New York is home to an abundance of A-listers and socialites, the Met Gala, a rich sports history, and a strong hand in the music industry. In terms of music hotspots, the Big Apple reigns as the East Coast capital for major record labels, festivals, and stunning venues.
The summer brings live performances to an already thriving music scene…my personal favorite is The Governor’s Ball. Also known as Gov Ball, it takes place in Corona Park in Flushing, Queens and is a must-attend for music lovers everywhere.
From Sea.Hear.Now to Coachella, I love a good festival. I constantly rave about the benefits of spending your money on a festival over a concert. In Girl Math terms, it’s the most fiscally responsible choice: you get to see 100 concerts for the price of one.
Each year at Gov Ball, the biggest artists in the world spanning multiple genres gather for memorable performances. From June 7-9, 2024, tens of thousands of fans will flock to Corona Park to hear the likes of Post Malone, SZA, Sabrina Carpenter, Peso Pluma, and more.
What makes Gov Ball unique is their commitment to the fan experience. It’s not just a haphazardly thrown festival with lackluster stage production, lack of water and bathrooms, and barely edible food. No, Gov Ball has been a renowned local gem for over a decade.
For years, my friends have told tall tales of their past lives at Gov Ball…it’s something everyone who’s anyone in the Tri-State Area has attended at least once in their lives. It’s our East Coast Coachella.
This year, I’m super excited to be attending Gov Ball and giving you all the inside information you need. It’s one of the hottest festivals this summer, you won’t want to miss out.
We’re officially one month away, so here’s what you need to know so far.
Gov Ball 2024 Lineup
Gov Ball lineup Gov Ball 2024
Ultimately, what gets everyone excited about a festival is the lineup. GovBall rarely misses with their performers, and this year has a great mix of different genres and names in the industry.
GovBall 2024’s headliners feature: Post Malone and Rauw Alexander, The Killers and 21 Savage, and SZA and Peso Pluma. Other performances include Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Renee Rapp, Dominic Fike, Labrinth, Sexxy Redd, and more.
With such a diverse lineup, there’s a chance to see artists you know and love…and perhaps be introduced to your next favorite singer. Live performances show you an artist’s true colors - especially in a lineup like GovBall.
Gov Ball Food and Drinks
Gov Ball food and bev list 2024 Gov Ball
What may be equally as important as the music is the food. I’ve been to countless festivals where I’d almost rather starve than eat their cuisine. Yes, the $18 pulled pork sandwich may look good on the outside, but on the inside it’s somehow flavorless.
Luckily, GovBall highlights local favorites and a variety of cuisines that people actually rave about. Their food vendors include top-rated NYC essential establishments such as Magnolia Bakery, Van Leeuwan, Mao’s Bao, and Gotham Burger.
This is the one time in my life I’m looking forward to trying the food at a festival…and that’s because GovBall takes the time to highlight New York City’s diverse culture. They’re well aware that not everyone gets a chance to see the city that never sleeps…so they bring it to you.
Plus, with featured beverages like Aperol Spritz, Dunkin Donuts, Espolon Tequila, Jack Daniel’s, and more, you’re guaranteed a good time.
Getting Tickets To Gov Ball
Here’s where Gov Ball impresses me the most: the options for attending the festival are endless. Sure, there’s your classic 3-day pass or you can choose to attend an individual day if there’s a specific artist you want to see. But what stands out are the other opportunities to upgrade your experience.
The GA+ option allows access to private, air-conditioned bathrooms in the GA+ Lounge. You’ll also have a private bar, which genuinely saves a ton of time. There’s nothing worse than waiting in a line when your favorite artist is about to perform.
If you want an elite experience, the VIP pass is for you. With luxury lounges throughout the festival, a sectioned area for a more private concert experience at the front of the stage, access to the express lane at merch stands, and all the amenities of GA+.
Although pricey, VIP tickets eliminate all the festival hiccups attendees can face. Bathroom and merch lines can be taxing everywhere, and in the summer heat you don’t want to spend a lot of time waiting around.
But that’s not all! If you’re dying to see an artist and want the insider experience…there’s a one-day Ultimate pass, which offers up backstage access to Artist Village, $100 credit to use towards merch, golf cart transportation between stages, and access to a shared all-inclusive Guest Cabana.
Popdust’s Gov Ball Must-Sees
Let’s be frank, we’re all at the festival for one thing and that’s the music. I’m super excited to catch a few of my tried and true artists like The Killers, Post Malone, and Renee Rapp…however, this will be my first time seeing a bunch of my favorite artists live.
Here’s who you absolutely need to see when you go to GovBall 2024:
Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter has not stopped performing. From her own emails i can’t send tour to opening for Taylor Swift on The Era’s Tour to Coachella to GovBall. It won’t be long before she’s on the main stage for these festivals, so catch her while you can.
Chappell Roan
Chappell RoanRyan Clemens
Another force in the music industry is bubblegum pop princess, Chappell Roan. Roan went viral for her iconic Coachella performance - you won’t want to miss her fervent fanbase and electric live shows.
