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SPARNI
Location
New York City
Watch trailer
Who made it
Co-produced and co-directed with Nathan Siegelaub. Nathan and I were lucky to meet in our documentary program at Columbia University. We poured our hearts into this project trying to make the best "first film" we possibly could.
Interview with the filmmakers
Website
Long Island International Film Expo
A promising young jazz vibraphonist named Sparni prepares for a culminating concert and a career on stage – all while grappling with the repercussions of mental illness.
It’s the second semester of junior year for Pierce “Sparni” Sparnroft (they/them), an aspiring jazz vibraphonist studying at Montclair State University. Sparni’s prospects on the vibes were rejuvenated by their new professor, the acclaimed Steve Nelson, and are to be showcased during a recital in May 2023. But all the while Sparni must battle an enemy inside.
Since childhood, Sparni has endured bouts of hyperactive behavior followed by depressive crashes. In early 2022, these swings received a name: bipolar disorder. Diagnosis avalanched into disarray, and within a few months, Sparni had reached a low point.
Fast-forward one year: Sparni must assemble a band, lead rehearsals, craft a smooth-flowing set list and bring the performance to life. They must learn to negotiate a truce with their mental illness if they are to succeed – and survive.
