Trapped in the web of a beauty pyramid scheme, Young Lee finds her relentless pursuit of the American Dream in jeopardy. A figure from her past appears with an offer. Will Young use this gift to clear her debts, or to double down on a life of excess?
Based on a true story and her documentary work, LA director Stevie Szerlip explains: 'The film’s original plan, beginning in 2016, was to shoot a documentary following Young Lee, a beauty product saleswoman I befriended while frequenting a Korean Spa in Los Angeles. After three years of filming together we decided to pivot, and co-wrote her story into a narrative in which she plays a loosely fictionalized version of herself. Partially improvised, with staged recreations and inspired by our recorded conversations, we filmed with a mix of street cast non-actors and friends - a blossoming collaborative process. This was fun to explore with Young, as our years of documenting around LA shifted into a new realm of make-believe and shared experiences. It felt like an appropriate, non-linear way to adapt this story: each piece building off of the other, the cost of it all emerging, our mutual drive towards success with the goal post constantly shifting.'
Director: Stevie Szerlip @lip_szervice
Story by: Young Lee
Producer: Anna Dragoo @annimal_planet
Executive Producer: Jesy Odio @Teenager
Cast: Young Lee
Sarah Kang @lilaliengal
Dana Boulos @danaboulos
Sorel Carradine @sorelcarradine
Joseph Lopez @josephlloydlopez
Director of Photography: Frank Mobilio @frankmobilio
Production Designer: Natalie Fält @nataliefalt
Costume Designer: Beth Lopez @bethasaurus
Hair and Makeup: Sasha Borax @sashaborax, Lana Hunter @lanahun
Editor: Nick Pezzillo @pezzillosview
Original Score: Brad Oberhofer @oberhofer
Art and Animations: Friederike Hantel @friederikehantel
Title Design: Darius Ou @darius_ou
Colorist: Jaime OBradovich @jaimeoshow
Sound Design: Heard City @heardcity
Visual Effects: Matt Lathrom @mlathrom
Special Thanks: Tara Touzie, Caleb Hammond, The Future of Film is Female