Title: Sweet Talkin’ Guy
Director: Miss Dylan, Spencer Wardwell
Starring: Miss Dylan, Jimmie Fails, Pierce Abernathy, Daniel Olson
Runtime: 5 min

What It Is: Gorgeous trans woman Dylan (Dylan) goes on three dates with three different straight men—Alex (Abernathy), Isaac (Fails), and Sam (Olson). Through these three encounters, we witness the similarities between each man as he navigates what the experience means for his identity and masculinity.

What We Think: A wonderfully tongue-in-cheek short that cleverly highlights the all-too-familiar commonalities of dating—particularly the experience of dating straight men as a trans woman. While we’re forced to sit through their rambling and often clumsy flirtation, equal screen time is devoted to our lead, Miss Dylan, whose expressions and internal monologue speak volumes. She’s clearly someone who has heard it all before, yet she remains present, polite, and ultimately just there to have a good time. Rather than being overly engaged in their awkward attempts at navigating this experience, she quietly laughs to herself, admires her surroundings, and exudes a confidence that makes it clear: she is secure in who she is, enjoying the moment on her own terms, while her dates fumble through their own self-discovery.

Grade: A, A bitingly funny short with beautiful production and a shining lead actress. Despite her lack of dialogue, she is portrayed with a lovingly humanist gaze—what feels like the female gaze. The short appears romantic with its lived-in sets, intimate framing, and colorful lighting, yet it thoughtfully explores the unromantic realities of casual dating through a worldly, sensitive perspective. Eye-opening, comedic, and exceptionally well-crafted, I can’t wait to see more from these filmmakers soon!