Dani, an introverted poetry student, experiments with her image in an effort to be seen. A short film by Melanie Notinger with DP Layton Blaylock (COMMUNITY FIRST, A HOME FOR THE HOMELESS, SXSW '19). Featuring Lauren Lane (THE NANNY) and newcomer Sarah Danko. Official Selection NewFest 2019.
Comedy, Drama
9 minutes
"An invitation for the audience to think through the literal performance of gender."
-Honeysuckle Magazine, article HERE
"Writer/Director Melanie Notinger brings out exceptionally strong performances."
-Detroit SheTown Film Festival
M E E T T H E C A S T
L A U R E N L A N E
Sylo
S A R A H D A N K O
Dani
M E L A N I E N O T I N G E R
TJ
T Y L E R G E O R G E
Trevor
M E E T T H E D I R E C T O R
D I R E C T O R B I O
D I R E C T O R S T A T E M E N T
Melanie is an actor, writer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Her latest short, DRESS CODE (writer, director, supporting), recently screened at Twin Cities Film Festival and NewFest. Melanie wrote, directed, and starred as an anxious comedian in her debut short CHOKE ARTIST (Official Selection Lighthouse International Film Festival). It recently streamed for Pride Month on ThirdWing, a new streaming service. Additional acting credits include MY ALL-AMERICAN (dir. Angelo Pizzo) and JO (dir. Justine Williams). Melanie is the co-writer of BROOKLYN NO-NAMES, Best Script winner of the 2018 SheNYC Summer Theater Festival Off-Broadway. She starred in the production with co-writer Marisa Jones. Melanie is an alumni of Joan Scheckel's Filmmaking Series (Action Lab) and has a B.F.A. in Acting from Texas State University.
DRESS CODE is a poetic investigation of labels and how they affect us. It explores society's shame around femininity. The screenplay was inspired by the unnecessary pressure to present as either feminine or masculine. To choose. The stereotype is still damaging much of the queer community when one is assumed to be either "femme" or "butch" and act accordingly. DRESS CODE explores what's in-between. As a queer storyteller, I'm fascinated by the spectrum of ways one can identify in the world.
DRESS CODE was shot in Austin, Texas with a 66% female crew. Queer collaborators were vital to the project both on-camera and behind-the-scenes. The score was written & performed by glam-pop Austin native Benjamin Violet (frontman of PELVIS WRESTLEY).
Guided by the works of Joey Soloway (TRANSPARENT), Dee Rees (PARIAH), and Desiree Akhavan (APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR), the project began as a love letter to radical queer women who directly challenge ideas of identity in their work. My ultimate dream is for the film to make presentation feel more comfortable for female, trans, and gender non-conforming folks.