Goth Babe
Goth BabeInsomniac
Goth Babe’s music is made for the summer. If you want a relaxing, transcendental experience then see Goth Babe.
Post Malone
Post MaloneMeg Young
A superstar artists in the industry (and he’s making a run at the country scene), Post Malone is a mega-talented performer. I caught him a few years back at Firefly Music Festival and can’t wait to see him again.
Renee Rapp
Renee Rapp
Renee Rapp seamlessly floats between actor and singer without missing a beat. After seeing her live a few months ago, I instantly became a fan of her music. She’s an enigma who keeps growing.
For sports fans, there's the Super Bowl. For fashion fans, there's the Met Gala.
Every year on the first Monday in May, Anna Wintour, reigning editor-in-chief and pinnacle of fashion at
Vogue, hosts the Met Gala. It's technically a charity event to raise an egregious amount of money for The Costume Institute...but in reality, it's an excuse for the biggest celebrities in the world to flaunt looks from the biggest fashion houses in the world.
All we ever get to see from the elusive Gala is the red carpet, but for about three hours the world circulates photos of outfits...judging like they have degrees in fashion and are the next Joan Rivers. But this year's theme was especially exciting for me.
What was the 2024 Met Gala Theme?
This year's theme was
Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, with the focus being "Garden in Time." A "sleeping beauty" in fashion refers to a piece that is only worn once before being stored away forever. These pieces are often tarnished after they're worn once.
But as always, there's a theme within the theme. "Garden in Time" implied nods to nature, which would explain the floral prints and natural elements like mother of pearl and wood. These themes also opened the door for sustainability: reworking and re-wearing pieces that have already existed. Not creating an entirely new costume from scratch.
Once these pieces go on display, they can't be touched again or they're considered ruined. While many celebrities weren't wearing original "Sleeping Beauty" pieces, there were references to vintage collections from classic designers like Versace, Alexander McQueen, and, of course, Loewe.
Loewe happened to be the belle of the ball this year. The hottest brand of 2024 (by far) secured high-profile celebrities like Taylor Russell, Ariana Grande, Dan Levy, Omar Apollo, and more. And not only was
everyone wearing Loewe, the craftsmanship and detail was breathtaking in every way.
As I continued to watch notable figure after notable figure grace the famous Met staircase, I continued to wonder where every Met Gala icon was? Where was Rihanna and A$AP Rocky? Blake Lively? Hailey and Justin Bieber? Selena Gomez, perhaps?
THE Bella Hadid? Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce? Harry Styles? Billie Eilish and FINNEAS?
Perhaps a few literally slept through the Met Gala this year...but nonetheless, the celebs showed up. And I'm here to critique them.
Best Dressed
Lana Del Rey
Her first Met in six years and Lana Del Rey shines in custom-made Alexander McQueen. She's on-theme, the embodiment of Mother Nature.
Mona Patel
Of course, this was a Law Roach style. But Mona Patel had, by far, the best dress of the night. The animated butterflies on her arms were magical.
Tyla
Nothing says "Sleeping Beauty" more than a gown made of sand specifically molded to Tyla's body. She even had to get carried up the stairs in her custom Balmain.
Zendaya
Law Roach, the stylist you are. Zendaya treated the Met stairs as her runway with multiple show-stopping looks.
Kendall Jenner
I mean, the dress literally was only ever worn on a mannequin and fit Kendall Jenner - with no tailoring. That's fate.
Mindy Kaling
The dress, titled "Melting Flower of Time", was designed by Gaurav Gupta. It was walking art, stunned.
Harris Reed
Harris Reed is responsible for some of Harry Styles' most iconic looks...but tonight, they were the moment.
Taylor Russell
Speaking of Harry Styles...Taylor Russell had one of my favorite Loewe pieces. The wood bodice corset contrasted with the gown.
Worst Dressed
Kylie Jenner
I just think she could've done more than a vintage bridal look...
If there’s one thing the internet loves, it’s a film with a love triangle. We’ve tirelessly argued over Team Edward versus Team Jacob, Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah, Team Stefan or Team Damon, Team (insert attractive young male star) or Team (insert second attractive young male star).
So, when Luca Guadagnino’s latest homoerotic cinematic masterpiece —
Challengers — debuted, you knew the world would be hooked. Not only does Challengers offer up steamy scenes, but it includes a recipe for instant success: Zendaya as the female lead, and two rapidly rising young leading men — Josh O’Connor (Patrick Zweig) and Mike Faist (Art Donaldson) — for the world to fawn over.
Yes, it’s Zendaya’s time to be the
villain as Tashi Duncan — although the internet’s still debating whether she’s a feminist icon or just plain evil. Already receiving high praise as one of the best movies of 2024 so far — our review was pretty glowing, too.
