An Invitation
Drugstore June doesn’t announce itself as important—and that’s the point. It arrives sideways: funny, awkward, emotionally observant. A story about a young woman solving a low-stakes crime that quietly becomes a reckoning with adulthood, agency, and self-trust.
This is indie filmmaking in its most honest form. Limited resources. Big specificity. A belief that tone, performance, and point of view can carry a film further than scale ever could.
The Work
As cinematographer, my role was to protect the film’s intimacy while giving it confidence—making sure its visual language never felt “small,” even when the production was.
The camera stays close to June, tracking her emotional weather more than plot mechanics. Framing favors imperfection: slightly off-center compositions, natural light that falls where it may, spaces that feel lived-in rather than dressed. Movement is restrained, motivated by character rather than coverage.
Every choice was about alignment—letting the visuals reflect June’s inner state as she stumbles, recalibrates, and slowly claims her own voice.
The Experience
Watching Drugstore June feels like being let in on a private joke—then realizing the joke is also about you. The tone walks a careful line between comedy and vulnerability, never undercutting either.
The experience is warm, observational, and quietly propulsive. The camera doesn’t push for laughs or pathos; it trusts the moment. That trust is what allows the film to linger after it ends.
Impact & Reach
A true “little engine that could,” Drugstore June punched above its weight—connecting with audiences who recognized themselves in its humor and honesty. What began as a modest indie became a calling card: proof that a well-told story, grounded in character, can travel far without spectacle.
The film’s reception reinforced the value of tonal precision and emotional clarity—especially in a marketplace crowded with louder, bigger swings.
Reflection
This project reaffirmed why I love independent filmmaking. Constraints sharpen instinct. Intimacy becomes the asset. When everyone believes in the same quiet goal, the work finds its way.
Drugstore June is a reminder that scale isn’t measured in budget—it’s measured in connection. And when a film hits, even softly, it can hit big.
Our screen-team at a glance:
Featuring: Esther Povitsky, Haley Joel Osmen, Jackie Sandler, Bobby Lee, Beverly D'Angelo, Miranda Cosgrove, James Remar, Bill Burr, Danny Griffin, Matt Walsh
All Things Comedy!