NIGHTTIDE MAGAZINE PRESENTS FEARLESS FRAME: CELEBRATING WOMXN HORROR FILMMAKERS – AMANDA JANE STERN
“Perfectly Good Moment is a gripping psychosexual thriller that dissects the complexities of an age-gap relationship through the lens of power, manipulation, and agency. Centered on Ruby and David’s tumultuous eight-year relationship, the film explores the blurred lines between passion and toxicity, challenging traditional narratives that glamorize such dynamics. By telling the story from Ruby’s perspective, it confronts the inherent power imbalances often overlooked in these relationships and delves into the under-discussed forms of control and self-erasure. As Ruby begins to question the motives behind her return and the dynamic she’s entangled in, the film transforms into a chilling exploration of revenge, identity, and the cost of reclaiming autonomy.”
Westfield Grads Play Key Roles in Production of New Thriller ‘Perfectly Good Moment’
“Julian Seltzer (’10) and Emily Bailey (’12) met at Westfield High School while working on Blue Devil News.
In the TV world, Seltzer has produced documentary films for HBO (“DMX: Don't Try to Understand”), NBC Sports (“Uphill Climb”) and Discovery (“Rebuilding Hope”); and series for Discovery+ (“House of Hammer”) and Oxygen (“New York Homicide”).
Bailey graduated with a B.S. in Television/Radio/Film from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. After college, she started a job at NBCUniversal's Cable Entertainment Division, where she discovered her passion for color grading. She currently works as an assistant colorist at Company 3 and has worked on projects such as “Dexter: New Blood,” Netflix’s “tick, tick ... BOOM!” and “Dear Evan Hansen.”
Westfield HS Alumni Release New Thriller Film 'Perfectly Good Moment'
“Two Westfield High School alumni and filmmakers have teamed up to create a new thriller ‘Perfectly Good Moment,"‘which is now streaming on Tubi and Amazon.
Julian Seltzer (‘10) produced and co-wrote the story for the film, and Emily Bailey (‘12) was the film’s colorist. They met at Westfield High School while working on Blue Devil News.
This film isn't Seltzer's first as he has produced documentary films for HBO (DMX: Don't Try to Understand) NBC Sports (Uphill Climb), and Discovery (Rebuilding Hope); and series for Discovery+ (House of Hammer), and Oxygen (New York Homicide).
Bailey worked at NBCUniversal's Cable Entertainment Division, where she discovered her passion for color grading. She currently works as an Assistant Colorist at Company 3 and has worked on projects such as Dexter: New Blood, Netflix’s tick, tick...BOOM!, and Dear Evan Hansen.”
Spotlight on 2023: Unveiling Five Standout Indie Films - 'RUB', 'FEED ME', 'TO NOWHERE', 'PERFECTLY GOOD MOMENT', and 'MANFISH'
“PERFECTLY GOOD MOMENT" is a compelling, sexually charged drama set in a single location. This beautifully acted film combines intimacy with a tense narrative. The focused setting enhances the movie's emotional intensity, allowing the characters' complex relationships to take center stage.
Amanda Jane Stern and Stephen Carlile deliver captivating performances, their palpable chemistry adding a layer of depth and sensuality to the film. The nuanced direction, coupled with a distinctive use of colour and cinematography, creates an atmosphere that's both intimate and captivating.”
NY Premiere for "Perfectly Good Moment" - Film Made By Westfield HS Alumni
“On Saturday, October 14th, Westfield High School alumni Julian Seltzer ('10) and Emily Bailey ('12) will walk the red carpet with their fellow cast and crew at the Chelsea Film Festival for the NYC Premiere of the award-winning feature film Perfectly Good Moment. Seltzer co-wrote the story for this twisty revenge drama and produced the feature, while Bailey served as the film's colorist.
Perfectly Good Moment stars Broadway’s Stephen Carlile in his leading feature film debut. Carlile is best known for his critically acclaimed performance as Scar in The Lion King on Broadway since 2017.
In Perfectly Good Moment, Carlile portrays the charming David who is thrilled when his much younger ex-fiancée Ruby decides to give him another chance. But his hope to resume planning their wedding is thwarted by Ruby’s state-of-the-art revenge plot. Starring opposite Carlile, is Amanda Jane Stern (1 Angry Black Man, and Lifetime’s Amish Witches).”
Feature Film PERFECTLY GOOD MOMENT Starring Stephen Carlile To Make NYC Premiere At Chelsea Film Festival
“Shot on location in NYC and made entirely by New Yorkers, the award-winning revenge thriller Perfectly Good Moment will play its NYC premiere at the Chelsea Film Festival on Saturday, October 14th at 6:15pm. The cast and crew will be in attendance at the screening and Q&A to immediately follow.
