Writer: Esther Povitsky, Avi Rothman, Jessica Sanders
Director: Jessica Sanders
Stars: Esther Povitsky, Simon Rex, Avi Rothman, Vivian Bang
An improvised comedy short inspired by a Nicki Minaj shower curtain, it follows Esther’s attempts to get into her idol’s concert. Along the way, we meet Esther’s non-boyfriend boyfriend, her brother and his girlfriend.
Can you really make a charming comedy short film out of something as ordinary as a Nicki Minaj shower curtain? Oscar-nominated director Jessica Sanders, along with part of her talented writing team (who also happen to be the cast), proves you absolutely can. The result is a sharp, witty independent comedy that shines thanks to its entirely improvised performances. The cast’s chemistry feels genuine and alive, and the sheer spontaneity of their performances adds real humor and authenticity to the story. Sanders shows a natural knack for directing, rooted in her documentary film-making background, which gives the film an organic and natural, almost documentary-like feel.
The cast themselves are a fantastic group of versatile comedy actors and writers with a real gift for improvisation – basically, a dream improv team. Esther Povitsky brings awkward vulnerability to a character looking for empowerment where she has so little control over her life. The scene where she explains to her brother Avi why Nicki Minaj means so much to her sums this up perfectly. Avi shares a similar frustration, mainly in his acting career, where he is seen more as eye candy than an actor. This is reflected in his girlfriend’s family constantly asking about his modeling career. ‘Scary Movie’s’ Simon Rex makes an appearance as Esther’s non-boyfriend, and Vivian Bang as Avi’s girlfriend who longs for the same acceptance from her family as Avi does. The fact that the entire film was improvised and includes so much character depth just amplifies the sense of joyful chaos prevalent throughout the film. With a less understanding director, not on the same page, this could have easily fallen flat. Sanders allows the players to be spontaneous while keeping everything on track.
Jessica Sanders: Award-Winning Independent Filmmaker
If you’re not already familiar with her work, Jessica Sanders is a seriously impressive independent filmmaker. Her past projects include her first Tribeca short, ‘The Cocktail Party’, and End of the Line, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. But it was her award-winning documentary, ‘After Innocence‘, that really cemented her reputation as one of the most creative minds in independent film. This powerful documentary about the exoneration of wrongfully convicted men and their return to society earned her the Sundance Special Jury Prize. This shift from intense documentaries to a charming indie comedy truly highlights her talent for effortlessly crossing genres and tones. So, it’s hardly surprising that I Want to Feel Fun was chosen from over 13,000 submissions to be featured at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.
I Want to Feel Fun shows that you can create a truly thoughtful story from something as silly as a pop star shower curtain. The improvised interaction unfolds with organic spontaneity, giving it an authentic, real-life feel. This is certainly a natural extension of Sanders’ willingness to experiment and her knack for tapping into her performers’ most human and comedic sides with great ease. The film doesn’t just celebrate the joy of spontaneous fun; it also reveals that even in these absurd situations, the search for a concert ticket echoes a very relatable search for personal connections.