In recent years, there has been a massive influx of movies and TV series that showcase the reality of the entertainment industry and how youngsters navigate the world of showbiz. Most importantly, these titles exhibit how young people navigate through life while trying to achieve something, which makes them raw and authentic. At this year’s Slamdance Film Festival, we got to witness a title that went beyond the surface-level glitz and exposed the emotional and psychological toll of chasing dreams in an unforgiving industry. In Erin Brown Thomas’ captivating pilot Chasers, viewers are not just introduced to young men and women trying to become something, but also be the better version of themselves in the real world. What could have been a mere gimmick, a single continuous take, transcends into an organic, immersive experience that elevates the drama and forges an intense connection between the viewer and its ensemble cast.
The story of Chasers chronicles the journey of Sophia (Ciarra Krohne), an aspiring musician who decided to distance herself from her friends and social circle. However, she is now re-entering the scene by attending a buzzing Los Angeles house party. As Sophia makes her way through the party, she seizes the opportunity to ask her crush, Jacob (Louie Chapman), to accompany her to her sister’s wedding. When Jacob declines, citing prior obligations, Sophia is visibly shaken. Moreover, the air inside the house, where the party is taking place, is filled with tension, longing, and the unspoken words that often plague twenty-somethings trying to navigate relationships and ambitions in their respective lives. As the pilot progresses, a lot of secrets unravel, and viewers get to know what is happening.
A single-take movie or an episode can be a daunting task. Recently, we saw the Netflix series Adolescence creating waves with its epic storytelling and brilliant use of single-take filming. Chasers seems to be another brilliant project that uses that element in the most magnificent way possible. Thomas has done a phenomenal job in keeping the episode intriguing with her decision to shoot the episode in one continuous take that could have easily felt distracting. However, in Chasers, it enhances the realism of the storyline. The camera glides effortlessly through the party, mirroring Sophia’s emotional journey–lingering on uncomfortable moments, closing in for intimate, almost suffocating close-ups that force viewers to feel every emotion alongside the characters. This not only enhances the viewing experience, but also gives a theatrical quality to the episode and demands impeccable performances from the cast because nothing can be rectified with a cut. Thomas and the episode’s cast should receive thunderous applause for conveying everything with so much emotion and never missing a beat.
Another brilliant aspect of Chasers is how it uses lighting to augment its emotional depth. The film’s cinematography is not just a secondary part of the narrative; it actively participates in the storytelling and tells you about the magnitude of that particular situation. The choice of using natural lighting during Sophia and Jacob’s intimate conversation immerses viewers into their world, giving authenticity to their dynamic. In contrast, the pulsating red, blue, and yellow lights at the party magnify of heightening tensions, encapsulating the chaos and volatility of youth, love, and rejection. Trust me when I say this, but I haven’t seen this smooth transition between these lighting choices in a long, long time.
The acting performances across the board are spectacular. Ciarra Krohne is as extraordinary as Sophia and captures her vulnerabilities in a brilliant way. Moreover, she conveys her feelings of anxiety, longing, and quiet determination with an effortless charm. She carries the weight of the episode on her shoulders because most of the story revolves around her and Krohne does that effortlessly. Meanwhile, Louie Champman, as Jacob, embodies the affable yet emotionally distant love interest and brings a nuanced depth to a character that could have easily been one-note. Another mesmerizing performance comes from Brooke Maroon, who plays Billy Joel in the episode, providing a commanding presence on the screen. Joel is the only character who brings a certain kind of calmness around the chaotic things that are happening at the party. The supporting cast – Keana Marie as Maddie, Shannon Gisela as Elsie, Xan Churchwell as Bex, and Dexter Farren Haag as Dex – further enrich the world of Chasers, delivering performances that feel lived-in and authentic, each character adding their own layers of intrigue and complexity to the mix.
Beyond the technical achievements and amazing performances, Chasers is an achievement in storytelling as well. The script strikes a perfect balance between humor, drama, and heartbreak, making every interaction authentic and emotionally charged. Every dialogue feels like the episode is trying to tell you something about a very important thing, which needs to be said out loud, and that thing is how exploitative the world of showbiz can be. Additionally, people don’t care about feelings anymore and want to throw their own emotional baggage on others’ shoulders. There’s an undeniable energy to the dialogue, which never feels scripted but rather a natural outpouring of young adults caught in the throes of desire, disappointment, and self-discovery. The structure of the story—allowing secrets to unravel before culminating in a revelatory flashback—cements the title as a gripping watch, one that encourages rewatches to catch the subtle foreshadowing and intricacies of the script.
As a pilot, Chasers holds immense potential for expansion. This introduction to Sophia’s world is not only intriguing but enthralling as well. Seeing or imagining the depth and complexity a full season could explore would be interesting. This 31-minute, single-take experience is as bold in execution as storytelling. With an intoxicating blend of dark humor, raw vulnerability, and striking social commentary, it emerges as an exhilarating exploration of ambition and exploitation. As the pilot builds to a powerful climax, it’s pretty understandable that Chasers isn’t just a story about chasing dreams – it’s a fearless examination of the cost of doing so. Erin Brown Thomas has crafted something truly special, and audiences should be eager to see where this journey leads next. One of the most exciting pilots!
Chasers recently screened at the Slamdance Film Festival.
Learn more about Chasers at the IMDB page for the pilot.
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