Latest / Besties Do Verticals / Episode 9 - A Shot at Love
Transcript
- Aleta: Hello and welcome to Besties Do Verticals with your besties, Lucy and Alita. Hi, I'm Alita. Lucy: And I'm Lucy. You something we done, Alita, and I think it's shameful. We haven't asked each other how we're doing. We haven't we haven't shared with listeners what's on in our lives. They don't even really know anything about us. ⁓ I just caught her so off guard. I'm such a jerk. ⁓ Alita, how you feeling today? I I know you've been sick. How you doing? How you doing? Yeah, how you doing? Aleta: I'm sick. I'm sick and whiny, that's how I'm doing Lucy: So obviously didn't really do anything for the weekend, just slept. Aleta: Dear. slept, edited. That's about it. I actually got an editor too done, which has been tough these days. Oop. Lucy: 'Cause we keep piling stuff on. Aleta: We keep finding more jobs to do for free. Yeah. ⁓ Lucy: Yep, yep. Well, that's okay. That's r ⁓ well, thank you. ⁓ Aleta: As long as we're having fun. How are you doing? Lucy: I am doing well, ⁓ I think. what have I done this weekend? ⁓ I was supposed to to the amusement park but I chose to edit. ⁓ And someone in my family discovered the Sims. I used to play that when I was a kid. When I was probably like 10 or 11, is when it first released. Someone in my family has discovered it. And ⁓ Aleta: ⁓ Lucy: ⁓ ⁓ that's a blast from the past. actually have the Sims on my computer. ⁓ Do you remember? ⁓ my gosh, do you remember Twinkling? He ⁓ Do you remember a discussion that they were gonna make all the BL boys on the Sims? Do you remember this? You're like laughing 'cause you Aleta: Vividly, yes. Lucy: Yes, yes. don't have to play the Sims, so that's good. ⁓ But it's like a great idea. Anyway, in States, it's Memorial Day tomorrow. think Aleta: ⁓ so you're off. Lucy: off. really excited. I think going ooh, yes, I'm actually gonna also go out lunch with someone else in my family. that'll be really fun because I don't get to see them too often. So I'm looking forward to that. And then probably editing this podcast. But look at us. ⁓ We asked about our days and and and our weekends and how we're doing. Yay! ⁓ We'll try to do that more. Yeah, we'll we'll we'll try to Aleta: Like we don't talk about it anyway. Lucy: do that more on the podcast, you know. Okay. Today's vertical is a shot at love, which is the first girl love from the brand new app Chara TV, starring Adriana Oliveris ⁓ and Georgia Bridgers. And it was both directed and co-written by Rachel Rose. The summary from CeraTV.com says When war photographer turned paparazzi, Nor Markova goes undercover at an elite couple's retreat to expose celebrity couples Celine Velasco and Nacho Rivera. What a name. She did not expect a scandal, let alone sparks. As secrets unravel, Addiction surface and a hidden pregnancy threatens everything. Two women trapped in carefully crafted lives begin questioning what they truly want. The perfect shot comes at a cost. Wow, that's actually a really good summary. ⁓ Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: That might be the best written summary we've ever read. ⁓ Aleta: Yeah, ⁓ I ⁓ ⁓ Rose, thank you, Na Rachel, ⁓ you listen to this, ⁓ providing that for us, 'cause there wasn't one on IMDB. So Lucy: Yeah, it was good. Aleta: A Shot at Love opens with a sex scene between Celine, played by Adriana Olivaris, ⁓ ⁓ she has an H chapter, ⁓ and Nacho, played Elijah Zanten. The narrator tells us that is a celebrated actress, and he is technically also an He has left the bedroom and window open because he likes an audience. ⁓ Lucy: Whoa Aleta: Bit of a fake out here as we see Noor Markova, George Bridgers, about to take a photo, but it turns out she's not actually there. She's taking photos of birds. Her phone rings and scares away the bird and she declines the call from A Hole Editor. Lucy: That's like a really nice touch. I like that on the phone. But also, I did not catch that at all. That that was a fake out. By the way, I did not catch that. Aleta: I think it is. I maybe I'm wrong, but that's what I got from it. Like yeah, that's what it felt like. ⁓ Lucy: I believe you. I believe you over me. So I'm sure that's exactly what that was, but I thought she trying peek through their window or whatever. And when I saw that you wrote that I was like, Really? So I believe you girl. I believe you. Aleta: And something else, ⁓ Noor's is like the flip phone that I had in like two thousand and six, which ⁓ is interesting light of what we learn. Yeah. Lucy: Do you think Yeah, do you think that it