Céline Roustan
Kaylee has just moved into a social media content house. Between the pressure of creating content to pay the rent and making new friends, adjusting to this new life isn’t easy, until she gets closer to one of her roommates, who might offer her the opportunity to go viral. In WassupKaylee, writer/director Pepi Ginsberg explores the daily lives of young social media influencers, living in a constant state of performance within these content houses, and the effect this has on them.
“How much work does it take to present yourself as ‘happy’ when you are tired, overwhelmed and alone?”
Ginsberg confessed that during the pandemic, she started “exploring the world of TikTok content houses”, and admitted that she connected to the “claustrophobic feeling of being stuck inside, with social media as one of [her] only outlets for interaction and visibility”. As we all know, doomscrolling can take a toll on mental health, which led her to the seed of inspiration for the film: “how much work does it take to present yourself as ‘happy’ when you are tired, overwhelmed and alone?”
The main character she penned, Kaylee, finds herself in exactly this situation. She grew a following through prank videos, which arguably have an element of spontaneity to them, but now finds herself stuck in a home with other influencers, forced to be constantly “on” to make content and remain in the house. The moral dilemma this creates for her is fascinating, caught between what she feels is right and wrong and what she needs to do to achieve her goals. We all know what a social media presence can mean for our self-esteem, while follower numbers can also be seen as a form of currency in professional settings. Ginsberg follows Kaylee as she finds her bearings in this new environment with considerable empathy.
Devin Freeman France (R) stars at the titular Kaylee in Ginsberg’s film
Social media is the real antagonist of the story, illustrating the paradox between our need for online validation and the fact that it can never replace the need for real-life human interaction. Ginsberg’s screenplay is full of nuance, allowing the different layers of the situation to be explored, while DP Mélanie Akoka (Beity, Plaisir) perfectly frames Kaylee within her new life and the choices she faces. Edited by Ginsberg herself alongside Youmin Kang, the film has a rhythm that echoes the frantic, chaotic energy of the house, mirroring Kaylee’s struggle to find her place before gradually amping up the tension around what’s ultimately at stake.
Ginsberg explained that, with this cast of young actors, they relied heavily on improvisation to gain a better understanding of the world of the film and its characters. Devin Freeman France, in the titular role, gives an incredibly compelling performance as she navigates her character’s vulnerabilities and insecurities, taking Kaylee on a journey towards finding her own agency and inner strength and ultimately staying true to who she is.
WassupKaylee had its world premiere at the 2025 edition of SXSW and went on to play at multiple festivals, including the Palm Springs ShortFest, Dokufest, and Cairo International Film Festival, ahead of its online debut as a Vimeo Staff Pick Premiere. Ginsberg is currently developing her first feature, The Mirex, which participated in the 2025 HamptonsFilm Screenwriting Lab and won the Melissa Mathison Award.