Director Nick Craven skillfully captures every actor’s nightmare in his sensational short film, Crying on Command. Making its World Premiere at the 2025 Flicker’s Rhode Island International Film Festival, Crying on Command is a stirring slice of life drama.

An Existential Crisis in the Audition Room

The hum of fluorescent lights underscores the tension and anticipation circulating in a waiting room of aspiring actors. A group of girls, similar in appearance and age, quietly rehearse their lines as they wait their turn to be called. All are hoping for their big break, but know that this dream can only be realized by one. From the looks of things, it seems that the lucky lady is Jordyn (Nancy Kimball). A successful table read and prior audition tape make her a shoo-in for the part. The role is essentially hers; however, to secure her big break, she must prove she can cry on command.

Jordyn is caught off guard by the request. Immediately, her nerves get the best of her, and any semblance of a tear evaporates. She becomes lost in her head. When she realizes that she can’t perform, she faces the question that every actor avoids asking themselves: Am I actually good enough?

Nancy Kimball’s Stunning Portrait of Self-Doubt

Actor Nancy Kimball captures the universal feeling of desperation that every auditioning actor experiences, with incredible intimacy and empathy. Jordyn’s struggle is palpable and, at the same time, admirable. She wants the part and knows she can nail it, but her mind and body are operating out of sync. She instantly becomes overwhelmed by desperation and insecurity. Filmmaker Nick Craven lets Kimball shine in this role. The rest of the environment is minimalist, including the sound, wardrobe, location, and cinematography.

Takeaway

Says Craven, “Having a father who is an actor, and a sibling and mother who also have careers in the business, the idea of ‘struggle’ in the industry forever lives on as conversation at the dinner table, and in my head. It’s romantic, confusing, destructive, but always evolving. There are certain sides of it that have been depicted, and I believe this film provides an alternative style and point of view to the subject.”