Right. Do you think it's maybe like base like ten, twenty years ago? They never really give a date. Aleta: No. No. Well, anyway, we'll talk about a little later why it is, okay? Lucy: All right, let's do it. Aleta: Coming We some that Noor has a drinking problem. She's taking a swig of a and then in the next scene, we are in her trailer and she's got an empty bottle in her hand. The A-Hole editor and his assistant Darby arrive with a job offer. They want Noor to go to a party for charity and get a pick of Selene. The next scene is Celine and Nacho getting ready for the party. She is doing a pregnancy test. Nacho comes into the bathroom on a live with his fans. When he turns off the live to get ready, he finds the positive pregnancy test. He is thrilled, ⁓ but he throws the test away and takes out a new one and pees on it. ⁓ Lucy: Ew and I missed that part actually. I I was like, how did it become negative? But now I know. Aleta: He jumps in the shower and when she comes back to check the test it's negative and she is visibly relieved. The narrator informs us that Nacho thinks Celine just needs a little time to catch up to his enthusiasm. Lucy: The level of fucked up here my god this I I don't know I I'm like that's a jailable offense in my opinion like I'm like you should be in cuffs what the fuck? ⁓ I I didn't Aleta: Yeah, but you know there's plenty of ⁓ guys who do that too. Lucy: Ugh, don't get me started. Don't get me started. ⁓ Aleta: Now we back to Noor, getting ready for the party in her trailer. Darby has her a sequin cocktail dress and a red wig, with a note that says, Don't be yourself. ⁓ We learned little more about Noor here, as the narrator tells us that she doesn't want to wear a dress. Most days she doesn't want to get dressed at all. Or move or breathe. So clearly Noor has had some trauma. Lucy: You know, this is the first vertical we've ever seen with a narrator. And I I actually liked it. I actually liked the narrator. I thought it was cute. I thought it was a surprise. it gave it a completely different vibe. Also, Georgia ⁓ Bridgers, ⁓ who is playing Noor, she is so It's of the first things ⁓ I noticed when I saw the trailers for A at Love. And when she gets dressed up in this cocktail dress and she puts on like this little wig that's makes her a redhead. ⁓ Damn! No, she is she is a beautiful woman. I and I've watched ⁓ they're very beautiful. Aleta: I think they both are b absolutely beautiful. Lucy: But I've been able to watch ⁓ Georgia's ⁓ Instagram ⁓ and she's really cute. She's really charming, ⁓ very talented. I don't ⁓ I had I knew when we recapped this, I to gush a little bit her. She is Aleta: Ha ha. Lucy: very lovely. Aleta: Nacho and Selene arrive at the party. They have won an award, and she is eager to discuss their charity, but he dips her in a kiss because he wants to put on a show for the paparazzi. We don't like Nacho. Lucy: Mm mm. Aleta: Noor comes running up just in time to see the bouncer stopping other people from going in, so she bribes him to get in. Inside she finds Celine looking beautiful in an emerald sequin dress. ⁓ gazing at a photo of a woman that Noor took. Noor says that it's exploitive, and Celine observes that it's almost as if they knew each other somehow. Lucy: Hmm, interesting. Aleta: From across the room, Nacho spots Celine with a glass of champagne and rushes over to knock it out of her hand. All over Noor. Noor runs outside and sees Celine and Nacho arguing. She takes the shot. Which end up all over the gossip rags the next day. Headlines claim that they are divorcing. Celine's manager books them into a marriage retreat in Canada to try and repair the damage, telling her that unless they fix it, she will have to let some of her staff go. And to convince her, they say it's elites only, no mortals, no wi fi, no cellphones, no alcohol. And the last one changes Nacho's mind and he insists they go. And we know why, but of course Celine doesn't. Lucy: Right. Aleta: Back at Nora's place, she is hitting the flask pretty hard when the editor arrives to tell her that she's also headed undercover to the marriage retreat. Darby will pretend to be her wife. We discover that Noor is a celebrity herself, a star photographer, and as the resort is exclusive, she's the only one on the payroll who can go. He tells her Get me the shot and you can buy the whole damn bar if you want. We see Nacho and Celine arriving at the retreat in her high heeled boots. ⁓ Lucy, as a Canadian, it was immediately clear to me that this was shot British Columbia. And a little Google image search