Seeking Engagement
All Films
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Comedy, Short Films, 09-Jul-2025
On his 35th birthday, a struggling content creator pushes his life to the brink of destruction trying to go viral. Jacob Halpren’s “Seeking Engagement” satirizes influencer stardom culture and a man’s laughable entry point for collecting views. John, a relentless performer, accumulates most of his views via staged engagement proposal videos between himself and women who pretend to reject him. In reality, there isn’t much going on in his life. At a local senior center where he lends his audio equipment, he hangs back free-of-charge to sing. One afternoon, John gets a call from a Barclays Center entertainment director regarding his request to propose to his girlfriend on the jumbotron during a WNBA game. Unaware of who they’re dealing with, they offer John the opportunity but his fictitious methods are soon called into question. Halpren’s film reflects a contemporary reality where ‘rage-bait’ and staged public performances are common, tracking an influencer’s yearning for fame or infamy with an admirable level of commitment and shamelessness. -JM. Director: Jacob Halpren. Cast: Johnny Gaffney, Alina Carson, Hisa Viscovich, Jimmy Peoples, Luke Manley, Erma Camporese. DP: Peter Reinstein. Editor: Jacob Halpren, Alex Riccio. Producer: Johnny Gaffney. Composer: John Albano.
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