The Astrid Experience is a romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Cal Barnes, and starring Cal Barnes, Lucia Xypteras, Rob Conroy, Mena Santos, and John That. The story follows Chase Abbott, a famous young artist in recovery who meets an actress named Astrid.
Cast
Cal Barnes as Chase Abbott Lucia Xypteras as Astrid Rob Conroy as Robbie Baker Mena Santos as Chels Lotus Bech as Emma John That as Himself Melissa Riso as Lexi Caitlin O'Connor as Brianna Petrie Willink as Danny Brett Colbeth as Jerry Summers Erica Shaffer as Mrs. Abbott Mariel Suarez as Tina
Production and release Barnes wrote and directed the film, and launched a crowdfunding campaign to pay for the effort."The Astrid Experience: The road from Salem to Hollywood", Salem Statesman Journal (August 17, 2020), p. A1, A2.
The Astrid Experience had its world premiere at the Laemmle Royal Theatre in Santa Monica, California, on March 23, 2023.Archuleta, Paul. The Astrid Experience World-Premiere Red-Carpet Photos. Getty Images. Retrieved April 5th, 2023.
The film was released for streaming on Tubi, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video.
Reception
Sweta of FandomWire Magazine ranked The Astrid Experience at #5 on their "Top 10 Films Shot on an iPhone" behind Sean Baker's Tangerine and Steven Soderbergh's Unsane and High Flying Bird, saying that "the film has a wonderful immediacy to it, like we're right there with these characters as they discover something worth living for in each other's company."Sweta. The Astrid Experience Ranked #5 on Top 10 Films Shot on an iPhone. FandomWire. March 6th, 2025. Retrieved March 11th, 2025.
William Hemingway of the UK Film Review gave the film two out of five stars, summing up that "The Astrid Experience is one of those typical Hollywood beasts, trying to tell cool LA stories which us normals can idolize and aspire to, just doing what it's doing without really seeing what it's actually up to."Hemingway, William. Review of 'The Astrid Experience'. UK Film Review. Retrieved August 23rd, 2023. He did, however, give praise to the film's music, stating that "The music may be the only positive to The Astrid Experience as the easy beats from John That, Matt Osenton, and Academy fit in nicely with the night lights and LA lifestyle."
Accolades
The Astrid Experience won the Audience Choice Award at the 2023 Los Angeles Lift-Off Festival.Daniel, Natalie. 2023 Los Angeles Lift-Off Festival Winners. 2023 Los Angeles Lift-Off Festival. September 10th, 2023. Retrieved March 11th, 2025
References
External links