New York, NY — Extinguished Youth Inc., the Gen-Z-led production company redefining independent filmmaking through the lens of the creator economy, proudly announces the world premiere of Darshan Patel’s latest mumblecore romantic comedy short film, which debuted last week at the Chelsea Film Festival in New York City to an enthusiastic audience response.
The film stars a couple familiar faces; internet darlings Alex Lauren and Jonah Feingold (affectionately known as “the directing king of rom-coms”) in a story that unfolds over one imperfect, irresistibly relatable New York City date. Lauren plays a young woman tangled in a “situationship” who discovers that the guy she’s seeing (Feingold) still shares his location with his ex, triggering a spiral of introspection and laughter as the pair navigate what Gen-Z affectionately calls the taxi cab theory of emotional timing. Patel took inspiration from Feingold and his witty realistic conversational pieces that Feingold has built an online cult following for.
Shot with an intimate, hand-held aesthetic and grounded in the conversational realism of mumblecore, the film captures the humor and heartbreak of modern connection. Its minimalist style and natural performances make every awkward pause and stolen glance feel familiar to anyone who’s ever texted “wyd?” at 2 a.m.
Co-produced by Darshan Patel and Sabrina Lassegue; the visionary founder and CEO of Extinguished Youth Inc. and internet viral sensation known as Directedbybrini; the project exemplifies the company’s mission to close the gap between traditional film production and the new creator economy. Cinematography was helmed by Christina Dobre, the internet-famous DP celebrated for her viral visual storytelling, who brings a dreamy, digital-age warmth to every frame.
The production brought together some of New York’s top emerging creatives both in front of and behind the camera, merging the spontaneity of influencer culture with the heart of classic indie romance. The result is a cutesy, clever, and authentic city film that reflects the emotional language of a generation constantly negotiating love, identity, and visibility.
Following its world premiere at the Chelsea Film Festival, the film will continue its festival circuit through the fall, with additional screenings to be announced soon and be released across all social platforms.
Extinguished Youth Inc. is an LA and New York-based independent film and media company founded by Sabrina Lassegue, dedicated to reshaping the future of indie filmmaking through a Gen-Z perspective. The company bridges the gap between the creator economy and traditional cinema by empowering young filmmakers to tell raw, culturally relevant stories that resonate online and on screen.
For media inquiries, interviews, or screening requests, please contact:
Press Contact: Sabrina Lassegue or Jake Ricci
Email: S.lass@extinguishedyouth.com & Jakericcif@gmail.com
Website: www.extinguishedyouth.com
Instagram: @extinguishedyouth @darshanpatell @sabrinalasagna @jonahfeingold @christinadobre
