Experiencing Interruptions?

YouBuddy

Alone on her birthday, Christine searches the internet for connection.

  • Whitney St Ours
    Director
    The Housesitters
  • Rachel Marsh
    Writer
  • Whitney St. Ours
    Writer
  • Rachel Marsh
    Producer
  • Whitney St. Ours
    Producer
    The Housesitters
  • Rachel Marsh
    Key Cast
    "Christine"
    NCIS, Just Beyond
  • Whitney St Ours
    Key Cast
    "Syd"
    The Deuce, Law & Order:SVU
  • Ari Wojciech
    Key Cast
    "Ned"
    Entitled
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Thriller, Dark Comedy
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 52 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 22, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    4,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • INDIE FEST FILM AWARDS

    WOMEN IN FILM WINNER
  • INDIE X FESTIVAL

    SEMIFINALIST
  • CHARLOTTE FILM FESTIVAL
    CHARLOTTE, NC
    United States
    US PREMIERE
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
Director Biography - Whitney St Ours

Whitney’s directorial debut The Housesitters (2019) was accepted to festivals across the country (NYC Indie FF, Charlotte FF, Soho FF, Orlando FF, etc.) and earned her a best director nomination at The Nightmares Film Fest. The film was purchased by Alter (a subsidiary of GunPowder and Sky) and since has been viewed over 275,000 times. She was co-director/writer/producer on the webseries That’s My Time (NexTV SemiFinalist), directed and co-produced a production of David Ives’ Venus In Fur, and spent two years playing guitar and “singing” in the all female post-punk trio Kitchen. Whitney is dedicated to telling stories with and about female-identifying folks, and all of her work features women in key creative roles. Member of New York Women in Film and TV, The Labyrinth Theater Intensive Ensemble (scholarship recipient), BA in English from Drew University (scholarship recipient).

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Director Statement

When Rachel came to me with the idea for YouBuddy I thought, should we do an internet film? But upon closer examination- what medium is more relevant, more vast, and more influential than the internet? I can't think of any. Especially after 2020, where so many of us in the US and globally were forced to turn to the internet for all of our information and socializing in order to remain safe. But is the internet safe? Is it a place where a person can grow and make friends? Or is it better to take a risk with strangers in real life? The answer to these questions isn't neat and tidy for me, nor is it neat and tidy for YouBuddy's hero, Christine. There is some risk associated with everything we do, in person or virtually. As a woman, I have been vulnerable to attack on the internet and in person. So, what? Do I choose to stay home? Do I avoid the internet? Is being a total recluse my only option? For me the answer is no, because hiding would mean I am intimidated by those who would do me harm- not to mention, I would miss out on all the good stuff in life! Maybe fear is an opportunity to be brave, to believe in myself, and my judgement. I think that is what Christine does, too. She doesn't let fear win and she doesn't let being bullied by strangers ruin her. Sure, she might feel hurt or vulnerable, but she presses on, trusts her gut, and in the end...it seems like she has found a friend. (A real one.) For me, YouBuddy's message is one I suspect many folks can relate to after the last year: in life, virtual or physical- nothing is certain, so we must press on in spite of fear, disappointment, or mishaps. We must try to connect in spite of peril because human connection is crucial and natural. It might even be what we are living for.