Daydream Believer

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Reviews Counted: 5

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Movie Info

Can an eager, enthusiastic young woman from a small town make good as an actress in the Big City? Valerie Woodbury (played by Sybil Kempson) is about to find out the hard way in this independent comedy. Valerie has scored the leading role in a new play being produced by a community theater group in her hometown in Vermont, which she imagines is the big break she's been waiting for, though her friends and family are hardly as impressed. As self-centered director and playwright Boyd (Gladden Schrock) puts Valerie through her paces, she discovers someone has been sitting in on her rehearsals -- Kent Black (Louis Puopolo), a small-time television actor who tells her he's been putting the finishing touches on a play he plans to stage off Broadway, and he wants Valerie as his star. Throwing caution to the wind, Valerie moves to New York City, only to discover that Kent's play is opening much farther off Broadway than she expected. When her career doesn't take off as fast as she had hoped, Valerie finds herself scrambling for work like any other unemployed actor, including a day spent handing out samples of snack crackers while dressed in a chicken suit. Produced, directed, written, edited, and photographed (using digital video equipment) by Debra Eisenstadt, Daydream Believer was the winner of the Jury Prize at the 2001 Slamdance Film Festival.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Comedy, Drama
Directed By:

Debra Eisenstadt
Written By:

Debra Eisenstadt
In Theaters:

Sep 25, 2002 wide
Runtime:

88 minutes

Cast

Andrew Hernan
as Carl

Sybil Kempson
as Valerie Woodbury

Gladden Schrock
as Boyd

Wendy Lawrence
as Wendy

Louis Puopolo
as Kent Black

Sherri Parker Lee
as Pamella

Jodi Melnick
as Photographer

Jaqueline Cohen
as Agent

Jacqueline Knapp
as Margot

Tom McWilliams
as Marty

Gail Blobner
as Mother

Suzanne Griffin
as Temp Agent

Heather Beckett
as Jackie

Jason Eksuzian
as Tom

Steven MacKinney
as Mini-Storage Man

Rayme Lyn Cornell
as Party Woman

Phil Nelson
as Party Man

John Savlove
as Temp Talent Show Flirtation

Eddie Reagan
as Temp Talent Show Flirtation

Ben Krasny
as Kid

Will Council
as Kid

Daniel Colson
as Kid

Julia Callow
as Kid

Mica Lopez
as Kid

Claire Kelly
as Kid

Ron Shaver
as Partygoer

Steven Eisenstadt
as Partygoer

C.S. Ledbetter
as Partygoer

Jennifer Rogg
as Partygoer

Nicole Barnett
as Partygoer

Cinnamon Booth
as Chick'n Chip Girl No. 1/Partygoer

Georgia Andrews
as Partygoer

Jared Harrington
as Wendy's Baby

Amanda Ronconi
as Chick'n Chip Girl No. 2

Algeria Morris
as Temp Agency Player

Gia McGinly
as Temp Agency Player

Jennifer Grim
as Temp Agency Player

Cindy List
as Hairdresser

Major Ware
as Doorman

Patrick Barnes
as Temp Talent Show Performer

Beth Sarablum
as Temp Talent Show Performer

Julie Montgomery
as Temp Talent Show Performer

Patrick Tarpey
as Temp Talent Show Performer

Mia Malm
as Temp Talent Show Performer

Pepe Lima
as Pawn Shop Man

Tehron Avatar Prynce
as Pawn Shop Dancer

Debra Eisenstadt
as Rehearsal Girl

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Critic Reviews for Daydream Believer

All Critics (5) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (0)

It's the best kind of homemade movie, created with skill, modesty and a pleasing awareness of what works in an ultra-low-budget format that tends to be performance and storytelling, rather than visual expressiveness and technical polish.

Sep 26, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/5

Dave Kehr
New York Times
Top Critic
The story doesn't break any new ground, but the movie has energy.

Sep 26, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/4

V.A. Musetto
New York Post
Top Critic
Most of the performances are solid, if a bit over the top.

Dec 8, 2002 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Merle Bertrand
Film Threat
Bitingly funny, poignantly sad.

Sep 26, 2002 | Rating: 4/5

Ken Fox
TV Guide