In Sam A. Davis’ The Singers, based on an Ivan Turgenev short story from the 19th century, a group of men in a pub forge unexpected connections during a sing-off.
Awards Buzz spoke with Davis about putting together the cast from places like TikTok and YouTube:
“All of the guys, in the film, not all of them, a handful of them have followings on social media, which has been cool for them to be able to share a little bit of the process with their followings. Mike Yung, for example, was on America’s Got Talent, so he has a pretty significant following on Instagram, and fans of his own, and I think there are people who are looking out for these guys wanting to see more of them. We cast the film, we were really looking for underdogs and guys who, in my opinion, are as talented as the artists that we listen to on the radio, but for whatever reason, maybe haven’t been able to make sustainable commercial careers out of their talents. The idea that their gifts are no less worth appreciating and photographing on film and projecting them ten feet tall in a movie theater. It’s just been special for them to get to see themselves honored in the film and celebrated by audiences in a way that I don’t think that they have before, but really deserve to be.”
About how audiences have responded to the film based on where it’s been shown, Davis shared:
“That’s a good question. This film is a sneaky crowd-pleaser, and so, because of that, generally, the responses are overwhelmingly positive. It’s been fun to take it and show it in theaters and, yeah, the music element almost feels like you’re in some sort of a show at certain points. It’s just been really cool to see the way audiences react. Generally, the response has been fairly consistent, it’s pretty jovial. I think the film feels like a full meal of emotions, so there’s a little bit of everything in there. Sometimes I compare it to a good cocktail, you know? It’s a little bitter at times and a little sweet, and then it leaves you with this sort of drunkenness at the end. So hopefully that’s what audiences are feeling.”
The Singers is on the Oscar shortlist for Best Live Action Short.
