Private Project

Meet (Kinda) Cute

When Alexa hires gig worker Manny to play her boyfriend at a last minute couples audition for a major commercial campaign, she gets unexpected results.

  • Chelsea Javier
    Director
    Never Answer the Door
  • Chelsea Javier
    Writer
    Smile or Hug, Lonely Batman
  • Charlotte Benesch
    Key Cast
    "Alexa"
    Daybreak, Mayans, Outerbanks, Greenleaf
  • Rose Marie Brown
    Key Cast
    "Diane"
    Palm Royale
  • Luis Garcia
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Romantic Comedy
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 17 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 2, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    800 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, DGI Ronin 4D
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Chelsea Javier

Chelsea is an award winning filmmaker based in Los Angeles, living with her husband Paul, their rescue bunnies Hammy and Yoshi, and their giant tortoise, Lou. Together, Chelsea and Paul co-wrote their debut feature film, "Smile or Hug," produced by Wayfarer Studios, co-starring Danny Trejo and executive produced by Justin Baldoni. The film premiered at Geena Davis' Bentonville Film Festival in 2022 and won award including Best Picture at the Mixed Asian Media Fest and Best Actor (Danny Trejo) at WMMIFF. It is currently available on Tubi, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV+.

Chelsea was a semifinalist in the Women in Film x Blacklist's Episodic Lab for her pilot "Halloween Club," and has multiple writing projects in development. For her day job, Chelsea works as a commercial director for a company called TubeScience, directing vertical social media ads for brands including Scentbird, Third Love, Nectar and many others. She is represented by Sharon King of SK Management and holds a BFA from the University of San Francisco.

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Director Statement

As a lifelong enthusiast of romantic comedies (When Harry Met Sally is my favorite), I’ve always been captivated by their ability to blend humor and heart in such a fun way. This led me to create "Meet (Kinda) Cute," a film born out of a deep love for the genre and the need to stay creative at a time when the business feels so slow and unattainable.

I wrote the two lead roles for my dear friends Charlotte and Luis, who I knew would be such a funny pairing due to their very different energies. Their performances are the heart of this story, infusing it with humor, relatability, and genuine emotion. Charlotte, our lead actress, went through a breakup the day before our shoot with the man she thought she was going to marry. I am amazed by her vulnerability, humor, and strength on screen. I offered to cancel the shoot, but she bravely decided to come to set that day anyway to film. I dedicate this film to her!

"Meet (Kinda) Cute" is a film that invites you to laugh, feel, and empathize with the imperfect characters unfolding on screen. I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it.