Whitney’s review published on Letterboxd:
It is the reason.
Second time watching this glistening piece of cinema, and to think I watched it as a person who has now auditioned for a production, and got a part.
To think the first time I saw this film on that very Christmas night, it would have inspired me deeply enough to audition for a play just a few days later. To take the leap. To dive. To reach. To believe.
I spoke at length in my original review about my big pipe dreams of being an actress, about how this film made me sign up for an acting course that takes place in March, but this film inspired me deeply enough to audition for a local production of a play. Driving there. Not knowing a soul. Filling out paperwork. Not knowing what to say. Telling them it is my first audition. Being asked to read over and over again. Compliments. Gratitude. Tears in the car on the way home because for the first time in my life, I felt whole. Reading just a few lines and pretending to be someone else, a spark ignited, I knew it would happen, I was afraid it would happen, and people noticed. Being stopped in the parking lot by another director who saw my audition and complimented my vulnerability and my looks, who asked me to please audition for his show later this month. Another director emailing me offering me a part in a small (very very very small) play featured in a festival.
It is the reason.
I'm not sure I can properly convey what all this film has given me. La La Land believed in me when no one else would. La La Land went above my head and heart and gave me wings. It gave me wings. And it will give you wings too.
I know, I know, a monkey could get a part in a community production. It doesn't matter that I got it, it matters that I tried. For the first time in my life, I feel proud of myself. I am whole at rehearsal. Being told I have something special. Being told I am doing really well. Being told I am a natural. It's all I've ever dreamed of. Though this is small and meaningless, it's all I've ever dreamed of, and it has given me the light I so needed.
I love this dream. As big as it is, as far as I have to go, as behind as I am, as dangerous and destructive as it is, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Your dream won't wake up one day and tell you it doesn't love you anymore. Honor your dream, no matter how large it is, honor it. Nurture it. Simply, give it a chance.
I'm so glad I did.
It is the reason. And I am whole.
It is the reason I have wings.
It is the reason.
Whitney liked these reviews
All
' ].join(''); if ( adsScript && adsScript === 'bandsintown' && adsPlatforms && ((window.isIOS && adsPlatforms.indexOf("iOS") >= 0) || (window.isAndroid && adsPlatforms.indexOf("Android") >= 0)) && adsLocations && adsMode && ( (adsMode === 'include' && adsLocations.indexOf(window.adsLocation) >= 0) || (adsMode === 'exclude' && adsLocations.indexOf(window.adsLocation) == -1) ) ) { var opts = { artist: "", song: "", adunit_id: 100005950, div_id: "cf_async_e4042381-38c5-4d04-b604-3caff0cafcb7" }; adUnit.id = opts.div_id; if (target) { target.insertAdjacentElement('beforeend', adUnit); } else { tag.insertAdjacentElement('afterend', adUnit); } var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(typeof window.cf !== 'undefined')c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="//srv.tunefindforfans.com/fruits/apricots.js";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)}; } else { adUnit.id = 'pw-e4042381-38c5-4d04-b604-3caff0cafcb7'; adUnit.className = 'pw-div -tile300x250 -alignleft -bottommargin'; adUnit.setAttribute('data-pw-' + (renderMobile ? 'mobi' : 'desk'), 'med_rect_btf'); if (target) { target.insertAdjacentElement('beforeend', adUnit); } else { tag.insertAdjacentElement('afterend', adUnit); } window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', (event) => { adUnit.insertAdjacentHTML('afterend', kicker); window.ramp.que.push(function () { window.ramp.addTag('pw-e4042381-38c5-4d04-b604-3caff0cafcb7'); }); }, { once: true }); } } tag.remove(); })(document.getElementById('script-e4042381-38c5-4d04-b604-3caff0cafcb7'));
' ].join(''); if ( adsScript && adsScript === 'bandsintown' && adsPlatforms && ((window.isIOS && adsPlatforms.indexOf("iOS") >= 0) || (window.isAndroid && adsPlatforms.indexOf("Android") >= 0)) && adsLocations && adsMode && ( (adsMode === 'include' && adsLocations.indexOf(window.adsLocation) >= 0) || (adsMode === 'exclude' && adsLocations.indexOf(window.adsLocation) == -1) ) ) { var opts = { artist: "", song: "", adunit_id: 100005950, div_id: "cf_async_ab2772a6-8a59-4351-a597-a38ea41f949b" }; adUnit.id = opts.div_id; if (target) { target.insertAdjacentElement('beforeend', adUnit); } else { tag.insertAdjacentElement('afterend', adUnit); } var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(typeof window.cf !== 'undefined')c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="//srv.tunefindforfans.com/fruits/apricots.js";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)}; } else { adUnit.id = 'pw-ab2772a6-8a59-4351-a597-a38ea41f949b'; adUnit.className = 'pw-div'; adUnit.setAttribute('data-pw-' + (renderMobile ? 'mobi' : 'desk'), 'sky_btf'); if (target) { target.insertAdjacentElement('beforeend', adUnit); } else { tag.insertAdjacentElement('afterend', adUnit); } window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', (event) => { adUnit.insertAdjacentHTML('afterend', kicker); window.ramp.que.push(function () { window.ramp.addTag('pw-ab2772a6-8a59-4351-a597-a38ea41f949b'); }); }, { once: true }); } } tag.remove(); })(document.getElementById('script-ab2772a6-8a59-4351-a597-a38ea41f949b'));
