Director Lanze Spears speaks to five 20 somethings who have dreams of becoming rich and famous. Traveling to four different cities in America, Spears shows the difficulties that young people must face in order to follow their dreams. 20 Something not only offers a look at the dreams of these five participants, but also their thoughts on how someone must struggle to stay on course. With bills to pay, and jobs to go to, keeping focused can be the biggest hurdle to overcome.
Things can get a little confusing when it comes to 20 Something. First impressions may leave viewers thinking they’ll be watching a documentary about young people trying to accomplish their dream goals in life. The subjects in this documentary are pretty much living their dreams already, but it’s the fame and riches that many of them are still looking for. This may leave some people thinking the subjects are a bit shallow. There are certainly times where they seem spoiled, and none of them seem to be struggling at all, you just have to look a little deeper to see what’s really going on though.
Claire works in fashion and advertising, pursuing and accomplishing her dreams.
Achieving a goal is the easy part, it’s actually sticking to a plan and working towards your goal that becomes the challenge. Director Lanze Spears has created a documentary meant to inspire others to keep at things, showing that they can reach their goals. This film becomes something that can both connect with, and alienate, the audience. I’m well beyond being a 20 something, and some of the individuals in the film are still in a state of upheaval, something that I can remember, but don’t struggle with any longer. They know what they want, but they don’t seem entirely sure of how to get there. They have that luxury though, since they still have plenty of time, something that may seem odd to those of us who have been around longer. At the same time, there’s no age limit on working towards a dream, and seeing others pursue a goal with all they have in them is inspiring. Maybe if Spears makes Late 30 Something, I can offer my opinion on pursuing a goal while managing a mortgage and a family!
Sean poses with some of his artwork, and appears to be the hardest working person in the documentary.
The biggest problem is the short length of the film. There’s not enough time spent with each person, so we don’t really get to hear their entire story. They may be doing what they dreamed of, but what kind of rocky road did they have to overcome to get there. The final result is what I would consider a good start. The entire film has a hazy, dreamlike quality to it, which works perfectly with the idea behind everything. Spears allows his subjects to express themselves however they see fit, which works well for people like artist Sean, who quickly becomes the strongest point of the film. His story is the best example of someone who is struggling to keep their dream alive. It’s not perfect, and the short length really takes away from the final piece, but it’s still a great starting point for a series that Spears is moving forward with. Perhaps we’ll get 30 Something one day, and we’ll get to see where all the various people in 20 Something wound up.
Under the marquee – Will
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