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Following Films Podcast: Carlson Young Director of UPGRADED

 

Thank you for listening to The Following Films Podcast. Today, I’m joined by Carlson Young to discuss her latest film UPGRADED.

In the film, Ana Santos (Camila Mendes) is a smart and ambitious art enthusiast with dreams of running her own gallery. She is currently paying dues as an unpaid trainee at a premiere NYC auction house, run by the influential and demanding Claire Dupont (Marisa Tomei). When Ana is sent on her first work trip and gets unexpectedly upgraded to first class, she meets the handsome and well-connected Will (Archie Renaux), who mistakes Ana for her boss– a white lie that sets off a series of fortuitous events and VIP introductions that suddenly have Ana winning at work and caught up in a whirlwind romance she never expected. However, this little white lie begins to unravel, threatening to ruin Ana’s career and newfound romance.

UPGRADED is streaming on Amazon Prime where it is currently the number one film. I had a great time chatting with Carlson about her film, relationships, coming of age, and the enduring romance of GONE GIRL. 

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