But I couldn’t help but notice that
Challengers solidifies a major shift in the fashion trendscape. Zendaya and her stylist — Law Roach — are known for their emblematic looks that set trends for the following year — and years to come. The verdict is in…luxury athleisure has never been more popular.
Similar to
Quiet Luxury made popular by shows like SuccessionSuccessionand It-Girls like Sofia Richie, luxury athleisure gives a money vibe…without the display of labels. Challengers is all about looking like an old-money tennis pro.
Zendaya’s been delivering some killer serves (get it?) in the name of
Challengers and Tashi Duncan lately…so she’s our resident style icon for building your luxury athleisure closet.
What Is Luxury Athleisure?
The ultimate goal in fashion of late is to look effortlessly sophisticated and filthy rich, without screaming that you’re trying too hard. That means an emphasis on quality and durability as well as an absence of logo and branding. Black and white color blocking is back in a big way, as are neutrals.
You must don luxury athleisure as if you’re an off-duty professional athlete. But only an athlete in an elite sport like tennis, horseback riding, or something posh like croquet.
It’s about that sweater tied over your shoulders and the wide headband pushing back your blowout. The polo shirt and the pleated skort. Tube socks and crisp whites. Getting the picture?
You see luxury athleisure outfits throughout Zendaya’s
Challengers press tour, with clean girl tennis skirt sets and bouncy ponytails. You can perfectly picture her as Tashi Duncan but also catch a glimpse of how to achieve the luxury athleisure trend yourself.
Zendaya’s Challengers Style
The
Barbie movie emphasized how fun it can be — and good for ratings — when the lead actress cosplays her character — Tashi Duncan — for press shoots. Margot Robbie constantly churned out Barbie look after Barbie look for every premiere, press opportunity, and awards show.
So when Zendaya followed suit and debuted Tashi Duncan-esque fits…we
knew we had a hit on our hands. Some of the style is a literal homage to the sport — tennis ball Loewe heels paired with a custom Loewe V-neck bedazzled dress…or a Thom Browne gown with racquet appliques.
But her other appearances alongside Tom Holland at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells or the Monte Carlo Masters give us insight on the ultimate Tennis-Core closet.
Many of her looks are reminiscent of the 50s and 60s fashion that’s growing ever-popular this
spring. Hoop skirts and Jackie O inspired skirt suits have been stellar on the press tour. And then there’s the power jumpsuits that are the epitome of office chic.
And it’s not just Zendaya who has leaned into Tennis Core…it’s one of
Taylor Swift’s go-to style moments. TheTortured Poets Department singer loves a good pleated skort…and she’s well known for her cardigans.
In short, Tennis-Core is a mix of Taylor Swift, Zendaya — esp. in
Challengers — and Sofia Richie’s style all-in-one. It’s about looking luxurious while being comfy. It’s to convey a highly active lifestyle that pays well. It’s to convey an air of money.
What You Need To Dress Like Tashi Duncan
So now that we want to dress — and live? — like Tashi Duncan, it’s important to emphasize elevated basics that will last you a few years. Luxury athleisure isn’t about fast fashion, it’s about high-quality, luxe materials.
If you want to embody the baller that is Tashi, here are the items you simply
must have in your closet.
Cable Knit Sweaters
Zendaya BACKGRID
If there’s one staple item you need to complete the #TennisCore trend, it’s an oversized cable knit sweater. Nothing says old money quite like a collared cable knit. It’s giving “I know how to sail my father’s yacht…and I weekend in the Hamptons.”
Zendaya pairs the cable knit with a white maxi skirt…but these seriously go with anything. I like to combine the classic chunky sweater with a pair of wide-leg linen trousers.
While you don’t necessarily need a notch neck collar in your cable knit sweater…it’s essential for a luxe athleisure look. And luckily, a lot of athleisure brands are throwing collars on dresses, crop tops, and more.
I’m a fan of the oversized collared shirts that you can pull on at any moment.
If you’re a Swiftie, you know that a pleated skort is Taylor’s go-to. For someone with long legs, nothing shows them off better than a skort with some detailing.
Everyone is on the pleated skort trend lately, so you better not miss out.
Skorts also solve the problem of accidental indecent exposure that skirts pose. With comfy shorts — and often a handy pocket — underneath, you’ll never wear a real skirt again.
This is all about accessorizing. Thick, sporty headbands are in — hello
Gossip Girl’s Blair Waldorf. And, yes, I think the headband is a marvelous alternative to pulling your hair back with damaging elastics or claw clips.
But the headband isn’t the be-all and end-all. Mules and Mary Jane flats have come back to add a preppy flare…what’s next? Sperry’s?
If you want a few preppy accessories, here are my picks:
Let’s be honest. These two brands dominated the court in
Challengers. If it wasn’t a Loewe look, the actors were sporting Uniqlo. And the good news is that Uniqlo is super affordable.
