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ROM COM Fest 2019: IN REALITY – Review by Liz Whittemore

Liz Whittemore 0 Comments , , , ,
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This film’s quirky structure gives it life.

In Reality is a fictional video diary of writer/director Ann Lupo‘s love life. A mash-up of sketch comedy, fantasy daydreams, and yes, a cabaret-esque musical number, this film is a fun little romp into the mind of a 20 something navigating the dating scene in 2019. It takes all the overthinking women do in and around a relationship and puts it into visual form. From literal diary entries in a scrapbook to imaginary game show host guilt trips, to best friends coming to your rescue, In Reality is entirely relatable. It’s a visual cornucopia of heartbreak and honesty.

Ultimately, the quintessential example of upending the indie rom-com. It’s sure to be a stand out from this inaugural year of the ROM COM Festival.

Synopsis: Ann is consumed by the fantasy of finding true love. Just when she thinks she’s found it, she is friend-zoned. The disappointment of rejection sends her into an obsessive downward spiral that tests the limits of her sanity and the strength of her closest friendship. In order to reclaim her bearings on reality, she confronts her overgrown fantasies by making a film about the experience. The result is a vulnerable, hilarious, and vibrantly stylized investigation of love.

About  Rom Com Fest: A new Los Angeles based film festival
which celebrates love through film and experiences, announced the lineup for its inaugural
festival which will take place June 20-23, 2019. The lineup includes special themed screenings
of iconic romantic comedies, as well as a competition lineup of new romantic comedies, and a
number of unique themed events and activities. The program was announced today by the
festival’s Founder and Executive Director Miraya Berke.
The experiential festival is a reimagining of a traditional film festival – pairing rosé and desserts
with films, encouraging that its audiences show up dressed in themed attire, and holding
memorable events and activities that bring together those that love and/or create romantic
comedy films. Rom Com Fest will take place primarily at the Downtown Independent Theater in
Los Angeles, with select events at other venues.

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Liz Whittemore

Liz Whittemore is the author of AWFJ's I SCREAM YOU SCREAM blog. She is Co-Managing Editor and writes for www.ReelNewsDaily.com, hosts the podcast Girls On Film and is a contributing writer for Cinemit.com and The ArtsWireWeekly. Now New York-based, she was born and raised in northern Connecticut. She's a graduate of The American Musical & Dramatic Academy, and has performed at Disneyland and famed Hartford Children's Theater, and been a member of NYC's Boomerang Theater, Connecticut's Simsbury Summer Theater, Virginia's Offstage Theatre, where she also directed. Her film credits include Suburban Skies and Surrender. In 2008, she shot Jabberwocky, a documentary now in post-production. Liz is still a children's theatre director and choreographer. She's working on an updated adaptation of Romeo and Juliet and a series of children's books.