As artists, we love finding the beauty in ordinary moments. We hope that Junction provides our viewers with a deeper appreciation for the strangers they pass by every day in life. Each character in the film confronts a unique conflict, but not one situation is more difficult than the other.

In the middle of the pandemic a lot of artists including ourselves were left with no creative outlet. We felt the need to create an environment that would allow us to continue developing our craft, that's when we decided to form our collective called " Girl's x 3".  

The idea for Junction stemmed from a collection of film photographs we produced in early 2021 as our first project as a collective. Our photo series, Janine, captured our subject in different domestic scenarios in her home. Junction developed over time, as we decided our next project should be captured in motion.   

 

We were drawn to the idea of shedding light and finding beauty in ordinary places. 

  

                Junction is composed of three vignettes from three different generations. Each generation contrasts with each other, as they intersect with one another. Before the viewer is able to further understand the character’s situation, we move on to the next story. 

                In the first scene, a teenage girl named Ava is conflicted about the relationship with her childhood friend Lexi as they enter adulthood. As the two go for a summer night drive, Ava feels like an outcast as Lexi shows more attention toward her new friend. Ava is insecure, uptight, but responsible, which contradicts Lexi's personality. 

               The second scene takes place in a small laundromat, where we are introduced to Ruth, a woman in her mid-50s folding laundry. She has been alone for many years after a messy divorce. When she finds a baby’s sock at the bottom of her hamper, it unearths feelings of regret about her past choices. 

               Scene three leads us to a local diner where we see Amanda attempting to have a conversation with her father Oscar about their strange relationship. The lines between work and family have been blurred throughout the years. 

              Each character, though dealing with completely different issues in their personal lives, cross each other's paths over the course of the night. 

 

We find our inspiration from many different artists, but a few key inspirations include Edward Hopper, Wong Kar-Wai, and Autumn Durald Arkapaw. Edward Hopper’s painting, Automat, displays notions of loneliness and desolation. Happy Together, by Wong Kar-Wai, experiments with time. Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw beautifully mixes realistic lighting and natural color palettes.  

                                            

 

Trina Mulligan - Director/ Writer

Trina is a Chicago-based cinematographer with an immense and everlasting love for visual storytelling. She enjoys the process of creating a unique, striking, and compelling visual language for every film that she works on. She uses her profound knowledge of a variety of shooting formats, from 16mm and 35mm film to digital to craft and creates stunning images to bring the world's characters to life. 

 

Luciana Salinas - Director/Writer

Luciana is a freelance Director of Photography based in Chicago. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, Luciana immersed herself in the film industry by working on a variety of projects including narratives, fashion films, live events, and music videos. She has captured stories in digital and analog formats (16mm and 35mm). Luciana seeks to collaborate with artists who focus on challenging the status quo by subverting societal norms and stigmas.

Caitlyn Spiritus - Director/Writer

Caitlyn is a cinematographer who's passionate about capturing beautiful images and working closely with light. She has experience working with all formats, from 35mm and 16mm to digital cameras, such as Arri Alexa and Red. During her free time, she enjoys taking photographs on film and going through the developing and scanning process in order to receive her stills.

 

                                                                                  

Lindy Stokes - Producer

    Lindy is an independent creative producer who primarily focuses on horror and drama in both TV and film projects. She recently produced a psychological horror film, Where Monsters Lurk, which is her MFA thesis film for Columbia College Chicago. In 2018 she co-produced an independent feature film, The Whole Lot, directed by Connor Rickman, which is about to start its festival run. She is fully committed to working with directors and writers from underrepresented communities to foster their creative vision. She is invested in telling stories about people who must face their trauma and their demons.

 

~ As our collective was created during the COVID pandemic, we take the safety of creative collaborators very seriously. We will adhere to the Chicago Phase IV film production guidelines and are hiring cast and crew who are fully vaccinated ~

Thank you for reading, watching, and sharing!!

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