"Hot Mess was inspired by my own head spin of a crisis, and once the dust settled, it became of deep importance to me to tell what I recognised as a very generational tale," says writer, director and producer Lucy Coleman of her alternately gut-busting and heartbreaking debut feature film.
"Growing up in a fervent time of unearthing your most gutsy feminist self, it can be an awkward and embarrassing paradox, when the road gets rocky and you feel like you're ready to throw it all away for a guy and a false sense of stability."
Funny, sweet, charming, rambunctious, and blushingly candid, Hot Mess is the utterly contemporary tale of 25-year-old Loz (Sarah Gaul), a wannabe writer who seems intent on sabotaging her own success. Tipped to receive a coveted writer-in-residence gig with a cuttingedge theatre group, the talented Loz continues to offend the artistic director (played by Terry Serio), by coming up with graphic and confronting feminist-minded material. Discouraged by her disapproving mum (Zoe Carides), the hopelessly adrift Loz sees an unlikely saviour in the form of Dave (Marshall Campbell), a nice guy who might just be the solution to her permanently messed up love life. But is he too good to be true?
"Hot Mess is a mid-twenties coming-of-age tale of going about love, career and self-fulfilment all the wrong way," laughs Lucy Coleman.
Packed with vibrant, honest performances and all-too-real characters caught up in the kind of emotional tripwires that anyone in the audience could recognise, Hot Mess announces a deft and original writing and directing talent in Lucy Coleman and a one-of-a-kind on-screen presence in Sarah Gaul. It's a fresh and funny charmer, and you can meet Lucy Coleman and Sarah Gaul at three very special big screen Q&A events before the film is available to rent or buy on iTunes and Google Play on February 19.
SCREENINGS:
Tuesday 11th Feb, 6.30pm – Event Cinemas George St (Sydney)
Thursday 13th Feb, 6.30pm – Event Kotara (Newcastle)
Tuesday 18th Feb, 6.30pm – Cinema Nova (Melbourne)
Hot Mess will be available to rent or buy on iTunes, Google Play and Fetch TV on Wednesday February 19, 2020
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