Brian
“Today is going to be a good day,” repeats Brian (rising star Ben Wang, superb) to his reflection in the mirror each morning before the usual day of disappointments and misunderstandings begins. Prone to frequent outbursts due to his mental health issues, the optimistic high-schooler and his good intentions often derail into comical calamity amidst run-ins with his brother, classmates, teachers, and therapist, who are all too familiar with his emotional flare-ups. When he accidentally self-sabotages his dreams of performing in the school play, Brian finds a new calling: running for senior class president. Armed with a sharply realized script from Late Night scribe Mike Scollins that deftly balances uproarious jokes with earned heartfelt insight, and a murderer’s row of crackling performances from some of comedy’s finest talents, director Will Robb’s breakout hit of SXSW delivers one of the most memorable coming-of-age films in years. —Landon Zakheim
Director/s
Will Ropp
Will Ropp is a writer, director, and actor who makes his feature debut with Brian. Before stepping behind the camera, Ropp built a career in front of it as an actor. His film credits include The Way Back (2020), The Fallout (2021), The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022), and what Ropp considers his finest work: a two- second appearance in Joker: Folie À Deux (2024) as “Joker Fan #1.” On television, he has appeared in Adults, Fatal Attraction, Dave, The Sex Lives of College Girls, and Love, Victor.
Expected Guests
WILL ROPP: Director
CASEY HANLEY: Producer