A Real One, the short film written and directed by McKenzie Chinn and produced by Lisa Masseur of Tessa Films has received the prestigious Gold Hugo at the 59th Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF.)
Filmed in just two days on Chicago’s south side this summer, Chinn has shown extraordinary success on this project that is dear to her heart. The film stars Eris Baker (This Is Us) and Ireon Roach (Candyman, 4400) and is a co-production between Tessa Films and Minnie Productions.
A Real One is the story of two best friends in their senior year in high school whose friendship is tested when a tightly-held secret is revealed and they must take matters into their own hands in a landscape where the only thing they can truly count on is each other.
The award is described as:
Live Action Short Film Competition
Gold Hugo: A Real One (U.S.) Dir. McKenzie Chinn
This short accomplishes a difficult storytelling feat: it convincingly interweaves accessible, laugh-out-loud comedy with stark realism. The direction impresses and fosters trust while exploring a disturbing scenario. The short is well produced with strong cinematography, a clever plot, brilliant acting, and compelling thematic content. A Real One shows us things we might miss in worlds we might not know, and resonates in our memory.
A feature version in the works
If I were teaching a class in indie filmmaking, I would use McKenzie Chinn and A Real One as an example of how to promote your talent and succeed in obtaining recognition and backing of your vision.
What’s next for the film? Chinn has written the feature version of the short and producer Lisa Masseur is onboard along with the backing of Sundance.
Meanwhile the A Real One will screen once more on Sunday at CIFF.
Sun, Oct 22 @ 1:30pm
AMC NEWCITY, Screen 13
1500 N Clybourn Ave
Virtual Screening
A Real One will be available to stream from October 16 at 12:00pm to October 22 at 11:59pm.
Next week the film will make its New York City premiere on October 27 at the Bushwick Film Festival and then it will return home to Chicago for the Black Harvest Film Festival in November.
Here is our recent interview on the making of A Real One with writer, director McKenzie Chinn and producer, Lisa Masseur
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