A Real One, the short film written and a directed by Chicago filmmaker, McKenzie Chinn, and produced by Lisa Masseur of Tessa Films will make its Chicago premiere this Saturday at the Chicago International Film Festival.
The Oscar qualifying film is included in the festival category Shorts 1: City & State – Revelations. The six shorts in this program represent distinct modes of storytelling through film, while reflecting the diversity and creativity of our region.
Filmed on Chicago’s south side this summer, A Real One is a co-production between Tessa Films and Minnie Productions, with stars Eris Baker (This Is Us) and Ireon Roach (Candyman, 4400) as two friends confronting the fallout when a closely-held secret is discovered amid the final weeks of their senior year in high school.
Lauren and Keisha’s friendship is an “us against the world” type friendship. They’re 17 and live on Chicago’s largely Black south side. Their friendship is tested when Lauren reveals a tightly-held secret to Keisha, and the two friends must take matters into their own hands in a landscape where the only thing they can truly count on is each other.
The short was made possible by the inaugural NBCUniversal Grant following Chinn’s fellowship with the Bentonville Film Festival.
In-Person Screening
Sat, Oct 14 @ 1:30pm
Chicago History Museum
1601 N Clark St
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.
Check back next week to see our interview with McKenzie Chinn and Lisa Masseur.
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