As I Am

I love low budget movies, I love gay cinema, I love short films, and I love a movie or story when things turn around and the one you thought was the invulnerable one shows his vulnerable side. IMDb says the budget on this was $10k which is just remarkable, and it kind of shows, in a good way. It reads/shows like a play, on the screen. No fancy effects or anything. If you like theater though, if you like watching a play, allowing the story to be told by actors who are acting, and letting your mind fill in the gaps, then you may like this movie as I did.

I was originally giving it 7 stars because I felt I wanted to see more character and story development, but that probably would have meant a 90 minute movie instead of 62 minutes, which may just not have been possible to complete. I changed it to 8 while writing this because it hit such an emotional nerve in a couple of parts that I still have a tear in my eye, and I may have to watch this whole thing again, right now. Thanks, guys. Well done.

I'm sorry, but this redundant script, horrible casting, and unrealistic plot is exactly why this film should have went in the trash. This is common amongst gay, African-American films that seem to be a copy/paste and, movies like this, have and are NOT taken seriously. NO OFFENSE! The dynamics are pointless along with the obscure characteristics of the story line. Mixed with the lack of research, the logos, pathos, and ethos make no sense and that's just the basic psychology of script writing. Not to mention, the lack of cinematography, audio, MEANING. It's cute, but it's a horrible representation.

The main characters are very believable and do a great job of conveying how these people feel. But, all the other acting is horrible, very over the top and implausible. It is beautifully filmed in Phoenix and Scottsdale Arizona yet the audio quality is amateurish. Very tinny and obviously low budget. Then the movie just stops. As some of the other reviews indicate it does appear to have many parts missing. Did they run out of money and that's why it's so short? Maybe the story really isn't over? Is there more to come?

Really enjoyed As I Am. The characters were lovable and entertaining, the writing imperfect and filming almost like a home movie. Could the movie have benefited from some additional production value? Yes. But there was realness in the final product, as is.

An ode to love both for self and others. Beautifully done, dreamlike. I look forward to more work from Myers and Dunbar. These two have incredible chemistry in this film, also extremely charismatic. I especially want to see more writer/ director works from Bawn, who I think has a nuanced and poetic eye. Compelling mix of harsh reality and dream state. Delicate balance of tension. Lovely use of photography.