If you need some UNIQLO moments, here are the best luxury athleisure pieces:
It’s been a fun and flirty few weeks for film releases. Last year’s surprise summer romance Anything But You finally came to streaming and is sitting pretty on Netflix’s Top 10. Zendaya and Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers is all sweat, sex, scorn, and some truly fine tennis — no wonder it’s the number-one movie at the box office.
And now, the long-awaited Amazon Prime Video drama
The Idea of You is finally-finally out...and the internet can't get enough.
After months of promo — and
a viral trailer that garnered over 125 million global views across all social media platforms, breaking the record for the most watched trailer for any original streaming movie — Anne Hathaway’s turn as a single mother who falls in love with the most famous popstar on the planet is. Finally. Here.
Any clip of the film reveal what’s at its core: sizzling chemistry, Hathaway’s unfailing charm, and a sudden tenderness that reveals that The Idea of You is not just one more spicy mommy movie (sorry, Fifty Shades of Grey). It’s a character study of Solène, Hathaway’s character, who turns 40 and is a woman in search of herself. Where does she find herself? In the arms of a 20-something-year-old rockstar based loosely on Harry Styles.
Is The Idea of You based on a true story?
Directed by Michael Showalter,
The Idea of You is based on Robinne Lee’s best-selling novel of the same name. The book’s now cult-like devotees slowly but surely gained momentum. The novel found a feral fanbase during those cold and lonely months of the early pandemic when everyone had the “Watermelon Sugar” music video on repeat simply to recall what outside air and human touch felt like.
But the book initially published way back in 2017 — doesn’t that feel like the Paleolithic Era? — just about a month to the
day after Harry Styles released his debut album. This is significant because, in the years that followed, the book seems to predict certain events and themes in the popstar’s relationships — specifically his headline-grabbing love affair with Olivia Wilde.
The pretty much predictive elements of the book are proof of why Lee’s novel is so compelling. It’s not just about the fantasy. And it’s not, she insists, a fan-fiction — though she has admitted it’s based on Harry Styles as well as Prince Harry and Eddie Redmayne … interesting mix. It’s about love. It’s about women. And it’s about coming of age or coming into your sexuality, at a time when society has put you on the shelf.
Is The Idea of You good?
The
Idea of You is bringing back the rom-com. Watching the film, I couldn’t help but say aloud: “we’re so back.” From a classic awkward-but-charming meet-cute to the sexy montages of relationship bliss set to upbeat music, The Idea of You does everything you want a rom-com to do. And because it’s been so long since we’ve seen a high-budget romantic comedy of this caliber — with Anne Hathaway no less! — it doesn’t feel trite, it feels refreshing. Invigorating. Addictive.
This is due in no small part to the stunningly sensual performances by Hathaway and her leading man, Nicholas Galitzine (
Bottoms and Red, White, and Royal Blue), who plays Hayes Campbell. Hathaway raves about her co-star's ability to create chemistry with anyone. So, paired with an Oscar-winning actress, of course, the sparks were flying.
If you didn’t believe in the characters' chemistry, the film would fall apart. The tension between them must be strong enough to withstand a world tour, societal judgments, and Sol’s own self-doubts. And this pair delivers. As you watch, you’ll fall in love with Galitzine, too. In interviews, he’s got the same quintessential British charm of a young Hugh Grant. On-screen, he’s every bit the magnetic rockstar that easily packs a stadium full of girls hoping to catch his eye and his heart.
For her part, Hathaway plays the somewhat farfetched role with grounded authenticity. She’s not the typical someone who gets swept away by this young rockstar. She’s a complex character who allows herself to take a risk. To meet her complexity, Galitzine has to imbue his own character with far more than rock’n’roll, fake tattoos, and that one little earring. He crafts exactly the kind of dream boy you hope is underneath your fave heartthrobs. Sensitive and boyish, but full of depth, Galitzine’s Hayes Campbell plays perfectly against Hathaway’s Solene —
literally.
I get what Anything But You is trying to say — but did it get there?
For what it is, this film is spectacular. Give it a Teen Choice Award, a People’s Choice Award,
and a VMA for the promotional August Moon visuals. It’s certified Fresh with a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. For too long, the genre’s been handed paltry budgets for trite storylines and left in the dust. But after years of being underinvested in and undervalued by the gatekeepers of cinema, The Idea of You proves why we should bet on character-driven movies about women.
Though we still adore many of those heroines from the rom-com heyday — that includes Anne Hathaway as Andy in
The Devil Wears Prada or The Princess Diaries — there’s one notable difference between this story and the films of yore. Our protagonists’s age.
Despite Hathaway’s youthful appearance, Solène isn’t just some ingenue. She’s not a 20-year-old trying to make it in the big city. She’s not a naive Manic Pixie Dream Girl from a small town whose purpose is to introduce all the beauty in the world to a jaded man. And she’s certainly not a corporate Girlboss who just needs a man to show her there’s more to life. No, Solène’s a divorced mother and gallerist who is on her journey to self-discovery.
