Some Kind of Bug. Short film, 2024.

Callie is sick. Well, maybe.

A mysterious environmental illness turns daughters trans across New England. At least, that’s what their mothers read online. Katherine, concerned by her preteen’s increasing symptoms,  seeks a cure.

SOPHIE KEMP on Bugs

Some KIND OF BUG IS [Fidoten’s] MOST REALIZED WORK TO DATE, ASSERTING FIRMLY WHO THEY ARE AS AN AUTEUR: A GOOFY, DEXTEROUS CREATOR OF FILMS WHO WILL MAKE YOU THINK JUST AS MUCH AS THEY’LL MAKE YOU LAUGH.

 BUGS IS ABOUT A 12 YEAR OLD GIRL NAMED CALLIOPE, WHO IS ALSO CALLED CALLIE AND CAL, WHO IS MAYBE NOT A GIRL, IN THE THROES OF PUBERTY, ASSERTING WHO SHE IS AND HOW SHE UNDERSTANDS HER GENDER. HER MOTHER PERCEIVES HER GENDER ENNUI AS SOMETHING CALLED TOXIC ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE, A NEW TYPE OF LYME DISEASE THAT AFFECTS TESTOSTERONE LEVELS IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS. IT LEADS THE TWO TO GO ON A MOTHER DAUGHTER ROAD TRIP TO A PLACE CALLED THE INFINITE POSSIBILITIES WELLNESS CENTER, WHERE BOTH CAL AND HER MOTHER ATTEND A WORKSHOP TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PERCEIVED ILLNESS. THINGS DON’T GO AS PLANNED, OBVIOUSLY. THINK OF BUGS AS DON DELILLO’S WHITE NOISE, BUT TRANS. OR MAYBE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YORGOS LANTHIMOS MADE A SHORT ABOUT MOTHER DAUGHTER DYNAMICS. IT’S FUNNY, TENDER, THE PERFECT ENCAPSULATION OF FIDOTEN’S PENCHANT FOR EXPLORING THE INHERENT QUEERNESS OF BEING A YOUNG PERSON. 

key cast and crew

Written and directed by me!

produced by liza renzulli, cate bottiglione and julian meltzer.

Co-produced by madisen faye anderson.

Starring cate bottiglione and nora murphy.

Co starring beth lisick and mary louise wilson.

cinematography by adam kolodny

Assistant direction by emily cohn

art department coordination by leann murphy