‘Auganic’ — When Your Lover is a Golden Goose

Production still from the film Auganic featuring two actors in a conversation.

Writer and director Krit Komkrichwarakool’s short film “Auganic” is a delicious slice-of-life story that doubles as a fairy tale for a modern, adult audience. The conceit at the center of the film is something of a spoiler, so I’ll keep that secret here, but ultimately “Auganic” is a gay love story that lightly examines several poignant questions. How is the love between two people different in public versus in private? What makes a relationship equitable? What, if anything, do we owe partners who support us? How does true love manifest?

Komkrichwarakool and actor Kenny Brain walked me through the purpose of the film, the process of bringing it to life and how it has been received so far.

“Auganic” is about a gay couple that discovers something magical within their relationship but disagrees about whether or not they can (or should) monetize that magic. It’s quirky, thoughtful and deviates from the tone you might be used to in queer storytelling.

“One of my main goals going into this film was to create a queer story that highlights the brighter side of our experience,” Komkrichwarakool explains. “Too often, queer narratives are confined to narrow representations, either focusing on stereotypical humor or intense trauma … I aim to show that even the mundane aspects of everyday life can be captivating and meaningful. By framing these moments within the unique and surreal situation in Auganic, I hope to offer a fresh perspective on our stories.”

Upon reading the script Brain immediately recognized the power of this kind of storytelling.

“I really think anyone can watch this story and see characteristics of themselves in it,” Brain says. “Who hasn’t had financial troubles? Who hasn’t been faced with relationship turmoil? The story may have a fantastical element to it, but it’s really about two people, very much in love, going through life together.”

Komkrichwarakool continues: “It’s really about exploring what love and sacrifice mean within a relationship. There’s a unique power in honest communication, something many people in our community struggle with due to our upbringing and the challenges we’ve faced,” he says, then pauses. “It’s about finding common ground with your partner and learning how to navigate the compromises necessary for a healthy relationship. On a deeper level, it also reflects the dynamic between an artist and their work.”

Although “Auganic” is short, it is deliberate in unpacking the many layers of Kai and Nick’s relationship. We see them being sweet and silly, having arguments and in their most intimate moments in the bedroom.

“The thing that drew me into it was the same thing that made me a little apprehensive,” Brain explains. “Telling a wider array of LGBTQ+ stories is so important, especially right now, and I really connected with my character Nick — but I would be lying if I didn’t have a moment where I thought: is this too much? … Neither [Matt or I] had done anything like this, including intimate scenes, so we kind of went on that journey together.”

Part of what made Brain comfortable with the script was his existing working relationship with Komkrichwarakool.

“I have worked with Krit on a previous short film called ‘Plantonic,’ which is exactly why I trusted him to do this film justice. I think it could have so easily strayed too far to the comedic side or very, you know … unserious?” Brain explains. “But I knew he had the chops to take an over-the-top storyline and bring it back down to earth.”

That trust flowed both ways.

“I had previously worked with Kenny Brain (Nick) on my last film, so I knew exactly how great he was and what he could bring to the table,” Komkrichwarakool explains. “Finding our other lead, Matt Dejanovic (Kai), took a few months … Once we saw the chemistry between him and Kenny during the test, I knew they were the right fit.”

Komkrichwarakool was really pleased with the performances he got from his actors.

“My approach is always to be very well-prepared in pre-production and then allow the actors to explore once we’re on set,” Komkrichwarakool says. “We did a few read-throughs and rehearsals to work out the finer details together, but once we were filming, it was very much their stage.”

The visuals of “Auganic” are sparse, sweeping and intentional.

“I had the privilege of working with my cinematographer, Joseph Schweers, who I’ve admired for nearly a decade,” Komkrichwarakool explains. “We approached the blocking in a way that made the space feel lived-in, allowing room for the characters to breathe as they moved through their daily lives. It was almost like a stage play, where we were the observers, quietly witnessing the unfolding story. I think this approach worked really well for the narrative, especially since it called for a sense of intimacy.”

Audiences have been incredibly receptive to “Auganic” so far.

“The reception has been amazing! I was super nervous for its release into the film festivals because, like I mentioned, this was the first time I’ve done anything like this,” Brian says. “However I feel like people got it, you know? They understood it. They connected with it.”

Komkrichwarakool agrees. “The first time I watched the film with an audience was at the Palm Springs International ShortFest, and it was nerve-wracking. The film has a very specific sense of humor, and I wasn’t sure how it would land with such a large audience,” he explains. “But the reception was incredibly positive! We also won ‘Best Live Action Short’ at the deadCenter Film Festival, which was an Academy-qualifying award. That kick-started our award campaign for several months, which was a whirlwind. On top of that, we won a Best of the Province award at the Chilliwack Independent Film Festival in our hometown, which made it even more special.”

Unfortunately, “Auganic” isn’t available for all audiences quite yet. For the impatient, Kenny Brain let us know that he will be in the upcoming HGTV series “Life Is Messy” which airs in late summer or early fall of this year. For everyone else, rest assured that “Auganic” will publish streaming information to its Instagram as soon as that information is available, so follow their page and watch when you can. This writer is confident that Lavender readers will appreciate “Auganic” for its whimsy, representation and thoughtfulness.

@kennybrain
@auganicfilm

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