We meet her as she’s embarking on a camping trip in an attempt to find herself in nature. But when that camping trip morphs into a chaperoning expedition to Coachella, Solène is thrust into the giddy world of being a rockstar girlfriend for a man more than 15 years her junior.
Anne Hathaway says this age dynamic is part of why she wanted to take on this role. Some skeptics have asked why Hathaway is already being relegated to mom roles or why she took on a fluffy film, the hidden complexity is what drew her to it.
“For some reason, we talk about coming-of-age stories as being something that happens to you in the earliest part of your life, and I don’t know about you, but I feel like I keep blooming,” Hathaway said at the film’s
SXSW premiere.
Indeed, the film focuses on Sol’s age from many different angles. There are the establishing shots of Sol forced to make lackluster conversation with men her age at her birthday party. There’s her toxic dynamic with her ex-husband and the sense that she’s trying to emerge whole from the shell of a bad marriage. There’s of course, the contrast between her teenage daughter (Ella Rudin) insisting she’s too old for the group August Moon while Sol herself has a steamy affair with its lead singer. But most of the focus on her age is external.
The Idea of You tackles society’s expectations and constraints of middle-aged women. It parrots back outdated attitudes slamdunk debunks them — by showing you that Sol is still sexy, thank you very much.
While looking like Anne Hathaway and being attractive to a 24-year-old shouldn’t be the metrics for one’s worth, they don’t hurt. But in Sol’s case, we don’t see much of her personal development beyond this brief tryst. What we do see, is the people in her life grappling with the external pressures thrust upon them by hyperbolic headlines and social media abuse.
“It’s because you’re a woman,” Rudin’s character plainly states. Yet, the film doesn’t get more nuanced than that. But does it have to? After all, we’ve seen this familiar trope play out in real life. Namely, with Olivia Wilde during the
Don’t Worry Darling press tour firestorm. And I worry any further extrapolation would have resulted in a Barbie-type monologue.
At its core,
The Idea of You is a step above fan-fiction but it achieves what the best fan-fics do: validate your fantasies. It says, hey [your name], you, too, deserve love. Love in this case is the attention of a Coachella performer (Sabrina Carpenter, call me), but it’s also the belief that you’re worthy of that attention. And watching that sort of lavish affection bestowed on a woman over 25 on screen is refreshing and thrilling.
Even more, it’s proof that the female gaze is ruling cinema and it’s here to stay.
How to watch The Idea of You
The Idea of You is streaming on Amazon Prime Video starting May 2nd.
Like all rom-coms, this movie is just as good if you watch it alone in your room, giggling and kicking your feet as if you’re watching it sleepover-style with all your besties. It’s also screening at a select number of theaters. So, check your local showtimes for tickets, take your blankets to the cinema, and giggle and gasp along with the crowd as you all fall in love with Nicholas Galitzine together.
When you’re a New Yorker, you can’t help it — talking about “the energy” of the city. Derisive and jaded as New Yorkers are, we become fanatical (though not sentimental) when talking about our city. But no matter the specifics we dredge up, it always comes down to that intangible feeling of being in —and of — New York. That elusive “energy” that’s so hard to capture in speech and even harder to render on film or TV in a way that does justice to the city.
Think of the rare cinema that manages to make New York feel like New York. Imbued with that energy, that spirit, but also told each time from a refreshing perspective. It’s why Breakfast at Tiffany's and Taxi Driver can seem to be polar opposite films but both tell a true story about Manhattan. It’s why, watching Pet Shop Days, I was instantly transported to a city I know and love. Yet it felt so new in this violent, sex-fueled saga about coming of age and in love in the greatest city in the world.
“It’s a fantasy that talks about a lot of real, tangible things, but it's definitely a New York fantasy,” explained Director Olmo Schnabel about his thrilling, visionary debut.
But what is this fantasy of? The city? Love? Being young and reckless in New York? Although there’s something approaching romance in the film’s premise, it doesn’t paint a romantic picture of any of the themes it explores — family, queerness, youth. Instead, it takes you to the underbelly of the city, like Orpheus journeying to Hades, and dares you to glance back at your own coming of age and all its messy, regrettable, but unforgettably intense parts of your past.
Much like its main character Alejandro (Dario Yazbek Bernal) seduces Jack (Jack Irv), this is how Pet Shop Days seduces you: by inviting you to explore your darkest impulses.
“Right now, everything's so censored and calculated,” says Schnabel about why he made such a film. “I thought that the film and the ideas behind it were very free.” He hopes audiences feel that freedom, too, in every part of this journey. From its form to its characters, Pet Shop Days is rapid, unflinching, and high impact.
It follows Alejandro and Jack as they fall in love, fall into vice, and try to escape their lives and families by digging themselves into deeper, darker holes. All while running around New York City. With mesmerizing performances by its leads and a directorial eye that feels extemporaneous yet intentional. Pet Shop Days happens fast but leaves you slow.
