MUTUAL FEELINGS

What starts as a casual night of beers, music and catching up leaves two longtime best friends at a crossroads which they may not make it past together.

MUTUAL FEELINGS is a short film that explores the changing dynamics of friendship as we enter our 30s. Meant to honor the real life nature of best friend convos-turned-arguments, and the struggles of navigating platonic relationships as we get older, the project adopts an intimate approach to storytelling. The majority of the film is shot across 3 one-shot takes, and leans into the dialogue (without relying on exposition or verbal theatrics) for the vulnerability and in-the-moment nature of theater, but with the tenderness of the camera to connect more closely with our two protagonists. At last, two Black men have the space and permission to have feelings, be flawed, and exist without guards up.

THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT

In the fall of 2023, Mutual Feelings completed its festival run and was an official selection at three festivals across the United States, garnering five nominations, including Best Short Film and Best Screenplay.

A special thanks to our cast and crew, our editor Juan Pablo Arias Muñoz, Studio NYC, Ludovic Nkoth, Igee Okafor and all the hands that played a part in us bringing this to life. We appreciate the selection committees at the Baltimore International Film Festival, Queen City Film Festival and Big Apple Film Festival & Screenplay Competition for seeing the vision and welcoming us into your programs, and a special token of gratitude to those who considered it worth nominating for top prize consideration. To the fellow filmmakers and artists we got to know and share the screen with along the way, what an honor to celebrate and be celebrated alongside you. We send love to each person who bought a ticket, hopped on a flight, drove several miles or even just hopped on the subway to come watch us on the big screen. It means more than you know and we won’t forget it.

 

DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - LAQUIN ALEXANDER

I fell in love with storytelling at a young age, promising myself that I would make these stories my life. So welcome to my life’s work. I don’t think there’s any one definition that can truly describe me. Who I am changes as each year passes, building on a foundation of love, passion, and dedication. I constantly seek knowledge, hoping to learn everything my brain will allow me to absorb.

As a Caribbean-American (shout out to my Trini massive) , my culture and life experiences dictate the lens through which I view the world. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, I was fortunate enough to be immersed in culture and diversity, giving me new and unique perspectives to use in my work. As a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, with my Master’s in Television, Radio, and Film, I aim to tell stories that people can connect to and learn from; stories that boldly expose, correctly inform, and eagerly educate.

"Mutual Feelings" is a story that challenges society's typical view of Black masculinity. Adulting can come with its share of trials and tribulations, with one of those being navigating friendships. This film takes us into a moment of time, between two very good friends, who are growing in opposite directions. This isn't the type of conversation you'll typically see portrayed between two Black men, which is what makes this film so special. No matter your gender identity, this is a film everyone can relate to. - LaQuin Alexander, Director

 

WRITER/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/CAST - JOVEL ROYSTAN

Jovel Roystan is an actor, writer and content creator, born and bred in Houston, Texas, but currently based in Brooklyn, NY. A graduate of Morehouse College, where he first dived into the creative space as a blogger, he’s transformed storytelling into a full-time career over the past 12 years, partnering with brands on hundreds of projects across the fashion, travel, and lifestyle categories. He returned to acting in 2018—a passion that began as a child—and has been seen on STARZ’s Run the World, on stage at Theater Row in Cris Eli Blak’s Hard Knock Lyfe, and completed his first voiceover project as the lead in What Goes Around, a narrative podcast streaming now across platforms.

Over the past five years, Jovel has trained at Anthony Meindl's Actor Workshop, focusing on both scene study and on-camera technique, and the William Esper Studio, graduating from their two-year Meisner program. Through his work in visual and audio storytelling across social media, TV, film and podcasts, he shares his unique take on life as a multi-hyphenate with other young dreamers like himself—you know, the ones who desire more than 9-to-5's and their friend’s HBOmax password.

“Mutual Feelings” is a love letter to friendship, and with any love story, you can have happy or sad endings. Having recently parted ways with a close friend and observing the experiences of so many friends around me who were dealing with their own platonic (and romantic) conflicts, it served as a form of therapy and also a point of connection to this very human experience that happens at 30-something—when we start deciding who we want to be and begin to realize that everyone won’t be able to go down that path with you. The writing process allowed me to reflect on the pain of lost friendships, past and present, and also accept my responsibility in each experience. Whether you’re a Dustin or a Jonathan, it’s okay to prioritize yourself and make a choice to step into the life that you want. It’s not always a right or wrong thing, sometimes it’s just a choice. -Jovel Roystan, Writer

 

  • Project Type:

    Short

  • Runtime:

    36 minutes 15 seconds

  • Completion Date:

    October 17, 2022

  • Production Budget:

    15,000 USD

  • Country of Origin:

    United States

  • Country of Filming:

    United States

  • Language:

    English

  • Shooting Format:

    4K

  • Aspect Ratio:

    16:9

  • Film Color:

    Color