The NYC-made thriller film stars Broadway's Stephen Carlile in his leading feature film debut. Carlile is best known for his critically acclaimed performance as Scar in The Lion King on Broadway since 2017.
In Perfectly Good Moment, Carlile portrays the charming David who is thrilled when his much younger ex-fiancée Ruby decides to give him another chance. But his hope to resume planning their wedding is thwarted by Ruby's state-of-the-art revenge plot.
Starring opposite Carlile, is New York City-native Amanda Jane Stern as the cunning Ruby. Stern grew up in the New York independent film world, and among her dozens of credits is best known for the topical drama 1 Angry Black Man (which shot in the Bronx). This is also Stern's feature screenwriting debut.”
Feature Film Perfectly Good Moment to make NYC Premiere at Chelsea Film Festival
“Perfectly Good Moment marks the feature directorial debut for New York-based Lauren Greenhall, whose work celebrates unconventional women. She has directed TV and video for The New Yorker, The New York Post, and the Huffington Post. Her work has been featured by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NY1, and Gothamist. She was a 2021 resident at the Jewish Film Institute for her documentary Zelda, sponsored by the New York Foundation of the Arts.
The film boasts an original score by New York musician Mikey Coltun of the acclaimed rock band Mdou Moctar who played Summerstage at Central Park this past summer.
New York-based Julian Seltzer (HBO's DMX: Don't Try to Understand, and House of Hammer for Discovery+) was the film's producer. Seltzer also co-wrote the story with Stern.”
Perfectly Good Moment hits Fort Myers Film Festival
“The cat-and-mouse plot delivers some suspenseful moments. ‘I do like making movies that are unsettling,’ Stern said.
There is a romantic quality to the film in addition to the suspenseful thriller aspect.
Ruby’s character is flirtatious in the beginning and even ‘snarky,’ Stern said. The movie sees her develop as her impression of David changes.
‘The two characters have kind of been bopping around in my head for a long time,’ Stern said. ‘They first showed up in a script I wrote at 14. I kind of revamped that script when I was in college.’
Stern said she was finally able to complete the script ‘looking at it from the lens of an adult and not an idealistic teenage girl.’
Despite the conflict between her character and David, Stern says ‘I love him.’ Stern said David’s character ‘sweeps you off your feet’ but his emotional manipulations ultimately lead to quarreling that reaches a crescendo.”
PIFF16 – 5 Questions for Adi Jahic – THINGS WE LIKE & Amanda Jane Stern PERFECTLY GOOD MOMENT
“Amanda Jane: I was thinking a lot about how frequently we see age-gap relationships onscreen but never interrogate whether there is a power imbalance. Take Last Tango in Paris or Manhattan for instance, in both movies the younger woman is still a teenager paired up against a very adult man. I wanted to flip that and explore that kind of relationship a few years down the line where the woman has grown up and is now looking at her partner through a different lens. In Perfectly Good Moment Ruby and David meet when she is 19 and he’s 34, now it’s 8 years later and she’s really re-evaluating the power dynamics of this relationship.”
Fort Myers Film Festival planning a week of indie international and local film screenings, parties
“ADULT FUN: Stay up late Thursday, May 18 for the 9 p.m. screening “Perfectly Good Moment,” by Lauren Greenhall. This psychosexual thriller asks the question: what happens when the things that make your relationship passionate and exciting are the same things that make it toxic? This one is for adults only.”
Film fest preview: 'Perfectly Good Moment'
“Lauren Greenhall’s directorial debut is a portrait of two characters, filmed almost entirely in one location…
…British actor Stephen Carlile, who has portrayed Scar in “The Lion King” on Broadway for the past five years, is David, the older — although not necessarily wiser — part of the romantic duo
Amanda Jane Stern is Ruby, David’s on-again-off-again younger girlfriend.”
JDIFF announces award winners for 2023
“The Julien Dubuque International Film Festival has wrapped up another run of showcasing independent films from around the world.
In its 12th year, JDIFF announced its 2023 Award Winners on Saturday night. The winners were chosen from more than 180 films that were presented.
The winners include:
Best Use of Music: Perfectly Good Moment”
The Psychosexual Thriller You Don’t Want to Miss at the Unrestricted View Film Festival
“Erotic thriller Perfectly Good Moment is thrilled to have its UK premiere at the Unrestricted View Film Festival on April 29, 2023 at 7pm, at the Hen & Chickens Theatre. This psychosexual thriller asks the question: what happens when the things that make your relationship passionate and exciting are the same things that make it toxic?”