I spoke to fellow New Yorker Schnabel alongside Bernal and executive producer Jeremy O’Harris about how this film came to be and what audiences can expect from a movie that does the unexpected at every turn.
POPDUST: What does this project mean for you? What made you get involved?
Schnabel: So my other lead, Jack, was my closest friend growing up. And he had written this script in college and sent it to me, and I thought it was really refreshing, exciting, youthful, and unapologetic. I thought that it would be an original New York story. I was thinking about what my first project was going to be and I thought, well, this is the one I could also really kind of leave my footprint in it. It gave me the opportunity to also put a lot of different things — maybe from my experiences growing up and my relationships — into it so that I could do this sort of exorcism therapy of putting things there and turning them into fiction and making it something that I could also just create a discussion around.
Bernal: I got the script a couple of years ago. Immediately, something in me said, Yes. And I think there was an aspect of myself that felt very close to Alejandro. Not even like, context-wise, it was just the feeling and the possibility of playing a character that was so out there. And that was really struggling with himself. I immediately told Olmo that I wanted to do this because I wanted to experience this — his world, what he's feeling, and what he’s living. And as Olmo said, it was a bit therapeutic as well, for me to just play with these things, and really go out there and play with something new in a different tone in a different city. And so there was something very cathartic about it. From the first moment I read it, I was like, Okay, there's something here for me, that I need to work with.
O’Harris: Coming from where I come from, I was able to escape Virginia by watching movies about New York. The energy that was inside of the script — we're saying “energy” a lot, but it is real, you know — I think that there was a sense, when new queer cinema started with movies like The Living End and Mala Noche, that there was this endless possibility of what kind of stories you could tell with young men. And I felt like I was missing those. When I witnessed the first cut of the movie, I was like, Oh my God, this feels like the kind of movie I would have found in the back room of Blockbuster and taken home, coveted, and imagined how I would run away from my family and create chaos with someone else in an effort to individuate myself. I felt like it was rendered so beautifully and with so much freedom, that I was like, Oh, is there any way I can be a part of this? And luckily, I could.
POPDUST: Visually, it's a very rich film. There’s a combination of a lot of small scenes that add a bunch of texture. And all of that comes together to ground the characters and the setting. How did you go about creating all that texture?
Schnabel: Immediately when I got involved, I connected with the story and I really imagined the world where this took place. It wasn't such a meticulous process for me to invent things. So I thought that the fact that I could just kind of respond naturally to my situations, and the circumstances was what made me feel confident when I was on set. The story was personal enough to me that I had the courage to be the person who's like, this is what would happen. And those are questions that everyone's asking — all the actors, like why would I do this? You need to be able to have an answer.
I think the thing I'm most proud of about the movie is that I do think it's an original New York story. Even in its dysfunction, at times. You can see moments and you could compare it to other films. But I also think that in its totality, I do think it's a very original New York story. I think that's very difficult. Because it's a place everyone knows, we've seen it hundreds of times in other films. So I think building something that felt original to us was a huge accomplishment.
Bernal: I think the movie was kind of showing itself to us. As we were doing it, everybody — everybody in the crew, everybody, all the actors — wanted to succeed. It's not easy to find that sort of atmosphere where everybody's giving everything for the movie to find its path. And that's one of the best environments you can be in because it's safe to try things. And when you try new things, you find new, new things. And the movie also had a personality of itself that was trying to be its own thing. Because I think we're used to seeing movies that are sort of premeditated or trying to fit into somebody's taste. And I think we needed a movie with personality saying, yeah, this is New York. This is how I see New York.
POPDUST: The form follows the plot, in that way too. You were figuring it out and so were these characters.
O’Harris: Every scene starts in one place and completely subverts itself. And I felt like that came from the freedom you guys had. I mean, one of my favorite scenes in the movie is the very first one. It starts in this Freudian way where you think, Are we watching lovers? Oh, wait, it's his mom? Oh, wait, now he's putting on her pantyhose? And it comes from a sense of play that I felt like was constantly on set with you guys. Willem [Dafoe] would take over a scene again, and again, and again, and try new things. I think that gave everyone else, especially the younger actors, license to also play and try new things — which is why there's that unpredictability.
Schnabel: When you're running around New York and you're doing some things legally, but some of it … clandestinely, you always have to be open to, when something doesn't work out or you lose a location or you can't film somewhere, it's like, okay, whatever the alternative is going to be, it's going to be better, and it's adding something. So it's embracing that element of surprise, and being confronted with challenges that actually turn into kind of privileges or advantages. You're not just stuck on one idea of how to do things, but you're open to kind of experiment. I mean, I definitely don't know everything, and I'm growing as a filmmaker. So I was also developing my language, asking those questions.
POPDUST: How did that shape the characters themselves? I felt there was a tenderness between them amidst all the violence.
