BAD INFLUENCER

If David Lynch had made Bridget Jones on a shoestring budget, this would be it. This is a film about people looking for love in all the wrong places and about getting past toxic people.

  • Terri Potoczna
    Director
    Being Marilyn, Fugue, 8-10 Minutes
  • Terri Potoczna
    Writer
    Fugue, Being Marilyn
  • Alvaro Fussen
    Producer
  • Kate Marshall
    Key Cast
    "Jo"
  • Sarah Seville
    Key Cast
    "Dee"
  • Peter Jeffries
    Key Cast
    "Matt"
  • Benjamin Peter Jones
    Key Cast
    "Steve"
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 30 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 12, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:1.85
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Terri Potoczna

Bad Influencer is Potoczna's début feature film and was shot entirely in England during Covid.
She is currently working on her second feature "Wild Tales From Budapest" which charts the progress of the hapless Frank, a loser wannabe who follows the advice of a charismatic male influencer and loses control of his life.
Potoczna has also made three shorts - Being Marilyn - a drama about men in dresses, Fugue - an experimental take on multi-generational family dysfunction - and 8-10 Minutes written by Paul Franklin.
Before setting up Cassandra & Ernesto with her husband, Alvi Fussen, she worked on photography projects and had several noteworthy exhibitions in Zurich, Budapest and Krakow.
Ancient history section: Before photography Potoczna produced and directed plays on the London fringe circuit. These include No Exit and The Respectful Prostitute both by Jean Paul Sartre which she translated from French. She also produced and acted in The Typists by Murray Schisgal, acted and directed Shout Across The River by Steven Poliakoff and produced and acted in Talk to Me Like The Rain and Let me Listen by Tennessee Williams as well as acting in other productions and co-directing Jean Genet's Deathwatch in a production by Brett Allen.
She has an MA in Text and Performance from RADA and Kings College London, studied photography, film and sound and the London College of printing for three years, trained in the Strasberg Method with David Bennett at the London Strasberg Institute and also has a diploma in conference interpreting and speaks several foreign languages including French, Italian, Dutch, Polish and Hungarian. She continues to update her skills and knowledge by taking short courses at Raindance and IFH Academy.
She lives with her husband and cat in Budapest.

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Director Statement

I have always been fascinated by the provocative storytelling of David Lynch and the chaotic charm of Bridget Jones. My film draws on these distinct narratives while presenting a deeply personal exploration of love, human connections, and self-discovery.

In "Bad Influencer" our protagonist, like many of us, navigates a world filled with toxic individuals and personal challenges, all while trying to find meaning and connection.

Operating on a shoestring budget threw up many challenges and stretched our creative powers. We drew inspiration from Lynch's dreamlike visuals, grounding them in the relatable and messy realities of a Bridget Jones clone. This synthesis creates a surreal yet relatable world.

By weaving together the ethereal and the mundane, "Bad Influencer" attempts to offer a thought-provoking journey into the depths of the human psyche. As our characters proceed, they learn the importance of listening to the voice of truth within. It is only then that they can break free from the cycle of toxicity.

"Bad Influencer" is a celebration of human connection and the importance of self-discovery. It invites audiences to embark on a journey of introspection, exploring the nature of love and the lengths we are willing to go to find it, even if that means confronting the darkness within.

As the director, it has been a truly fulfilling experience to bring this vision to life, and I sincerely hope that it resonates with audiences.