Cali Cook has been climbing the social media influencer ladder for years, working her way up to the level of celebrity status that finally means she's "made it." Today, the cameras are coming to her house to film a day-in-the-life in honor of her first runway show appearance. Once this video posts it will be superstardom for Cali. But as plans quickly start to go awry, and her so-called "friends" leave her out to dry, Cali is seen at her most vulnerable. As her facade starts to crumble, she is left facing her own doubts and insecurities. This is not the influencer video she imagined.
Behind the idea…
When I sat down to write, I didn’t expect it to be a mockumentary-style commentary on the social media world we exist in today, but that’s what came out on the page!
It all came to me in a frenzy. I had the idea, and then all of a sudden it was written. I have always been fascinated with how someone is able to put themselves fully online for strangers to see. Millions of people watch this person, and I’ve always wondered - is that really what they are like? How much do they enjoy the attention? How do they make me feel like I know everything about them when I haven’t ever met them? And from there my imagination just burst open.
Cali Cook was created from this idea of - who are these “influencers”, actually, when they think the cameras aren’t rolling, or when they stop editing themselves for the world? She embodies the privileged, pretty face that makes everyone jealous when they scroll past her instagram post. She is superficial, and yet, she is lonely. She is constantly flipping between her online persona, and who she is in real life. She has worked hard to get to her place of fame, but is struggling to fit in there. It’s a slow burn identity crisis.
The film as a whole is blurring the lines between what is actually happening in the room, and what Cali imagines will be cut together and shown to the world. Cali is strongly pursuing this idea of a perfect life, but inevitably that falters. When she gets off track and things don’t go the way she wants them to, we see all of that unfold on camera. On top of that there is the “crew” who is just trying to get their job done, but now they have to try and handle Cali who is hitting her breaking point. The audience is watching the crew struggle to handle Cali, while also watching Cali struggle to be perfect for the cameras, and the whole thing is just absurd.
This story was so much fun to write, and even more fun to film. I hope that it’s fun to watch!
xo Grace Rucci