SHADOW ACTING

Tensions rise during an acting class when the teacher's preferred method of instructing one of his students involves hitting her emotional triggers - unintentionally hitting his own in the process.

shad·ow·box /ˈSHadōˌbäks/ — verb
Spar with an imaginary opponent as a form of training; make a show of tackling a problem or opponent while avoiding any direct engagement.

Our past films have explored subjects such as mourning, existential crises, racism and police accountability. With SHADOW ACTING we use the setting of a theater to examine the challenges of creating authentic romantic connections in a world with unsettled ideas about love, patriarchy and power dynamics in marital relationships.

Shadow Acting is a play on the concept of shadow boxing as well as the concept of “the shadow” set forth by Psychologist Carl Jung. It is an allegory about our struggle to comprehend and communicate the complex ways in which love challenges our identity and strains our humility. The hope is that we open the door to a conversation that acknowledges some uncomfortable truths and nuances about love in today's world.

“From the moment the director interjects with his first ‘cut,’ the tension is palpable between Morgan and DeJesus.” — Film Inquiry
https://www.filminquiry.com/shadow-acting-2023-review/

“DeJesus and Morgan are fantastic as the leads and hold nothing back.” — Film Threat
https://filmthreat.com/reviews/shadow-acting/

“This slow-boiling conflict serves as a metaphor for the gender schism prevalent in modern romantic relationships.” — Medium
https://medium.com/@kelseywroteit/shadow-acting-a-cinematic-exploration-of-love-feminism-and-patriarchy-754bfa58d99f

Concept references:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/shadowboxing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_(psychology)