The Tamesis
“I wanted this to feel more like a rock show,” Kristen Stewart told us Fashion At the Los Angeles premiere of her directorial debut, age of waterThursday night. To bring this unflinching vision to life, the actor invited friends and industry insiders to 2220 Arts + Archives, a cultural center showcasing film, literature and music. “We were in a venue in Echo Park, not in West Hollywood or Beverly Hills,” the budding director noted, explaining why she eschewed a traditional tinsel town premiere.
As Stewart and the movie’s stars — Imogen Poots, Thora Birch and Jim Belushi — worked step-by-step in a small area, guests flocked to watch the 7 p.m. screening. Adapted from Lidia Yuknavitch’s 2011 memoir of the same name, age of water It follows the life of Lydia (played by Poots), a competitive swimmer who struggles with childhood abuse, addiction, grief and love.
For Stewart, decades in front of the camera helped prepare her to take the reins. “I love, love, like She said: “Poots was also clearly in awe of Stewart’s performance in the film: “I thought the way Kristen played the character was really believable and really exciting – she was very inconsistent as a person but had such great promise,” the British star reflected, adding that she found Lydia both beautiful and familiar.
Stewart matched the theme by wearing a black and white one-piece swimsuit by Chanel, which also co-organized the event. “If you could count on two hands the number of people who were affected by this movie, that would be enough for me,” she said. “I didn’t need to get anything out of it; I got a lot out of just reading the book and feeling like my will was being activated, and I hope the movie does that in some way.”
One of them, close friend Emma Roberts, was moved. “I was shocked and dumbfounded,” she told Fashion At the after-screen party. “It was great to see Kristen step into this new role of director and writer,” a sentiment echoed by Ashley Benson, who was with Roberts for much of the evening. “This was the second time I saw it, so I was able to control my emotions after that,” pretty Little Liars alum explained. “Everyone has been incredible.”
In a room at 2220 Arts + Archives, DJ Josh Freydkis keeps the energy high. “In the beginning, we were playing a lot of dream pop and 80s music… and then it turned into goth,” he laughs, revealing his playlist for the night. Meanwhile, attendees lined up outside to buy Nana’s Kitchen’s tacos, quesadillas and quesadillas. A family catering company in Sherman Oaks. Next door, Alfredo Fruit Shop has set up a stall offering some sweet treats for you to sample. Groups of guests gathered around picnic tables, warming themselves under heat lamps. Kaia Gerber can be seen chatting with new boyfriend Lewis Pullman and Rita Ora next to a food stand.
Around 10pm, composer Paris Hurley took to the stage and began a live, avant-garde performance. While many people flocked to watch the show, others, including Elizabeth Banks, mingled in the next space.
For Stewart, tonight’s mission is to get the crew back together. “We haven’t seen each other since we actually shot the movie,” she shared. “We went to Cannes for the premiere, but only a few of us could be there. It’s hard to get to the South of France, so it felt like a real family reunion.”
