HUDSON FLYNN
Last week I sat down with Hudson Flynn, who you might recognize from Season 1 of Severance. Yup, he was one of the activists against Lumon. After he got his first check from that gig, he didn’t go celebrate, or go on some shopping spree… he used it to submit his film to festivals. That alone tells you everything you need to know about how seriously he takes this work.
Hosted by Tom Oliva with guest Hudson Flynn, speaking about his film Friday (2021) and what we can expect to see from him next.
Hudson Flynn’s coming-of-age masterpiece, a short film that delves into the tumultuous world of high school, presents a raw and gripping narrative centered around Sam (Jack Clark), whose anxiety becomes a focal point at a crucial juncture in his life. The ensemble cast, featuring standout performances from Jack Clark, Ella Stiller as Sam’s girlfriend Lilly, and the compelling narrator Drew, played by Oscar Salem, collectively elevates the film to a compelling exploration of teenage struggles.
The film is a meaningful exploration of love in all its intimacy and affection, and the pitfalls and doldrums that might sometimes accompany it. The first element that takes us into the protagonist, Alice's world is the opening night of her play. Alongside the performance on stage, and our introduction to its creator, the narrative ropes in a non-linear trajectory to give a glimpse into situations and realizations that led to this play.
"During the first few weeks of lockdown, I had been telling my family I wanted to make something. But every time I wrote something, it never really fit how we were feeling. My school had asked me to make a documentary of my Covid experience but I wasn’t sure how to make it engaging. After doing a deep dive watching some Woody Allen, Mel Brooks and Rob Reiner films, I realized it might be funny to deliver it more as an eccentric progress report. Florida was a bonus. I had written a sort of sweet and cliche ending but when my family decided to re-locate, I rewrote the whole third act and started having way more fun."
