THE VARIABLE

Directed By Ezra Li

USA | Narrative | 9 min

World Premiere

THE VARIABLE opens on what appears to be a campy espionage thriller, but it is soon revealed to be an audition as we’re transported into a casting room. X, an “ethnically ambiguous” actor, is in the middle of a line when the director stops him and asks him to play a different ethnicity. As the story unfolds, we oscillate between the spy world and the casting room as X is forced to play into offensive ethnic stereotypes. We witness him grapple with the pressure to do a good audition while conforming to the director’s notes. Ultimately, he finds the courage to say ‘no,’ reclaiming control over his narrative.

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    Film Details

    1. Violence, Sexual content

    2. English, Spanish

    3. English

    4. World Premiere

    5. 2024

    6. 9 minutes

    7. Comedy, Drama

    8. Narrative

    9. USA

      10. Ezra Li


      Ezra Li is a mixed-race and queer filmmaker and actor who aims to tell stories infused with a sense of magic. With a background in theatre, his work is focused on elevating AAPI and LGBTQ+ stories through the lens of his own unique perspective. He graduated from the University of Southern California before apprenticing at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Based in LA, he can often be found attempting an Australian accent on the dance floor.

      11. Ezra Li

        Rachel Deutsch

      12. Ezra Li

      13. Ezra Li

        Peter Friedman

        Ty Molbak

        Rachael Drummond

        Sidne Phillips

      14. Composer: Tina Chau Le

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