Private Project

Toxic Astrology Ex-Best Friends

Toxic Astrology Ex-Best Friends follows Arla and Emmie, two girls who share everything: They’re both trans, they love witchcraft and astrology, and they cohost a podcast to help other queer people with their relationship problems. But all is thrown into question when Arla realizes that, for the first time, she has a secret she can’t talk about on mic: She has a crush on Emmie. Will their friendship survive?

  • Jack Warren
    Director
    ARTEMIS, When the Man Comes Around, Papergirl
  • Dina Fulconis
    Writer
  • Forest Smotrich-Barr
    Writer
  • Lau Perez Maquedano
    Producer
    Lamia
  • Dina Fulconis
    Producer
  • Forest Smotrich-Barr
    Producer
  • Virginia Rose
    Key Cast
    "Emmy"
  • Sara Blanche Hayes
    Key Cast
    "Arla"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Romance, Comedy, Trans, LGBTQ+, Romantic Comedy, Witch
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 45 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jack Warren

Jack Warren is a trans writer and filmmaker hailing from the Hudson Valley. Their feature screenplay, Forty Foot, which they co-wrote with Beatrix Herriott O'Gorman, was selected by Stowe Story Labs for a Screen Ireland Fellowship. Their solo venture Violent Delights was selected to be pitched at the American Cinematheque’s PROOF Film Festival, as well being shortlisted by Storyhouse Lab. The proof of concept short version of Violent Delights was selected by the Filmmatic Horror, Killer Shorts, and Coverfly Short Film Script competitions, putting in the top 19% of projects hosted on Coverfly, as well as being selected for workshop by the National Talent Academy’s Writing Club through Screen Ireland and the GALPAL Collective. Their script Eggs Over Easy is currently being developed by The Dazey Phase for a project on small moments of trans joy.

Jack has also written and directed award-winning short films, which have screened all over the world, including at the Woodstock Film Festival and the FRINGE! Queer Film and Arts Fest. They’re currently finishing up their most successful festival run yet with Papergirl, a queer horror film shot on 16mm, which has been honored with over a dozen screenings including at the Irish Film Institute, the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival, Spook Screen, and the Trans Genre, Trans Form Film Festival, where it won the audience award. Jack recently took home the Bronze Award from the Soho Horror Film Festival for their horror comedy short Blair’s Craft Projects, where it was honored by Eduardo Sanchez (The Blair Witch Project) and Jed Shepherd (Host).

Jack was educated at Wesleyan University, where they received an honors degree in English and Film, as well as the Leavell Memorial Prize for Excellence in Film. Between projects, Jack shoots music videos for artists including singer-songwriter Machan Taylor and horror auteur Larry Fessenden. Working alongside Oscar-winning documentarian David Heilbroner, Jack produced XPRESSO TV, a web series starring rappers Jae Millz and 3D Na’Tee, highlighting independent documentary films. As a programmer, Jack has brought the best in sci-fi and horror to the ALTER and DUST channels, playing to an audience of millions across channels on YouTube, Tubi, Roku, and other platforms. In their free time, they go home to LARP at the Wayfinder Experience, where they teach young people the importance of swinging a sword and playing pretend.

Add Director Biography