Bernal: It's very interesting that you bring up the tenderness because I've always thought of it as a movie that is about pain. The pain of growing up and when your expectations or the ideas that you have, are not met, or they don't happen. And I think it's also a movie about a lack of tenderness. Particularly Alejandro. There is no tenderness for him. Nobody gives him that space for love. Jeremy and I were talking about this, but I also think it's a movie about fathers in many ways. And that sort of lack of tenderness in that relationship between men. Lacking … is a big — I think it affects you a lot. It's very clear how that lack of tenderness and that impossibility of just saying “I love you” completely gives way to all these things that Alejandro ends up doing. And so I think in retrospect, I see the character actually lacking that tenderness, and his pain is a craving for tenderness that he never gets from anyone, anyone at all.
Schnabel: At the beginning of the movie, with his mother, you realize that this person actually might have been someone who might have had their problems, but that had potential. But he creates his worst nightmare. What we realize is there's a line you cross and anything is possible after that. And there's a lot of manipulation and confusion. But the confusion comes from where these characters are at that time in their lives. Jack is easily manipulated because he's living his mundane life. And it's at a standstill, and he's not really motivated by anything. So with his attraction to Alejandro, he’s like, even though I might know it's dangerous, it's more interesting than anything else that's happening in my life.
Bernal: That happens to everybody. And I think that's why the interaction between them is so interesting. Because I think we can all see ourselves in that. I saw my teenage self in Jack. I was so bored with my environment that, obviously, anybody who had a bit of spark, I was like, okay, yeah.
O’Harris: Wanting to free yourself from that sense of safety to be alive is something I think we can all relate to. That makes it like really eatable to like some part of our imagined experience of living or moving to a new place.
POPDUST: What do you want audiences to feel as they experience this film?
Schnabel: Everyone comes in with their experience, and that gives people the possibility to have a different experience. It's not straightforward in the way that everyone comes out with the same messages. So I think it's openness, and the idea of creating a dialogue and having a discussion – and disagreeing. You can come up with your own answers. The most important thing is for people to be active in it, and to feel like they've gone through an experience themselves.
O’Harris: Watching movies like this made me want to make movies. The reason that these films exist is to tell people to pick up the camera, find a group of friends, say yes to each other, and just see what happens. And you'll make something that feels really honest and true to you. Because I like films that feel impossible to make when you watch them. Like how did anyone say yes? Like, how did you get allowed to do this? And like knowing that you're allowed to tell any story that's in your head? Is the thing I want from this.
Bernal: For me, it's just bringing people along for the ride. It's New York, it's love. It's violence, it's sex. It's Mexico City. There's nothing better than going in and watching a movie that takes you wherever it has to take you. And you see yourself in the movie. And you reflect on things that maybe you did or certain people you hang out with. In retrospect, you're like, okay, yeah, it was hurting or I was doing this because I wanted attention from this person or whatever. I want people to have that interaction – to think about themselves and also play out their fantasy. Like, I want to be the guy who doesn't care, that goes full-on and just takes it to the next level. Like, I want to have a haircut again. I'm just too scared to do it.
Schnabel: I really respect people who can just express themselves freely without feeling like they're going to be criticized. That’s the cinema I used to watch when I fell in love with film. Like Verner Hertzog and Rainer Werner Fassbinder. They embraced their fucked up characters and dysfunctional qualities. You're a passenger to all these different experiences, and that's so rich, and it adds so much to you. It's amazing when you watch a film and it changes you forever. That's why I do it.
O’Harris: Young people, for better or for worse, an entire generation of people have come to love movies through social media, and like Letterboxd. But because so much of the discourse about movies is like thumbs up, thumbs down, five stars, one star, I do think some people feel crippled by the lens their film or their story will have once it meets an audience. And I want us to get back to that place that a lot of people were in in the early 90s in the 70s, where they were sort of like, let's throw shit at the wall because we don't even know who's gonna see it, like, half our audience will never meet us.
It’s 2024 and Reality TV is more popular than ever. When this genre of unscripted television first hit the scene in the early 2000s, audiences and critics alike quickly labeled these shows “Trash TV.”
For the general public, reality TV is often categorized by viewers as a “guilty pleasure” rather than regular network fare. Yet reality television’s once lowbrow status has shifted in recent years due to the rapid improvement in storytelling and soaring ratings.
Shows like Vanderpump Rules and Love is Blind are massively more trendy than your average scripted series. But let’s take a look back at some of the most memorable and scandalous moments in reality TV history.
Keeping Up With The Kardashians
Kim and Kourtney Catfight
Keeping Up With The Kardashians reveals the dramatic day-to-day lives of the most famous family on the planet. Building a Kardashian empire takes a whole lot of work, thanks to Kim Kardashian and Momager, Kris Jenner. But Kourtney Kardashian has always been less of a businesswoman and more of a proud mama of several children.
Many times throughout the series, Kim and Kourtney butted heads over lifestyle matters. While Kim frequently dissed Kourtney by suggesting she’s lazy and lacks work ethic, Kourtney was steadfast in her belief that there’s nothing wrong with being a stay-at-home mom.
