“More Ruckus” | James Sweeney, Twinless
In Twinless, two young men meet in a twin bereavement support group and form an unlikely friendship. Roman (Dylan O'Brien) and Dennis (James Sweeney) both search for solace and an identity without their other halves and soon become inseparable outside the group.
Screening May 3, at 6:30 p.m., at the Music Box Theatre, as part of the Chicago Critics Film Festival, Twinless will be presented with director/writer/actor James Sweeney and actor Dylan O’Brien in attendance for a post-film Q&A.
Ahead of the screening, Sweeney graciously took the time to answer this year’s CCFF filmmaker questionnaire. Below, his individual responses.
How did you first become interested in filmmaking? What was your path toward directing your first film?
My first love was theater. I performed in regional productions as a kid, then started writing stage plays as a teen. I didn't pick up a camera until film school. A decade later, I was on set for my first feature. Super straightforward!
What inspired you to make the film you're bringing to the festival?
Twin curiosity. Not obsession...
Tell us about a film that you consider a guiding influence (whether it has informed your overarching vision as a filmmaker, directly informed the title you're bringing to the festival, or both).
In high school, I bought a DVD of The Good Girl because it was in the discount bin at Wal-Mart. I was working there as a cashier, so I related to Jennifer Aniston's character. I have not rewatched The Good Girl since I wrote a paper on it for a film aesthetics class freshman year, but I feel like that warrants as an influence.
Tell us about a location that's held significance to the film you're bringing to the festival: a setting where filming took place, a geographic area that provided a source of inspiration, or another type of space that comes to mind for you in thinking about the film. What made this place so special?
The diner, formerly known as The Original Dinerant. We filmed several key scenes there. It was a logistical challenge for scheduling, audio and pedestrian traffic, but worth it. At times, it reminded me of one of my visual references: Edward Hopper's “Nighthawks.”
The theatrical experience brings us together to celebrate artistic experience and expand our horizons as human beings. Tell us about a memorable theatrical experience.
Fremont (2023), in Los Angeles with three friends. Small theater, mostly sold out.
Fifteen minutes late into the film, two guys, two gals—presumably a double date—arrive and tell the folks behind us they are in their seats. This causes a chain reaction of seat-shifting, as the folks in their seats took someone else's seat. Latecomers loudly snack and chatter, irritating everyone. They are asked to be quiet. Tension escalates.
Guy in the baseball cap threatens to talk throughout the whole film. I'm nervous this may turn violent. Then baseball cap gets up and tries to exit through the emergency door, which is adjacent to the screen. People yell "Wrong door!" Returns to his seat. More ruckus. He vomits. Tries to exit through the emergency door. Again. "Wrong door!" Again! His girlfriend behind us: “I think it got on me.” Second guy leaves.
Alas, we enjoy Fremont in peace. Debrief in front of the theater after the show with my friends. The girlfriends bang on the locked theater door. They ask the employee to search the bathroom for "Tony" because they have his phone and “someone” threw up in the theater. No such luck. They leave to search for Tony “bar to bar.” Fremont is a wonderful film, highly recommended.
Twinless screens May 3, at 6:30 p.m., at the Music Box Theatre, as part of the Chicago Critics Film Festival; director/writer/actor James Sweeney and actor Dylan O’Brien will be in attendance for a post-film Q&A.