Meghan Weinstein’s Timely Commentary on Social Media Continues Post-Production in Quarantine for a Hopeful 2020 Release
LOS ANGELES, CA (May 12, 2020) –– In the midst of the current global pandemic, the team behind the micro-budget feature The Influencer has been hard at work remotely completing the post-production process on the film in hopes of a late 2020 release. Writer/Director Meghan Weinstein shares today new images from the indie comedy-thriller, which features a diverse ensemble cast led by LA personality and actress Kasia Szarek.
Part satire and part sharp criticism of consumerism, The Influencer follows Abbie Rose, a popular social-media influencer known for her lifestyle, fashion, and makeup videos. After signing a contract with Nutrocon, a cosmetic company known for their socially unconscious practices, Abbie finds her Hollywood home overtaken by a group of activists who hijack her social media empire to carry out a risky plan with a huge payout.
The Influencer, making bold statements on the baggage that comes along with social influence, explores themes of private vs. public identity, the impossibility of beauty standards and, notably, the world of body positivity. Szarek notes, “The first thing that stood out to me about the project, besides the poignant commentary on our connection to the internet and social media, was that there is no mention of Abbie Rose’s size.” She continues, “She’s a glamorous, over-the-top, ridiculous influencer and it has nothing to do with her weight.” She adds, “I’m a very curvy size 12 and although the industry has begun including body types that weren’t represented before, most of the roles for someone like me are written specifically for this body type. That’s cool, but there’s so much more to casting than just physicality. While my curves are a big part of what makes me Kasia, my personality is just as, if not more important.”
Written, produced, and directed by Weinstein, and shot in a North Hollywood house over just 16 days with a female crew, The Influencer weaves in a fresh way the familiar story of a self-made business woman tasked with drawing the line between her personal ethics and her commercial priorities, begging the question – When everyone’s an advertiser and everything is made to look “organic”, how can we tell what’s real? It’s fair to say: All posts are not created equal.
About Meghan Weinstein
Meghan Weinstein is a vibrant Canadian filmmaker and multi-media artist whose work captures the absurd and often hilarious complexities of human connection, continuously featuring carefully casted ensembles and eye-catching imagery. As a writer, director, and producer, she loves collaborating with actors to create fun and out-of-the-box characters. Her first coming-of-age comedy “Trippin’ with the Folks” debuted in 2016 and won several awards at festivals, including multiple Best Short Film Awards and a Best Supporting Actress Award.
Her off-the-wall web series “My Delivery Guy” went to some of the country’s biggest web-based festivals in 2017 and has accumulated many views online. Another web-series she directed, “Terms and Conditions”, earned her a Best Director nomination in 2019. A master of indie-production, Meghan has produced many short projects and three feature films with budgets under $200k, including rock-musical Dead Envy distributed by The Orchard, and The Djinn, a psychological monster thriller currently in post-production. Meghan holds a BFA in Fine Art from OTIS College of Art and Design and an MFA in Filmmaking from New York Film Academy. The Influencer is her first feature film as a director.
About Kasia Szarek
Arriving in Los Angeles immediately after graduating high school at 17, Kasia developed her online following by sharing her personal adventures and colorful pin up-inspired style, alongside her photography of other influencers. Kasia’s body positive fashion posts coupled with her natural comedic ability has made her one to watch. Her followers regularly reach out to tell her that her posts have given them the confidence to try a new look that they always thought was only for “skinny” girls. Kasia’s brand is all about Girl Power, being yourself, and not taking yourself too seriously. She is an active member of the YouTube sketch group Sketch Marks Comedy, where she writes and performs in sketches on a regular basis.
for Publicity Needs & Sales Inquiries: Contact Meghan Weinstein at [email protected]
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