Stella's Fantasy Audition

Stella's Fantasy Audition

Bruce Von Stiers

I just finished watching a terrific short musical fantasy film. The title of the film is Role Play.

The film opens with young Stella on a stage singing Give My Regards To Broadway. Then we see the adult Stella as she transits through town to get to an audition. Once there, Stella finds that there are several other talented people waiting to audition.

Stella has a chance meeting in a hallway with Gabriel, a star of the production she hopes to be a part of. With his encouragement, Stella embraces the challenge of the audition.

But as she begins singing for the director, the film moves into a fantasy phase with Stella and Gabriel on a stage, her singing and them dancing together.

When Stella has finished the song, the director asks for more. A different side of her. The casting director and casting associate concur with him. That is when reality and fantasy really mix. From a smoky speakeasy bar to a bedroom scene to a dance number rehearsal, Stella has a lot of fantasies running through her mind during the audition. Things take a bit of a downturn as she becomes a clown in one of the fantasies.

Kyra Belle Johnson starred as Stella. She co-starred in an episode of FBI. In 2015, she led the Broadway national tour of Mama Mia! as Sophie.

Michael Starr played Gabriel. He previously had roles as a dancer in Bad Trip and Still Waiting In The Wings. Samantha Svensson Riggs played young Stella. She appeared in an episode of S.W.A.T and a couple of episodes of Rig 45.

Ash T played the director conducting the audition. He's had roles in shows like Better Call Saul, Dead to Me and Euphoria. Deanna Anthony played the casting director. Her previous credits included the animated films Lola and Lola Plants a Garden and the podcasts Safe Society and The Metal Detective. Michele Selene Ang played the casting associate. She had a recurring role in 13 Reasons Why and starred in the short romantic comedy film, Full Service.

Several actors had minor roles in the film. Danielle Bessler, Camryn Eakes, Sofia JoAnna and Shelby Nunn were all dancers in the various scenes in the film. Jack Seaver McDonald played the audition monitor.

Role Play is basically a collaboration between grad students and graduates of Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Elizabeth Katz wrote the screenplay and directed the film. She previously wrote and directed the short drama film Customer Service and the horror short film, House of Fluff. She recently received her MFA in Film Directing from the Dodge school. Mallory Siegenthaler was the cinematographer for the film. It was used as a thesis for her MFA degree from Dodge. Stephany Barrera was the producer. Another MFA graduate of the Dodge school, she has produced other films such as the sci-fi short Asmodeus and the short horror thriller film Ying/ Yang.

Divya Maus composed music for the film. She composed for film musicals such as Elijah and has co-written songs such as Every Day. That song was recorded by Julie Craig for her album, From Here, which I reviewed a few years ago.

I really enjoyed Role Play. It made me think of great fantasy styled musicals such as All That Jazz and, because of the speakeasy scene, films such as Chicago.

In addition to the great dance numbers, I was enthralled by Johnson's vocals. I can absolutely see why she was chosen for the role of Sophie for the national tour of Mama Mia!

Role Play has been submitted to the Santa Clarita International Film Festival for possible inclusion for this year's upcoming festival.

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