… (Softly) has a wonderful noirish feeling.”
– Roberta Smith, New York Times
…preposterously campy and strangely affecting”
– Josh Wolin, Time Out New York
“Time Out Pick of the Week”
“Bryan Jackson uses Bratz® dolls, lovingly-crafted miniature sets, and Sirkian cinematography to stage a simple story of love and longing, which may or may not be a commentary on the naive romanticism of urban gay men.”–– Paul Sbrizzi, SLAMDANCE
Softly
Softly is a Douglas Sirk-styled, biographical film that blurs the line between dollhouse and reality – creating a world as fragile and ephemeral as the romance story that takes place within the frame.
Director Bryan Jackson’s film employs Bratz Boyz dolls as actors staged on miniature, handcrafted sets with cinematography by Quyen Tran and music composed by Yoshizawa Eiji and performed by Scudelia Electro.
When faced with the lack of financing for queer narratives, Jackson drew upon his training to construct his own narrative world. His living room became his work studio and casting sessions were carried out at ToysRUs. Utilizing neutral mask technique, the unchanging face of the doll is manipulated with light, shadow and gesture to create emotions in the viewer’s mind.
Credits
| Writer and Director | Bryan Jackson |
| Cinematographer | Quyen Tran |
| Composer | Eiji Yoshizawa |
| Casting Director | Michael Hofeldt |
| Co-Producer | Brian Crano |
| Gaffer | Angie Pop |
| Grip | Andy Kang |
| Production Assistants | Leila Buenviaje |
| Lori Chan | |
| Andrea Cisnero | |
| Brian Kim | |
| Randy Kiyan | |
| Akasuka Murata | |
| Toon Twanna | |
| Scenic Assistant | Benjamin Page |
| Flight Crew Uniform | Margret Fenkse |
| Wardrobe Assistant | Peter Chao |
| ‘Softly, you go’ | Performed by Scudelia Electro Warner Records, Japan |