‘Empire Waist,’ Film Tackling Body Image Issues, Launches Confidence Curriculum Resource for Young People – Film News in Brief

variety.com:

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Writer-director Claire Ayoub will launch the “Empire Waist” Confidence Curriculum in tandem with the premiere of her coming-of-age dramedy “Empire Waist.” The free online program is a resource on body image and self-confidence for adolescents and adults to process questions and feelings raised by the film. “’Empire Waist’ already makes so many people feel seen and less alone, and the ‘Empire Waist’ Confidence Curriculum is the vetted next step to keep those conversations going,” Ayoub said. “It’s truly the legacy of the film, designed to support audiences in their own journeys of self-acceptance for years to come.” Per the official logline, “Empire Waist” follows “Lenore Miller (Mia Kaplan), an overweight, insecure teen whose talent for fashion is discovered by her confident, plus-sized classmate (Jemima Yevu), forcing her into the spotlight — and into the path of both bullies and new friends.

Lenore’s father Mark (Rainn Wilson) is her biggest cheerleader, but the fears of her image-conscious mother (Missi Pyle) and Lenore’s own insecurities prevent her from wearing her own designs.” The Confidence Curriculum will be available on the “Empire Waist” website Sept.

27, the same day “Empire Waist” premieres nationwide in the U.S. and Canada “Good Trouble” alum Emmett Preciado will star in the short film “Affirmation.” The film is still in pre-production.

It is set to be written and directed by Christopher Vallario and produced by Tony Zosherafatain who worked on “Trans in Trumpland.” The short centers on an intimate first date between a trans man named Xavier (Preciado) and his cisgender love interest, Sebastien.