Psychosexual revenge drama ‘Perfectly Good Moment’ to play Fort Myers Film Festival
“Perfectly Good Moment marks Ms. Greenhall’s narrative feature directorial debut. ‘I hope that audiences come for the exciting revenge fantasy but leave with a new way to think about the under-discussed forms of manipulation in relationships. Perfectly Good Moment gives women a way to process a common relationship dynamic, where a woman begins to modify her behavior to appease a sensitive man. Over time this need to keep the peace extends to changing her plans, friends and effectively losing herself in the process,’ said Greenhall.”
How to Make Sex Scenes Look Good (Without Anyone Feeling Weird)
“Our intimacy coordinator, Acacia DëQueer, had worked on award-winning indies and productions ranging from low budget to premium. I came to think of them as a storyteller who was part choreographer, part HR department. Before Acacia joined us, I rehearsed intimate scenes without any blocking. Scenes that were particularly sensitive I skipped entirely.”
Erotic thriller Perfectly Good Moment hits the festival circuit
“Brand new erotic thriller Perfectly Good Moment has started its film festival run, with a world premiere at the Sarasota Film Festival in March.
This psychosexual thriller asks the question: what happens when the things that make your relationship passionate and exciting are the same things that make it toxic?”
Lauren Greenhall’s Erotic Thriller PERFECTLY GOOD MOMENT Premieres at Sarasota Film Festival | Trailer
“Directed by Lauren Greenhall, the erotic thriller Perfectly Good Moment will have its world premiere at the 25th Sarasota Film Festival on March 29, 2023. This psychosexual thriller asks the question: what happens when the things that make your relationship passionate and exciting are the same things that make it toxic?”
Want to Catch Up on This Year’s Sundance Titles? The Sarasota Film Festival Has You Covered
“This erotic, psychological revenge fantasy asks the question what happens when the things that make your relationship passionate and exciting are the same things that make it toxic“
Stephen Carlile Stars in PERFECTLY GOOD MOMENT, Premiering at Sarasota Film Festival
“The film stars Broadway's Stephen Carlile (The Lion King) in his cinematic debut and Amanda Jane Stern (1 Angry Black Man, Lifetime's Amish Witches). It marks Stern's first feature screenwriting credit from a story she co-wrote with producer Julian Seltzer (HBO's DMX: Don't Try to Understand, and House of Hammer for Discovery+). The film features an original score by Mdou Moctar's Mikey Coltun.“
It’s the 25th Anniversary of The Sarasota Film Festival- Check out the Complete Program
“In the features lineup, the festival will host the World Premiere of PERFECTLY GOOD MOMENT“
SF’S 25TH INDIEFEST KICKS OFF WITH WEIRD AND WONDERFUL FILMS
“In Lauren Greenhall’s erotic psychological thriller “Perfectly Good Moment,” Ruby and David’s eight year on-and-off relationship appears to be on again when she returns into his life. “
1st Trailer Drops for Feminist Erotic Thriller “Perfectly Good Moment”
“Now in this post-#MeToo era when women look back at their past, they can say ‘this is a gray area, and it’s okay.’ We need to process things in more than just black and white.”
Stephen Carlile Makes American Feature Film Debut in PERFECTLY GOOD MOMENT via Broadway World
“In Perfectly Good Moment, Carlile plays the film's lead, a suave financial advisor, with a dark streak. While the film begins as a relationship drama, Carlile's character quickly reveals himself as a malignant narcissistic who has methodically isolated his on-again-off-again fiance Ruby from her family and friends.”
Interview With Actor, Writer And Producer Amanda Jane Stern For PERFECTLY GOOD MOMENT
“If you’re wondering what relationships look like in the 21st century — or for that matter, the 22nd — ask Amanda Jane Stern. She is the star of Perfectly Good Moment as well as the film’s writer and producer. Directed by Lauren Greenhall with a story from Stern and Julian Seltzer, the erotic, psychosexual thriller stars Stern and British theater actor Stephen Carlile. It’s a portrait of a toxic relationship with a significant age gap, with Stern’s Ruby being the younger, abused partner of the vicious David.“
IndieFest’s 25th anniversary roars in with local lore, fabulous freaks, and high school hijinks
“Needless to say, there’s a lot more bold individualism of an Amerindie-cinema stripe in Indiefest… and erotic thriller Perfectly Good Moment. “
1st Trailer Drops for Twisty Erotic Drama "Perfectly Good Moment"
“Perfectly Good Moment marks the narrative feature debut for director Lauren Greenhall, a 2021 resident at the Jewish Film Institute for her documentary Zelda, a film also sponsored by the New York Foundation of the Arts.”