Hundreds of people lined up to get into the Hollywood premiere of the film Backrooms, created and directed by former MSA Cinematic Arts student Kane Parson. Cine teacher Phil Chidel was one of the few invited guests attending and it was a full circle moment after mentoring Parsons’ back in 2022 when his YouTube series went viral (77 million views) and A24 signed him to make a feature version of the film when he was just 17 years old.
“Kane welcomed me with open arms. He brought me onto the red (er, beige) carpet and we got caught up while paparazzi flashed their cameras. We schmoozed and mingled with the elite. In one of the most heartfelt moments of the night, at the Q&A after the movie Kane gave me a shout out and made me stand up to receive ‘awwwww’ and applause from everyone. Hearts were full! At the post-screening reception, so many people came up to me as if I was the guest of honor, ” Phil says of the experience last weekend.
The film, is dark and disturbing with a surreal nature set in a corporate environment with entities within the “Backrooms.” It opens nationwide on May 29 and stars Renate Reinsve and Chiwetel Ejiofor.