Introvert’s Guide to Activism
A short film about coping with a new world.
Introvert’s Guide to Activism is a short, warm-hearted comedy about three roommates dealing with life after election day. Blending the perspectives of Jane, a mousy hermit with a kind heart; Amir, a no-nonsense reporter; and Lilly a sometimes overzealous rebel against the system, the film showcases three unique outlooks on advocacy and the tensions caused by combining different personalities. Funny and at times moving, it is the performances that carry the film most. Adriana Jones, the screenwriter and lead actress plays a gentle center for the group of roommates in her role as Jane, played with a quiet humor that holds the story together.
Brian Demar Jones is a striking onscreen presence as Amir, bringing the dramatic weight to a light and funny script; and Lorena Russi steals the screen again and again with her quirky, deadpan humor as Lilly. The two characters remain in conflict for the entirety of the short film, until a pivotal scene in which Lily fills the house with potential voters, only to find a man who flung racist insults at Amir is one of the guests. She kicks everybody out, and there’s a moment of closeness between she and Amir that feels heartfelt and genuine, if comically short lived.
Overall, the short carries heavy themes with comedy and sensitivity. Shot in Ridgewood, Queens, with a majority female cast and crew, the film executes a positive idealism both in front of and behind the camera, giving us humor, perspective and a little bit of hope.
