Skin: The Movie
Skin: The Movie is a 2018 American comedy film written and directed by Ronn Kilby. The film stars Mark Christopher Lawrence, Diane Sargent, Michelle Way, Merrick McCartha and "Shotgun Tom" Kelly.
Plot
Blanche, a Minnesota woman in her forties, wants to be a writer but settled for the life of a publisher's researcher in Minneapolis. Her long lost father is a born entrepreneur, making a small fortune in the Los Angeles and San Diego porn industry. Though he died, that doesn't keep him from directing Blanche by way of a DVD he left behind. But Melissa feels the business should be hers.
Production
Kilby originally penned a one hundred page script that was entered into the Screenplay Competition at Beverly Hills Film Festival. Years later he realized it was worth rewriting as a smaller project and set up a GoFundMe to fund the film with a micro budget. The rewritten forty page project was shot over twenty days for $15,000. Kilby dedicated the project to his sister Peggy.
Release
The film screened at Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema, Indie Short Fest, Global Indie Film Fest and Hobnobben Film Festival. It was released on video on demand on April 14, 2020.
Reception
Critical response
In a review by Rome Prisma Film Awards, they found the film interesting, "technically well done" and "the only downside being an original score." Nami Melumad at New York Film Awards praised the film for its direction, performances, storyline, pacing and music. Roy Zafrani at Los Angeles Film Awards said it is “a small indie film with a big heart.” Michelle Way received recognition for a “well done” performance, winning Best Actress at Actor Awards. Mark Christopher Lawrence won for Best Supporting Actor.