Aster and Sidney
A film by Sean Temple
After the collapse of society, a secret threatens to destroy two women's relationship.
Aster and Sidney are survivors. What destroyed their world is unknown, but what keeps them alive is a constant state of vigilance. Former strangers, they have bonded together against the threat of those who would harm them for the food in their packs or the shoes on their feet.
Director by
Sean Temple
Written by
Sarah Wisner & Sean Temple
Cinematography by
Mia Cioffi Henry
Produced by
Sean Temple, Sarah Wisner & Elise Ahrens
Assistant Director
Sam Hagerman
Production Designer
Jean-Paul Disciscio
Art Director, Hair & Make-up
Nicole Georgallas
Costume Designer
Becca Iandoli
Special Effects Artist
Scott C. Miller
Hair & Makeup by
Katie Esquilin
Gaffer
Logan Freeman
Assistant Camera
Abijeet Achar
Key Grip
Greg Oke
Sound Recordist
Scot Silvestre
Grip/Driver
Derek Temple
Editor
Sean Temple
Sound Designer
Eric Promani
ADR Artists
Mason Mutchncik & Pierre Hubberson
Director's Note
Aster and Sidney is a story about the destructive power of patriarchal individualism. In a world focused only on day-to-day survival, these characters have no choice but to refuse to trust anyone but themselves and, ultimately, each other. As an example of speculative fiction, this film is a depiction of the negative potential outcome of our current society: one in which millions starve, despite adequate food production; oil and water are hoarded and sequestered; billions of dollars are spent denying climate change, and income and wealth inequality increases daily.
It was also important to depict the decisions and relationships that form between women in extreme circumstances. Looking at the vast majority of stories told on film, one finds a huge deficit in the number of stories told by women and about women. And focusing on the post-apocalyptic genre specifically, the majority of films not only put men at the center - they also structure the story around masculinized, individualistic hero-creation. Where do women go, to survive in these worlds? How would their choices look different from the choices we see so frequently?
We are also interested in representing the difficulty and importance of communication. There is a certain safety in closing oneself off from others; as a defense mechanism, keeping quiet about meaningful or tender thoughts and feelings provides a level of invulnerability. But that lack of vulnerability results in a lack of true connection. One secret puts Aster and Sidney’s relationship in danger; when their whole world is comprised of paranoia and risk and fear, their ability to connect and rely on each other is the one thing that might save them.
— Sean Temple & Sarah Wisner
