Long-awaited
Chicago-made
adventure tale
reflects collective
film community effort
Chicago filmmaker Layne Marie Williams released the trailer for her long-awaited short film, Scutly, earlier today.
Scutly tells the story of three young ladies who call themselves The Pastel Girls. Wearing complementary outfits of pink, blue, and purple, the trio accentuates their colors with astounding bursts of vocal harmony. On a summer whim, they befriend the title character, an eccentric and monocled senior citizen named Scutly.
LAYNE MARIE WILLIAMS
SCUTLY OFFICIAL TRAILER
A collective achievement
In addition to boasting one of the most unique loglines to come out of Chicago’s independent film community in years, Scutly represents a collective achievement initiated by Williams, who wrote and directed the film.
An Alabama native, Williams came to Chicago in mid-2015. Along with boundless creative enthusiasm, she brought a new chapter of Women of The Now, an organization dedicated to empowering female filmmakers that she founded in Philadelphia after graduating from The University of the Arts.
Women of The Now made its presence known with a series of industry parties, networking events, and film screenings in early 2017. Along the way, it received support from the entire film industry while helping women in particular.
Boosted by Williams tireless support Scutly has been a project championed by the organization since the beginning. Two years, dozens of locations, and hundred of hours later, the film has become a reality. A romp, an adventure, and a lesson, it reflects the efforts of hundreds of women and men from Chicago’s creative communities.
Festival run
Anticipating a festival run, Scutly will screen for a private audience tonight at the Indie Co-Lab, a “hub, productions space, lounge, and office” on Chicago’s west side. Stay tuned for details about where and when to catch its official premiere.
Send your indie news to Reel Chicago Editor Dan Patton, dan@reelchicago.com.
