The Influencer Project
It is a hard life for influencer Chiara King, her followers across her preferred platforms of Tik Tok and Instagram only totalling a pitiful one and a half million, a long way from her target of ten, her brand manager Alice having cannily booked her for a week long trip to Denmark to promote the Welcome Copenhagen initiative with a film crew to document her activity and other boutique photoshoot opportunities allowed for in her non-exclusive contract.
Met at the airport by director Mike, her liaison Anna, Kat on sound, Daniel on camera and Victor her driver, it is a whirl of posing and pouting, pointing at landmarks and laughing seductively for the camera, her clothes, makeup and accessories gifts, a shift from the “haunted house” reels which launched her when her musical aspirations fell through, though fear is still part of her daily life, a persistent malicious troll who now stalks her through the city.
The debut feature of director Mike Nybroe who ostensibly plays himself, trailing the hot starlet and documenting every move, The Influencer Project is co-written with Anders Jon and Lars Andreas Pedersen while Chiara King plays a fictionalised version of herself, estimating she spends around fifteen hours on her phone every day to create content and interact with her followers, the activities of the week collectively earning $100,000.
Her whole life commodified and up for bidding, why should Chiara’s genuine upset and trauma be excised from what is presented to her followers? The explicit threats of “KingSlayer” backed up by photos indicating close proximity and knowledge of her schedule, rather than immediately contacting the police to say there is a genuine concern she would rather compartmentalise and continue with her engagements.
Victor (Luca Storm) a sympathetic ear while Rasmus (Eos Karlsson) is employed as personal security, built around the self-indulgent daily routine of Chiara, vapid, entitled and absurdly overcompensated for whatever vague talent she supposedly possesses, The Influencer Project is overlong, a tourist destination promo as much it is a drama of a woman whose existence is a manufactured fantasy whose only sense of duty is to the camera.
Sharp businesswoman Alice (Jazmine Summer) flying in to offer support and a confession all but signposted, the real issues of online safeguarding and responsibility for and by a creator whose art is herself which could be addressed are only given glossy lip service, Chiara pining for authenticity while promising the unachievable, the glamour, sequins, high heels and jewellery but window-dressing on a vain ego which serves only its insatiable longing and need.
The Influencer Project will be in UK Cinemas from Friday 16th October