reveals the location to be the Artisan Log in Mission BC. ⁓ Lucy: Did you really do Google image search? ⁓ my gosh! I did not realize that. ⁓ Aleta: Yes. Like this is obviously in BC, let me find out where it is. Lucy: When they talked about the retreat earlier, did they say it was in Canada or did you just say it was in Canada? Okay, cool. That's cool. Yeah. ⁓ there Aleta: Yes. No, they said it was in Canada. I mean, it was Canada or like Washington State, 'cause the whole atmosphere, right? Lucy: They do a lot of verticals in Canada, so it would not surprise me. I mean I think most of them are done in LA right now, but I know. That Aleta: ⁓ yeah, this was filmed in Canada. Yeah. Lucy: is cool. That is really cool. ⁓ my gosh. ⁓ Yeah, there were a of beautiful scenes in this. A lot of beautiful scenery. I loved it. Aleta: Mm. You should move here. Lucy: I want to! ⁓ my god! I'm working on it. Aleta: Selene and Noor clash when they meet, as Selene believes, correctly, that Noor is there to get pictures of them. She sees no difference between Noor's career as a war photographer and a paparazza, ⁓ both exploiting people for personal gain. A position that we know Noor actually agrees with. Noor is shocked to find that there's no alcohol, and Nacho is not happy that they will be doing drugs. ⁓ Because of Swain. Lucy: I know I didn't even catch the drug part, but I guess it does make sense because of later in the vertical, yes. Aleta: Mm. No one is happy that they have to give up their cell phones, which the retreat owner Margot locks in a wooden box and she throws away the key. In their room, Darby tells Nora that she plans to be Nacho's gay best friend. She tells Nora that there was a rumor that Celine sued a woman who said that they had kissed when they were kids. Later that night, Darby heads out snooping for the cellphones, only to be surprised by Nacho who has found the key. They pinky swear to keep the secret. The next day they're making smoothies to cleanse their bodies. Selene and Noor accidentally taste each other's smoothies instead of giving them to their partners. Narrator says they tasted each other's juices. Lucy: That part was funny. Aleta: Now the participants get a counseling session with Margot. When asked what brought them there, Darby and Noor have to think fast, and Darby says, I think that Noor's not okay with being gay. While Noor counters, You've made your entire personality being queer. Lucy: Cute. I thought that was a cute little thing that got thrown in the the session where she's like, Well, you've made your entire personality being queer ⁓ and said that to the character that's not queer. Aleta: Yeah. They fought on their feet. Lucy: That's right. Aleta: In their session, Celine tells Nacho that he's the only one putting her on display all the damn time. He says that he always cares about her, cameras or not. She counters that she is just human and she's not always in the mood. Nacho says that sometimes he feels she just married him because of his success. She is an Oscar winning actress. Or his money, or his looks. She says that she loves him for himself, but struggles to say why she married him. Lucy: So that scene between Nacho and Celine was actually triggering when she started talking about that she's just human and she's not always in the mood. I'm like, oof, just took me back to ⁓ I I feel like there were some things in vertical that ⁓ it was just more real. Right? It it's not campy, it's not rom com. Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: So there's things that were written that I think can hit viewers ⁓ or ⁓ make them relate more. So there things this scene I really related to. That was that was a little like it wasn't like horrible, but I was just like, damn, I I feel I feel what she's saying, you know what I mean? Aleta: Mm. Noor confesses that it's hard to love, that it's scary even when they love you back. Lucy: That line hit me yeah that was a good line. Who ⁓ Rachel Rose, I don't if that was you writing that, but that line hit me. It's very true. Aleta: It's always a leap of faith. Lucy: ⁓ my goodness. We could do a whole podcast on that. We could do like ten on falling in love and the dangers. Aleta: Mm-hmm. Ha ha ha. Later that night, Celine hears Noor moaning. She's got DTs from alcohol withdrawal. Lucy: I did not pick that up. Aleta: Seriously? Lucy: I I was so confused. I thought was just sick. Aleta: No, it's from the alcohol withdrawal. Lucy: Well and for some reason I think later I thought maybe she did drugs or something and she was withdrawing like having withdrawals from drugs. I don't know why I did not think about the alcohol, because I've experienced tons of alcoholism in like my personal life with family and I must what's the word? compartmentalize that or something because I've I've been around somebody who went through alcohol withdrawal and I do not know why I didn't pick that up. That is crazy. So that that definitely shifts my view of those scenes. That's really cool. I'm so glad you did the notes because mine ⁓ would not been this good. Aleta: Mm. