Writer-director Brandon C. Lay is going to take you somewhere extraordinary that you didn’t even know you wanted to go in his drama Finger Laced Crown. Lemon Drop (Torez Mosley) is an urban artist who is getting noticed and advancing into the world of fine art. While learning to navigate art dealers, NFTs, and buyers who only see dollar value, she’s also fighting an emotional war on two fronts. She’s obsessively reliving trauma from a relationship that ended badly. There was a deep connection with her former lover, Nadine (Syd Stauffer), and perhaps the first time for true love for Lemon Drop, but everything went tragically pear-shaped. She is also trying to look after her curmudgeonly alcoholic mother, who hates that she needs help and has never accepted that Lemon Drop is gay.
Into the middle of this career/emotional crisis war zone wanders another artist named Sami (Sarah Cugini). Sami loves coffee and moves like a human tornado. She talks in cheerfully manic monologues, and when she asks Lemon Drop out, she’s irresistible. Will Lemon Drop be able to successfully balance all these forces in her life and find peace, equilibrium, and even happiness through the chaos?
“… an artist moving in the world of fine art while fighting an emotional war on two fronts …”
Film Threat has always focused on independent film, which means we watch a great many low to no-budget movies. After enough of those, one learns to temper one’s expectations. Generally, these are early films as the filmmaker is learning the craft. In our critique, we correct for the resources and the experience level of the writers, directors, production crew, and actors, and look for their potential. We point out the good, gloss over the rough spots, and try to exalt them into the Indie space to give them a chance to find their audience. None of that is necessary for Finger Laced Crown. This is a fully realized, beautifully executed film, made without a budget, and as good as any better-funded one. Lay called this out in his submission notes: “This film wasn’t just low budget– it literally had no budget. The entire cast & crew were made up of volunteers. After the film was complete, the team raised $6500 from friends and family to pay for a Distribution Consultant.”
From where I’m sitting, this is remarkable. Lay made the feature with professionalism, masterful technical skill, and informed artistry. From lighting to soundtrack, cinematography, pace, editing, and script, Finger Laced Crown serves every element as if the budget were in the millions. This is unheard of in a no-budget movie. As if that wasn’t enough, that framework of excellence sets the stage for authentic, confident performances from Mosley, Stauffer, Cugini, and the rest of the cast. The viewer caring about the film comes down to those performances, and this cast delivers emotionally intelligent, engaging characters.
This film is a masterclass on what a no-budget movie can be. Lay is saying here, “Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair.” This is bad news for most filmmakers who have made the attempt, as their lack of resources and experience tends to result in uneven, amateur-looking productions. Then there are the cynical neo-Grindhouse films. These are intentionally minimally budgeted and poorly made, with just enough sex and violence that a viewer will rent them for $2 streaming and grudgingly consume the empty cinematic calories. Unlike the celluloid Grindhouse films of yore, these movies will never be rediscovered as hidden gems. They are made to be filler.
Finger Laced Crown vividly paints the beauty and the sorrow of an artist’s journey to a better life.
Learn more at the official Finger Laced Crown website.
"…the beauty and the sorrow of an artist's journey to a better life"
