls. From where this started to where we ended it was an amazing journey and throughout each stage, we were able to see the story evolve into what it has become.
VALANIECE: I was twenty years old when I first wrote the script and I didn’t end up shooting it til I was twenty-four. Bobbi and Lauren are two characters that I spent four years developing and re-working and in that time, I sorta feel like I started as a Bobbi and by my mid-twenties I became a Lauren. In the four years since I wrote it, I’ve had time to grow up, experience more life and gain a new perspective. At some point I sorta gave up on ever being able to make this film but looking back I’m happy with the way things turned out.
Those four years gave me the time to really relate to and understand Lauren more deeply and truly be able to accurately portray these contrasting perspectives. It also gave me more time to really create an aesthetic for their world which helped me better define the tone and style in my writing. Then once we got to filming, Hailey took Lauren and made it her own, Kait took the script and brought it to life with her own interpretation of it, and Alejandro edited it and put it all together. At a certain point, the story is no longer yours and becomes a cohesive film that is ours which is the best part about making films.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
KAITLYN: All of the feedback on this film has been so positive. People of all ages and genders have come up to us and told us it was hilarious. The film is raunchy but it's real and raw. In the beginning, I think a lot of people were worried about how we would make a film where almost the entire thing takes place in the bathroom, but we did it. With Valaniece's amazing screenwriting skills and chemistry that sells so well, we were able to make it entertaining while keeping the location contained. Overall people have loved the film so far and I couldn't be more grateful for the support.
VALANIECE: In terms of the story itself, it’s gotten a lot of positive feedback. The two things I put the most work into are the characters and the dialogue and that seems to be what people enjoy the most which is f*cking swell [!!!] Also that the story is relatable which is another win. It’s nice to hear that because the themes are very personal to me and it tells me that I’m not alone in how I feel. It’s a nice feeling to be able to relate to people. Also, people laughed at it. Jesus Christ that’s reassuring.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
KAITLYN: I was really worried about people getting bored throughout the film, but not a single person has said that. I also thought this film would only be relatable to young adult women but the feedback has proven me so wrong. I learned a lot through this film and I think the most important thing was not to judge a book by its cover. So many people loved this film and I'm glad we were able to create something so relatable.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
KAITLYN: We are aiming to achieve more visibility for our production company Sad Girl Cinemas. We started this company around the same time that Playing Pretend was in production and it is our baby. To have more eyes on that would help us so much with future projects.
VALANIECE: I hope people watch it and deeply connect with the characters then some big A-list Hollywood producer sees it and sends us a fat check and offers to produce our next project with guaranteed distribution so that I no longer have to live life as a starving artist.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
KAITLYN: We could always use more producers, distributors, and film festival directors. We have the production angle covered but when it comes to distribution and pre-production we could always use extra hands.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
KAITLYN: The goal of this film was to show people that it's okay to not have your life together all the time. If we are able to get through to just one person then my goal has been achieved. I want people to watch this and feel like they're in the bathroom with their best friends and understand that sometimes life doesn't go your way and that's okay. With a good friend by your side, you can accomplish anything.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
KAITLYN: Should Bobbi and Lauren stay friends or are they stuck in a toxic friendship that's destined to end?
VALANIECE: Is it harder to break up with a toxic ex or a toxic best friend?
Would you like to add anything else?
KAITLYN: I want to dedicate this film to all the women in my life who have held my hair back while I throw up, who have hugged me when I'm crying, and who will be in my heart forever.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
KAITLYN: We currently have some music videos and short films coming out in the next few months. One of our short films is called the Bitch of Venice Beach which is a loose adaptation of The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare that we're going into pre-production on. We're really excited about all of these projects and hope you stick around to see more!
VALANIECE: We also have a dark comedy web-series that we plan on shooting sometime in the late summer called How to Get Away with Murder about a psychopathic girl who accidentally murders her boyfriend and gets her three mentally unstable best friends to help her get away with it. With this project, both me and Kaitlyn will be starring in it as highly exaggerated versions of ourselves with our friends. We’re just trying to have some fun and that’s it.
Interview: April 2023
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Playing Pretend
Two idiosyncratic young adult girls await the results of a pregnancy test in the crappy bathroom of the Chinese restaurant they waitress at. As a line of customers outside grows, so do their chances of getting fired. Lauren wants to leave, Bobbi knows she won’t. We watch the dynamic of their fun but toxic relationship as they try to keep their lives together and grow up.
Length: 12:44
Director: Kaitlyn Scardino
Producer: Valaniece and Kaitlyn Scardino
Writer: Valaniece
About the writer, director and producer:
KAITLYN SCARDINO is a director, cinematographer, and super cool girl. She loves telling slice-of-life stories and showing all parts of life, no matter how ugly they can get. Photography and music are her biggest inspirations. Ever since she was a little girl, she's been making films. Her and her sister used to film goofy, 30-second videos on her iPod touch. She moved out to LA at 18 years old to follow her dreams and fulfill her passion for filmmaking. She specializes in short films and music videos and everything she makes has a unique style.
VALANIECE is a writer with a strong passion for writing, as well as an actor, photographer and roller skater. She writes personal/satirical essays, short stories, poems, and screenplays. She's been regularly published in Thought Catalog, Collective World and several other websites for the past five years. What inspires her are the fleeting personalities she's met, and the moments they've shared. If she had to peg her writing style she would say sad-hot-funny-girl.
VALANIECE and KAITLYN SCARDINO were both producers of this film. They are creative soulmates who love telling stories together.
Key cast: Valaniece(Bobbi) , Hailey Cullers (Lauren)
Facebook: Kaitlyn Scardino
Instagram: @sadgirlcinemas
Hashtags used: #sadgirl #playingpretend
Website: www.sadgirlcinemas.com
Funders: Seed&Spark