Things took a dramatic turn when the ongoing fight led to a physical altercation between the two sisters. It was easily one of the series’ most dramatic moments when the tension eventually reached a boiling point between the eldest daughters in the Kar-Jenner clan.
The fight ended with some nasty scratches on Kim’s back and a whole lot of tears.
Kim Loses Her Earring…In the Ocean
One of the most viral moments in Kardashian lore happened long ago — Kim lost her diamond earring in the ocean! This happened when Kris Humphries — her fiance at the time — playfully threw her in the water.
The incident caused Kim to burst into tears over her missing earring. Yet it was Kourtney’s response that made the moment, when she said: “Kim, there are people dying,” in an attempt to bring her sister back to reality.
The Least Interesting to Look At
In yet another brawl between Kim and Kourtney. Kim screamed in a fit of rage that her sister was the least interesting Kar-Jenner to look at. Ouch! First of all, so not true. But fortunately, Kourt was able to take the moment in stride. For her 40th birthday party — documented on the hit reality show, of course — she had a bunch of decorations strewn about that announced “Least interesting to look at.”
Vanderpump Rules
Stassi Confronts Kristen and Jax's Affair
Vanderpump Rules promises epic scandals in just about every episode — one of the many reasons why the show is such a smashing success. Yet one of the most shocking moments of the Bravo series was when Stassi learned of Kristen and Jax’s secret affair.
The news came as a nasty shock, since Kristen was always Stassi’s best friend, and Jax was Stassi’s longterm boyfriend. While Stassi expected as much from the notoriously unfaithful Jax, she was heartbroken to find out that her best friend betrayed her.
Stassi didn’t hold back when she slapped Kristen for her secret affair with Jax.
Jax Gets a Tattoo of Stassi’s Name
If you look up the word “reckless” in the dictionary, you could find Jax’s face. The reality TV villain is known for his outlandish behavior, so if anyone was destined to get a tattoo of their ex girlfriend’s name on their skin, it was gonna be Jax.
To make matters crazier, during the season 3 reunion, Jax got yet another tattoo of another woman’s face on his arm that looked strikingly like Stassi. Stassi hilariously responded by telling her ex, “You’re a literal serial killer.”
Scandoval
How could we not include Scandoval on our list? For those who have been hiding under a rock for the past year, Vanderpump Rules took a nasty turn when (SPOILER ALERT!) Tom Sandoval cheated on his long-term girlfriend, Ariana Madix, with their close friend, Raquel.
The moment was so outrageous that Bravo fans have been quick to label it as one of the most shocking moments in reality TV history.
Love is Blind
Zanab Tells Off Cole
Season 3 of Love is Blind saw Zanab and Cole in a tumultuous engagement. Things took a turn for the worse when Cole expressed his attraction and physical preference for another contestant, Colleen.
While there were several nasty bumps in the road for this LIB couple, fans were still freaked out to witness Zanab confront Cole for his bad behavior during their wedding ceremony. Zanab’s speech, in which she claimed Cole “destroyed” her confidence, ended with the wedding attendees applauding Zanab.
Irina and Micah Get Confronted
Love is Blind Season 4 was rife with drama inside the pods. While the drama on the dating show is generally focused on each couple, this occurrence involved bullying within the Girls’ pods.
Contestants Irina and Micah were labeled the “mean girls'' of the season. And they were finally confronted for it during the season 4 reunion.
Below Deck
Natalya vs. Tumi
Below Deck reveals the ship’s crew members in some of the most gorgeous locations on earth, yet the drama happening inside the ship is anything but pretty. Season 8 of Below DeckMed got messy when Natalya and Tumi immediately butted heads.
Of course, the drama was instigated by notorious pot-stirrer Kyle Viljoen, who whispered some things in Tumi’s ear about Natalya that she found unfavorable.
Ruan Gets Fired On Day 1
Below Deck Med Season 8 began with crew member and bosun Ruan getting fired on the very first day. It all kicked off when the crew member failed to provide the proper documents necessary to serve on the ship. Later, it proved that the paperwork he had was forged. Yikes!
Christine and Chrishell’s polarizing personalities made their time in the Oppenheim Group a nearly impossible endeavor. But their season 1 showdown that happened during the season finale ended with Chrishell in tears as she stormed off the set.
It all started when Christine labeled Chrishell as “fake” for talking behind Mary’s back regarding her relationship with Romain. Christine and Chrishell butted heads for so long, that Christine went so far as to call her party drinks “Chrishell’s Two-Faced Tonic.” Ouch!
Davina Vs. Chrishell
In 2020, all eyes were on Selling Sunset star Chrishell amid her divorce with This is Us actor Justin Hartly. Their divorce was anything but amicable, considering the deed was allegedly initiated via text message from Justin, and Chrishell said he was unfaithful.
Despite how heartbroken Chrishell was, Davina stirred things up by telling Chrishell that there are “Two sides to every story.” Oof.
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