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A wise woman named Sheryl Crow once said, “a change will do you good.” For Irene, a pretty 23-year old-ish artistically inclined misfit, it’s as simple as a haircut.

A scathing critique of the modeling industry as a search for belonging and friendship turns into an absurd and at times cringe-inducing comedy, Chemical Cut is a fresh feature written, directed, edited and staring Marjorie Conrad, a former contestant on America’s Top Model. Parodying a world where artists and models are expected to work for free — often in uncomfortable, morally compromising positions for a “resume item” — the parody emerges into a disturbing psychological drama as Irene is pushed to the brink.

We meet Irene as she works full time in a Los Angeles boutique. She spends her evenings hanging out with her Gbf Arthur (Ian Coster), an aspiring novelist who ultimately decides to travel abroad for his Mfa. Growing...

A cinematographer on nearly a dozen shorts since 2008, Mackenzie Mathis makes his debut as a feature film Dp with Chemical Cut. The film, written and directed by America’s Next Top Model contestant Marjorie Conrad, held its world premiere at Slamdance 2016. In this interview, Mathis discusses his influences and technique as a Dp. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the cinematographer of your film? What were the factors and attributes that led to your being hired for this job? Mathis: I was introduced to Marjorie Conrad through our producer Barret Hacia, for whom I’d shot a short film some years back. Marjorie […]...

A cinematographer on nearly a dozen shorts since 2008, Mackenzie Mathis makes his debut as a feature film Dp with Chemical Cut. The film, written and directed by America’s Next Top Model contestant Marjorie Conrad, held its world premiere at Slamdance 2016. In this interview, Mathis discusses his influences and technique as a Dp. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the cinematographer of your film? What were the factors and attributes that led to your being hired for this job? Mathis: I was introduced to Marjorie Conrad through our producer Barret Hacia, for whom I’d shot a short film some years back. Marjorie […]...

Read More: Slamdance Film Festival Announces 2016 Competition Lineup The upcoming approach of the Sundance Film Festival also means the subsequent arrival of the 2016 Slamdance Film Festival, which will be taking place from January 22-28. Slamdance has devoted itself to showcasing the work of several first-time filmmakers, and "Chemical Cut" is no exception. The debut of director-writer-star Marjorie Conrad, a former "America's Next Top Model" contestant, "Chemical Cut" turns her vast experience in the modeling industry into a surreal dark comedy. Conrad plays Irene, a 23-year-old misfit who hopes that a newfound modeling career will save her from a dead-end life in retail. However, she is soon disillusioned by the absurdity, eccentricity and fragile egos of her profession. Irene's career and life continue to crumble around her until an encounter with an unknown performer (played by the late San Francisco drag icon Vicki Marlane) sparks her...

Festival top brass announced on Monday the 12 Narrative and eight Documentary Feature Film Competition films in 22nd edition, set to run in Park City from January 22-28, 2016.

The 20-strong line-up includes 12 world premieres, three North American premieres and one Us premiere.

All competition films are feature directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1m and without Us distribution.

Jury awards are presented to feature films in both categories and all films are eligible for audience awards as well as the Spirit Of Slamdance Award, judged by the filmmakers themselves.

“The standard of Diy filmmaking around the world is the highest we’ve seen, and the diversity of storytelling is the most we’ve experienced,” sad Slamdance co-founder and president Peter Baxter.

“With a record breaking number of submissions to select from, the narrative and documentary feature line-up has never been so competitive or as exciting to programme.”

All synopses provided by the festival.

Narrative Features...

Festival top brass announced on Monday the 12 Narrative and eight Documentary Feature Film Competition films in 22nd edition, set to run in Park City from January 22-28, 2016.

The 20-strong line-up includes 12 world premieres, three North American premieres and one Us premiere.

All competition films are feature directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1m and without Us distribution.

Jury awards are presented to feature films in both categories and all films are eligible for audience awards as well as the Spirit Of Slamdance Award, judged by the filmmakers themselves.

“The standard of Diy filmmaking around the world is the highest we’ve seen, and the diversity of storytelling is the most we’ve experienced,” sad Slamdance co-founder and president Peter Baxter.

“With a record breaking number of submissions to select from, the narrative and documentary feature line-up has never been so competitive or as exciting to programme.”

Al synopses provided by the festival.

Narrative Features...