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Ha ha. Nacho comes in and thinks that she's listening to their neighbors having sex. She tells him that she's not in the mood, and he heads off to the kitchen where he meets Darby and they do some illicit snacking. The next morning, ⁓ both Noor and Celine are feeling sick. Noor offers Celine the tea that Margot had given her. And actually at this point I don't have it in there, but Celine the signs of alcohol withdrawal in Noor because she said ⁓ the the narrator says that she had family experience of that too. Noor is starting to feel something stirring inside. She's not happy with herself. That night Noor is suffering again, and Darby leaves the room. She's very impatient about it. She runs into Nacho outside and this was really silly. She does the bend and snap from Legally Blonde. Lucy: Yeah. I didn't catch Aleta: Did you catch that? ⁓ Hahaha ⁓ little Lucy: legally thing even though I should have, but Nacho's response I was just like ⁓ straight response. ⁓ Aleta: Yeah. She and Nacho are back in the kitchen sneaking chocolate when Celine comes down. they hide, and Nacho lets slip to Darby that Selene is eating for two. In actual fact, Celine is making some medicinal tea to bring to Nor and says that it's so that she can go to sleep. Like here, have this I need to get to sleep. Lucy: Mm-hmm. Aleta: Selene is also having feelings, obviously, but she snoops in Noor's wallet and gets caught. She asks about the girl whose photo Noor carries. Lucy: And the only thing I think that was missing is when she leaves the kitchen, doesn't she just kind of like burst into Nora's room? And I can't remember how she Yeah, Aleta: Well, she just walks straight in, yeah. Lucy: and she just walks straight in and ⁓ I can't remember their exchange. But yeah, and then ⁓ she was snooping through her wallet. ⁓ Aleta: She says well, she says she's like brings her something and Noor says something about her, you know, doing this for her, bringing her the tea, ⁓ and she's like, I'm doing it so that I can get to sleep. So Lucy: Yes. Cool. Aleta: I don't care about you. It's just so I can get to sleep. Lucy: I and it's funny that she says that because I think at this point we don't believe that. Like we can tell she feels Aleta: No. Lucy: ⁓ especially some ⁓ obviously she's has some attraction to her and she won't admit that, but it's more I think she feels very emotional since she knows what she's going through. Aleta: Mm. Also pregnancy hormones, which Celine doesn't know about, but that would make her extra nurturing. Lucy: Yes. Agreed. Yep. Soon as that happens. Woo. Yep. Aleta: The next morning they all go for couples massage, massaging each other. And Selene is not impressed with Nacho's wandering hands. Darby and Nora squabble, and Nora is distracted by badly Nacho is massaging Selene. Haha. ⁓ Lucy: ⁓ It was awful. I was like Aleta: She offers to show him some tricks. So they trade places and Nacho goes to massage Darby. Nacho is much more into massaging Darby than he was his wife. Lucy: But I liked seeing Nor massage Celine because suddenly I'm like, Yes, that's how you should be massaging ⁓ So I felt happier for Celine at least. Aleta: Ha ha ha. And I don't know if you caught that, but Margot slips them all in aphrodisiac too, scene. ⁓ Shows the bottle. Lucy: I didn't get that. I guess it was part of the couple's retreat, probably. ⁓ yeah, and okay, so she obviously it's a marriage retreat, so she wanted them to get to some boom boom. Cool. ⁓ I haven't said boom boom in a while. I've said so ⁓ I know, I've Aleta: Boom boom. Lucy: said so many other things that I've repeated. Like, so I need to stop that. I can cut the ums out. ⁓ But I have not said boom boom in a while, so we're just gonna go with that one. Aleta: Okay, got it out of your sister now. Lucy: I know. We're good. We're good. Aleta: Nora heads out to the woods to take some nature shots and to get out of further sessions. She's surprised by Selene who is out on a hike in heels again. Celine twists her ankle ⁓ and here is a classic vertical They fall and Nora lands on top. Lucy: I think this might be the only vertical trope in the entire vertical. Aleta: Yeah, well you know, at first when Noor and Darby were put had to share a room, I was like, Ooh, forced you know, forced proximity, but ⁓ no. ⁓ Lucy: No, yep, not not that one. Aleta: Meanwhile back in the kitchen, Nacho and Darby are flirting again. As Noor is helping Celine back to the house, Celine says, You do ask a lot of questions. ⁓ Lucy: Technically, I am a journalist. Aleta: Or you don't want to let anybody else get a question in. Lucy: I hear you and I reject your accusation. Aleta: Selene asks her why she became a war photographer. Nora says she doesn't know. Do you know why you do every little thing you do? When Selene says yes, Nora asks why she sued the girl who said that she'd kissed her. Celine says that she doesn't know. And it starts to rain. ⁓ you know, I mean it's ⁓ The rain is not surprising. Lucy: Does it rain a lot in BC? It's gotta be what? Lots of rain in Washington, Oregon, and BC. ⁓ Aleta: Mm-hmm. Darby Nacho are having a deep conversation in the kitchen. ⁓ Nacho that Celine is actually pregnant. As starts to storm, Darby heads out to find Noor, only to her coming back with Celine. As as they are alone, Darby threatens Noor, if you don't get some pictures tomorrow, Celine's not going to be the only one in pain. Nacho and Celine are late for the next session with Marg. It's a sound bath. Lots of moaning. Ha ha. ⁓ Lucy: Ha ha ha ha. Aleta: Nora sneaks out later that night and catches Nacho and a woman having sex in the hot tub. She thinks that it's Celine and snaps some pictures. She's about to leave them for Darby but has a change of heart and hides the SD card. Darby and Nacho are still trading confidences. She says, one orgasm method of your choosing, that was your price. Now talk. He admits that Celine doesn't know she's pregnant. Darby is disgusted, and Nacho says ⁓ Lucy: Don't be like that. You're a lesbian cheating on her wife with a dude. Aleta: Darby says, Bro, I fucked you, I got off. I'm not a lesbian. Lucy: What are you then? Aleta: One degree less morally bankrupt than you. Noor lies and says that she hasn't got any photos. Darby tells her to go find her birds. Instead, she finds Celine who is reading a book and Noor brings her some tea. Noor asks why she's still with Nacho, and Celine avoids the question. Noor asks her again why she sued her friend. Selene says that she didn't go through with it. She tells Nora that it was fifteen years ago, that the girl kissed her and she didn't want to hurt her feelings, so she kissed her back. That's a little weak, frankly. But anyway. Years later, when she got famous, the girl made a big fuss online. She says, We already got our instant karma. I don't know why she needs us to pay twice. And she tells Nora that two older boys caught them and made them kiss the boys to prove that they were not gay, and that they let the boys touch them so that they wouldn't tell. Lucy: That confession was hard for me to hear because that part is so true for so many It was triggering. ⁓ I understand though that that's likely what they going for is to showcase reality for for women who love women. It's not as simple as it is for straight people, especially when you're young. You know, when you're not even sure what you're doing. You're not even sure what you're feeling. You just know society is telling you, boy girl, and that's how you're supposed to feel. Aleta: Mm. Lucy: But there are so many people who do get taken advantage of. So yeah, I mean to hear they were taken advantage of that sucks. Aleta: Noor tells her, Celine, you know that's not karma. That's sexual assault. Nothing that you did made them do that. That wasn't your fault. It doesn't matter how old they were. And Celine just walks away. Margot has them roaming around silently to hear their inner voice. Nora puts the chip back in the camera and goes out to take photos. Celine catches her about to snap a photo and leads her to the hot tub. She insists that Nora gets in, telling her you sneak around taking pictures of people, forcing them to bear their souls. You ask so much of others. ⁓ As Noora undresses, she tells her to show herself. Nur has scars on her torso. Celine takes some photos of Nora. And she does ask her about the ⁓ the scars and she says she that she put the shot ahead of her personal danger or something like that. There's a lovely moment in the hot tub where Celine tells Nora she still underestimates danger. And Nora says, You're so