Written and directed by leading actress Miss Dylan and Spencer Wardwell, a trans woman goes on three consecutive dates with straight men. As the men grapple with their fragile masculinity, their sexual identity unravels in a frantic monologue- ironically delivered to the object of their desire. Also starring: Pierce Abernathy, Jimmie Fails and Daniel Olson.
Film and television are very slowly becoming more aware and inclusive of the trans community but for the moment, it’s mostly in a basic capacity. Trans characters are appearing more often but it’s rare to find anything that actually deals with issues specific to the trans experience, other than discrimination or hate. However, there are plenty of trans artists out there trying to change that for the better, which is where Miss Dylan and Sweet Talkin’ Guy enter the conversation.
Along with her brother, Spencer Wardwell, Dylan creates a very strong piece of short film and an extremely apt look at sexuality. The writing does a brilliant job of portraying how predictable people can be, the carefully chosen language and the constant backtracking to confirm their innocence when it comes to being bigoted. It’s a terrific example of how people, particularly men, even in today’s society can still struggle to accept their preferences or embrace fluidity. It’s smart and funny and coming in at only five minutes, makes its point in an entertaining and impressively brief manner.
Part of why it can move so swiftly and confidently is the editing work, Mario Fierro does a fantastic job making the timing of Sweet Talkin’ Guy absolutely perfect. Fierro ensures that every point the Wardwells are trying to make is accented in a bold and suave manner. The cinematography from Sarah Whelden is up to that same standard, it’s sharp and modern. As soon as you dive in you get that feel of today’s series following the lives and loves of thirty somethings, it’s sleek and seductive yet relatable.
That leaves only the final piece of the puzzle, the performances and they are exactly what you’d want. Miss Dylan leads the way with a charming apathy and portrayal of the tiresome nature of these experiences. A great deal of the performance is purely facial expression but there’s plenty being said. Her trio of suitors then fill that nervous, needy and narcissistic quota, and that’s the beauty of their performances, they’re all hitting the same notes but from different angles. They’ve all got individual personalities but when it comes down to it, they’re all basically the same.
It’s also just great to see any appearance from Jimmie Fails, it has been a slow build since his breakout performance in The Last Black Man in San Francisco, so it’s good to finally see it ramping up. With Sweet Talkin’ Guy plus his recent role in Nickel Boys and Julia Stiles’ debut feature Wish You Were Here, as well as another short film and three new features on the way, there’s plenty to look forward to, but this short will feed your appetite in the meantime.
Sweet Talkin’ Guy is smart, funny and sharp, it’s a nice change of pace to watch authentic trans stories. Not stories told through other people, sideline characters or sanitized versions, but simply an everyday experience, told in an entertaining fashion. Miss Dylan and Spencer Wardwell, along with plenty of help from their editor and cinematographer, inject a lot of style into this short, it’s well shot and has excellent timing. The performances are right on the money, and keeping it to a tight five minute runtime, it’s a well-oiled comedy.
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