Highlights from the 'And After All' private screening

"And After All" is the story of Charlotte (played by Annabelle Dexter-Jones), a young, hip, downtown artist living in New York City. On the eve of her first major solo exhibition, she struggles to keep up as the center of attention while facing betrayal by her best friend Lux (played by Byrdie Bell). The morning after, Charlotte is shocked by news that her mother has suddenly passed away. Truly alone for the first time and questioning life decisions, she ventures home to pick up the pieces. "And After All" was written and directed by Julian Ungano, co-directed by Tommy Agriodimas, starring Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Jordan Blumetti, Byrdie Bell, Victor Kubicek, Max Van Bel, and Heidi Mount, produced by Jack Bryan, Laura DuBois, and John Snyder, with cinematography by Aleksandar Kosutic.

Examiner.com attended a private screening of the film at the Mondrion Soho on Sunday. Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Jordan Blumetti, Heidi Mount, Victor Kubicek, Jack Bryan, Laura DuBois, John Snyder were in attendance in addition to Alexis Bryan-Morgan, Catt Sadler, Tara Subkoff, Lauren Remington Platt, Marissa Montgomery. Guests sipped on SVEDKA cocktails and enjoyed music by Elle Dee and Kieren Taylor. Check out our interviews with the cast:

Q: How did you get involved with the project?

Annabelle Dexter-Jones: I had met Julian through just being around in New York and he sent me the script and I loved it. And I thought that it could be a really beautiful film and it turned out to be, so I’m really happy about it.

Q: What was it like collaborating with Director Julian Ungano?

Annabelle Dexter-Jones: It was great. I felt really comfortable with Julian...it was very natural and organic.

Q: What did you love about playing this particular character?

Annabelle Dexter-Jones: I related to her. Everyone can feel detached in the way that she did, at least to me it seemed, but you also see this other side of her. And, I don’t know, I think there’s something very realistic about her struggle that any girl could really relate to feeling alienated in where you are, but home always kind of brings you back to life.

Q: Where did you guys film? There is some beautiful scenery.

Annabelle Dexter-Jones: In Chester, Vermont, where Julian grew up. It was amazing. It was so beautiful. As soon as we got up to Vermont, I was like, “Oh, my God, this movie is gonna be stunning."

Q: What inspired the project?

Julian Ungano: I lost my mother last December like right around Christmastime. I had to deal with the going home and sort of confronting all that stuff. I grew up kinda both here and in Vermont. I kinda spent my life evenly at this point and [the film is about] figuring out what’s important in life, who’s around you, that type of stuff, which are all major, major kind of thoughts that I was having, I think, post my mom's death.

Q: So Charlotte is a mirror of you?

Julian Ungano: Annabelle’s character, Charlotte, and Jordan’s character, J.G., are sort of meant to represent a duality of me. I love where I grew up. I probably didn’t appreciate it very much when I was growing up there, so that’s kinda why I’m here now. But I think half always wants to be in Vermont, in the country, and hanging out and not dealing with the stress of being in New York. And then the other half of me wants to be in New York. Like, there’s always that feeling of when you are away from the city for a long time and you come back in and you see the skyline and you just get so excited to be back. You know what I mean? You’re like, “Oh, I’m home.”

Q: Tell us about working with Annabelle and why she was perfect for the lead.

Julian Ungano: She was perfect. We auditioned a ton of people and when I had dinner with Annabelle and when I met with her, she just floored me. Her disposition, her look, her skills. Her skills as an actress are so amazing. She’s really, really good. She really believes what she’s saying and she got into it so much more than anybody else that auditioned for the part. So she was an easy choice. That was the easiest choice of the whole movie to make. And she’s done an amazing job. I couldn’t be happier with her.

Costume designer Ciara "CiCi" Ramirez helped style the New York scenes in the film. "Luckily Julian chose such an amazing cast of girls and men who have an amazing wardrobe to begin with and I was able to go into their closets and help pick and choose. Although I was only on it for New York, Annabelle did a wonderful job in Vermont as being the style icon that she is. She really rocked that. And it was such a pleasure especially to work with Heidi Mount. And thank you to Black & Denim for giving us some clothes to choose from and it was super fun. I loved it."

The after-party continued at Mister H.