not I expected. You're so real and down to earth and tough. So you thought I was vapid, vain, and in constant need of validation? Side note that's not Joe she's describing. ⁓ Lucy: Right. Aleta: Selene gives her permission to take some photos. And admits that the reason she knew how to make the potion to help with the delirium tremens is alcoholism runs in her family. Selene looks through the photos in the camera and sees the photo of Nacho and asks who it is. Nora says, You mean it's not you? Selene is naturally furious when Nora admits that she was paid to be there and take pictures of her. As they are arguing, Nacho appears. Celine says, Come in the hot tub. Nora is going to take a picture of us. And of course he agrees. They kiss, and Nora has to take the photos and looks just devastated. Back in the room, Celine won't touch Nacho, but doesn't confront him. The next day it's time to take the drugs. Some kind of hallucinogenic? Nacho gives Celine a cup without the drugs. Nora says that she's going to pass, which, given that she's just got clean, makes sense. And Celine says, You're going to pass on this one thing that's going to show your true nature. Show how ugly you are. And she drinks it. Margot tells them to go find a quiet corner and wait for the drugs to kick in. Nacho finds Selene and she tells him to go away, to let her have this moment for herself. The narrator says a placebo is a very powerful thing. Instead of confronting Nacho, Celine goes to Nora's room. you just come and barge in, blowing up my life. You never answer any questions, like who the fuck are you? As Celine is berating her, Noor has a flashback to the woman from the photo and her sister. Celine comforts her, and later Noor asks who is screaming earlier. She says she doesn't want to tell Celine about it, but she will. She explains about the woman from the photo at the fundraiser and how she is the one that got Celine into this whole mess by taking the pictures of her fighting with Nacho. The woman in the photo was her fiance, and she feels that she killed her. The photo was not supposed to go out until she could get her fiance to safety, but it got published. And they found her and killed her. There wasn't even a body to identify, and they told me by fucking email I can't even open up a web browser without getting a panic attack. Hence the flip phone. Lucy: ⁓ Aleta: No smartphones for Norm. Lucy: that is such a good detail. ⁓ can't believe you picked that up. That's amazing. ⁓ was that confession was definitely a surprise and a really sad part of Nora's story and life. Aleta: Selene confesses that she lied too. She kissed the girl from her high school first. And they kiss ⁓ and it to black. Which I know that you're not thrilled Lucy. Lucy: I was hoping for more I haven't found a girl love yet that's been brave enough to not be fade to black Maybe someday Aleta: To get spicy like the boy loves to. Lucy: I ⁓ very much want spicy girl love but I guess this just wasn't the story they telling and that's okay. Aleta: When they wake up the next morning, Celine runs off to think about everything that's happened. Then we see a gloved hand sending the photos of Darby and Nacho. When they all get their phones back, there are a million notifications for everyone except Nor who has the flip phone. Lucy: Ha ha ha. Aleta: The pictures of Darby and Nacho have been published and they're all over the media. Margot asks to speak to Celine and gives her a new test to take. After the retreat, Noor is home in her trailer, watching video of Celine on repeat. Celine thinks that the retreat didn't really give her any insight. But then we see her taking an Are You Secretly a Lesbian quiz? Three months later, Nora is about to head back to a war zone when she sees Celine and Nacho on a talk show announcing the pregnancy. Surprise guest on the show is Darby. She tells them that she overheard Nacho confessing to his lover that he hid Celine's positive pregnancy test. Celine remembers Nacho stopping her from drinking. Then she confesses that she also cheated. She says that the timeline doesn't match, and Nora is the father of her baby. Lucy: Hmm. Aleta: ⁓ Lucy: ⁓ Aleta: Darby has been recording and sends it to Nora. Outside the studio, Celine sees on the news that Noor is headed back to a war zone, and Nacho confronts her about cheating. Noor appears and tells Celine that she doesn't know how the photos of Nacho got out, and Celine admits that she is the one who sent them to the press. One instant click, and I was free from my big fat fake life. Celine says her