New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


?>

 

Heartwarming Comedy June screens at the Fall 2023 New Jersey Film Festival on Friday, September 22!


By Emily Ranieri

originally published: 09/22/2023

Lauren Stevens' heartwarming, comedic short film June will be showing at the New Jersey Film Festival on Friday, September 22, 2023, in-person at 7 p.m. and online for 24 hours.

June, a gas station attendant in California, spends her days gossiping with her manager, Claudia, and cleaning truck drivers' vomit in the store bathroom. After recently coming out as bisexual and breaking up with her horrible long-term boyfriend, June is trying to figure out what she wants out of life and what will truly make her happy.

The film opens with a montage of June opening the gas station store; she changes the calendar to the month of June, or "gay month," as Claudia lovingly refers to it. Played by Julia Ribas, the character June (whose name is also a beautiful reference to pride and queerness) starts the day with her typical, mundane tasks, such as checking the expiration date on the snacks and scratching a quarter on the counter in utter boredom. June and Claudia engage in playful banter about June's recent relationship and her sexuality, which Claudia remains confused about. Like a slightly out-of-touch older aunt, she calls June her "favorite lesbian" when presenting her with a rainbow pin as a gift for pride month.

The pair are still talking when Nia, June's childhood best friend, enters the vacant store to buy a diet soda. June is captivated by her beauty and charisma; the women begin talking, and Claudia offers to find Nia her diet soda to give the two some privacy. Nia and June talk about their childhoods when they were best friends and recall an innocent memory that seemingly changed the course of their lives and their relationship. Stevens decides not to reveal the memory to the audience, keeping it honed in on the tension and words left unsaid between them. This choice allows the interaction to play out entirely in a way that focuses on character-building and development. June's wholesome awkwardness and Nia's confidence create a spirited and heartening dynamic, stirring empathy and relatability. The audience will undoubtedly connect with June and its story, viewers fondly remembering their childhood friends and crushes.




New Jersey Stage provides affordable advertising for the arts, click here for info



The film's production resembles a dream-like setting, especially once Nia enters the store. When the film opens, the lighting is harsher, playing on the mundanity of life working as a gas attendant in this store. The handheld camera work and use of changing focus create a sense of intimacy between the audience and the characters, making it feel like audience members are physically in the store with the women. In another brilliant directorial and cinematic move, the cinematography changes when Nia enters – the light becomes softer, illuminating Nia in a way that emphasizes her angelica. The music becomes airy and dreamy, and almost every shot is in close-up. The camera work remains handheld, constantly moving, creating and eliminating headspace and creating a sense of floating. The consistent use of focus pulls further emphasizes the dream-like quality of this conversation between Nia and June, highlighting nostalgia for their friendship and hope for a different future. The palpable tension creates a sense of "Will they? Won't they?" that unequivocally captivates the viewer.

Throughout their conversation, Stevens incorporates the irrefutable dark side of Nia's journey as a queer woman. Her parents sent her to a private Christian school and Christian camp in hopes of changing the core of their daughter; this is the reality for many queer kids, and Stevens' choice to incorporate this as a part of Nia's narrative highlights the struggle while keeping the film heartwarming. Nia gives June her phone number and walks out of the store while June contemplates chasing after her. She excitedly decides not to let the opportunity slip between her fingers, grabbing the rainbow pin Claudia gave her before walking out the door.

June will be playing along with the feature film Hole in the Head and the short film Out of Frame at the New Jersey Film Festival on Friday, September 22, 2023 – Online for 24 Hours and in-person at 7PM in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ. Evan Bode, Director of Out of Frame will be on hand to do a Q+A as well. For more info and tickets go here

 




New Jersey Stage provides affordable advertising for the arts, click here for info


EVENT PREVIEWS

State

State Theatre New Jersey presents Jim Henson's Labyrinth: In Concert

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert on Friday, May 2, 2025 at 7:30pm. For the first time, Jim Henson’s original masterpiece and musical fantasy film Labyrinth, starring the iconic David Bowie, will transport fans to Goblin City in an exciting fusion of film and live music on stage. Labyrinth in Concert will start with a costume contest on stage. Winners will walk away with some fabulous merchandise.



State

State Theatre New Jersey presents NARUTO: The Symphonic Experience

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents NARUTO: The Symphonic Experience on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 7:00pm. Fresh off its successful European tour seen by more than 60,000 fans, NARUTO: The Symphonic Experience will visit more than 60 cities on its first North American tour including a stop at State Theatre New Jersey.



"Singin'

"Singin' in the Rain" to Kick Off 2025 UCPAC Film Fest

(RAHWAY, NJ) -- The Union County Performing Arts Center Film Fest opens with a screening of Singin' In The Rain on Friday, May 16, 2025. Join them for the Opening Ceremony and the feature presentation, a digital screening of a classic film that celebrates the art of motion pictures! Doors are at 6:00pm, showtime is 7:00pm.



Jason

Jason Alexander Announced as Keynote Speaker for 2025 Lighthouse International Film Festival

(LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ) -- Lighthouse International Film Festival (LIFF) announced Jason Alexander as the keynote speaker for the festival's 17th year running from June 4-8, 2025 on Long Beach Island. The festival will screen a special 25th anniversary screening of Jason Alexander's film Just Looking with a Q&A to follow on Friday, June 6th and will have an intimate conversation with the actor discussing filmmaking and his storied career on Saturday, June 7th.



2025

2025 New Jersey International Film Festival to Take Place May 30th through June 8th

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center, in association with the Rutgers University Program in Cinema Studies, is proud to present the 2025 New Jersey International Film Festival which marks its 30th Anniversary. The NJIFF competition will be taking place on the Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between May 30 - June 8, 2025 and will be a hybrid one as they will be presenting it online as well as doing in-person screenings at Rutgers University.



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Jim

Jim Henson's "Labyrinth" in Concert

Friday, May 02, 2025 @ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: film


 

Dawn

Dawn of Impressionism: Paris, 1874

Sunday, May 04, 2025 @ 1:00pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748
category: film


 

Dawn

Dawn of Impressionism: Paris, 1874

Sunday, May 04, 2025 @ 1:00pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748
category: film


 

Art

Art on Screen - Georgia O’Keeffe: the Brightness of Light

Monday, May 05, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: film


 

NARUTO:

NARUTO: The Symphonic Experience

Tuesday, May 06, 2025 @ 7:00pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: film