career is over, but Noor shows her on her phone that the public is with her. They kiss, Celine says, Promise me you're staying. Noor says there's just something she has to go and get, which is her deceased fiance's sister. Celine asks to take it slow, and Noor says, Should I cancel the U Haul? ⁓ And the vertical ends on a kiss, ⁓ as it should. Lucy: Y you know it's truly written by a lesbian because they threw they threw the U Haul in there and I'm like that is such a joke in the community and it's it's frickin' true. That's why it's a joke, but it's true. Aleta: Ha ha Lucy, I know you have some thoughts about this one. Lucy: I do. I mean, ultimately this was beautifully done. You almost forget it's a vertical, right? Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: we are to watching ⁓ is honestly so poorly slapped together half the time. ⁓ And the acting in traditional verticals is quick over the top. So Cher TV clearly wants to do things different and give us proper cinema and a wonderful viewing experience. I do truly think that this is what they are working towards achieving, and you can see it all over A Shot at Love. The cinematography, the care for how the shots were taken, the casting for these specific actors. All of the actors made their characters so believable. I was really engaged to who each character was. I loved the care they took for the costumes, and the story was heavy and light at the same time, which I think is a nice little feat. I think I was really proud to see that they accomplished. I think there were parts I really did hope for more. I was surprised we had more straight sex scenes and the one intimate queer scene was fade to black, but honestly, like I said earlier, I I think that was an artistic choice. Clearly all the verticals I've been watching have skewed my expectations. ⁓ I think this is one you definitely need to appreciate as more than the traditional verticals we are all used to. Which are usually derived from a different culture or Wattpad type stories, which have their place, and I personally love so many parts of those, of course. Yeah. But Cheritv is clearly working towards creating an app and experience for the Western audience, which is what so many of us want. We are tired of women being slapped and beaten and tortured. We're tired of seeing kids tortured for entertainment. Looking at you, good short. This was a true and honest story with a beautiful love that got to start unfolding before our eyes. I loved that it portrayed strong women, which I feel is missing from the vertical space. I really like how CherTV is conducting their releases. They are kind of working more like an app store. So you buy the movie and it's yours forever. I I I like that. I wish I could buy a lot of the other queer stories I really love. Aleta: I really enjoyed this. I would just like to say that the tone, which I felt was at ⁓ and the music, ⁓ they both seem ⁓ very appropriate to the vertical rom com type drama. Whereas look of this feels more like a or an HBO It looks like a T V show, like an good quality TV show rather than a vertical. In terms of the lighting, the color, the sets, everything is a bit more refined than the average vertical, as you said. It didn't have the typical vertical hooks every few episodes, or rely on many of the obvious tropes, and I really appreciated that. I personally thought that the storyline was good and the characters evolved throughout throughout the vertical. Well, aside from Nacho. Lucy: Ha ha ha. Aleta: Even Darby redeems herself at the end. Perhaps not what you were expecting from a girl love vertical in some ways. I know you were looking for more spice. ⁓ But yeah, I thought the actors great, really believable in their roles, and perfectly cast. The location was great, of course, dear to my heart. ⁓ All the verticals should come and film up here in BC. ⁓ Lucy: Mm-hmm. Aleta: We have so many locations and some film studios with an amazing variety of sets to work with. ⁓ Lucy: Yeah, who do you want to go up there, Alita? Aleta: Everybody everybody Girl, I'm gonna kill you. You said no you said no grind teasing. Lucy: Sure, sure, okay. I said no names. I s I said no names. I have I didn't say that. I said I wasn't gonna mention Evan I said I would go a whole episode not mentioning Evan That's all I said. Aleta: Uh-huh. Go a whole episode without teasing Alita. Okay. Lucy: Ha ha ha ha. Aleta: That wraps up this recap of A Shot at Love on Chara TV. Thanks for listening. We hope you'll come back for our next episode. Bye besties. Lucy: Bye Festies cried.