Film-East releases movie zine inspired by Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’

Film East, an independent film organization based in Sussex County, recently released a new publication inspired by “Brat,” the 2024 breakout album by Charli XCX.  

The publication, titled “brat but it’s literally not because it’s just a bratty movie collection,” is a 60-page zine filled with film and TV show recommendations based on the themes, narratives and sonic landscapes crafted throughout the revolutionary hyper-pop album. The 18 cinematic works featured within its pages are each paired with a song from the “Brat” track list, presenting readers with a program of moving pictures that honor the vivid and detailed imagery Charli XCX creates in her music. Each pick is accompanied by expert analysis from the publication’s curators, justifying the track and film pairing, and explaining how they believe the work falls into the Brat-o-sphere. 

Examples of pairings include Brian De Palma’s “Carrie” with “Sympathy is a knife,” HBO’s “Succession” with “Apple” and A24’s “Climax” with “Club classics.” 

The collection is curated by Shelby Cooke and William Schofield. Cooke, Film East’s head curator and editor-in-chief, is a film and culture critic. She holds a master’s degree in film studies, and has written and lectured extensively on the relationships between music and film. Schofield has been with the organization since 2021. He is a film archivist and has expertise in the auteur theory and the cinematic canon.   

Cooke said, “’Brat’ spoke to a lot of people in a way no one expected. Charli’s album has become an anthem for the 20/30-somethings who are exhausted by perpetually living in ‘unprecedented times.’ ‘Brat’s’ cultural impact is undeniable, but not solely because of the music. There’s an obvious visual nature to ‘Brat,’ so it seemed only fitting to combine Film East’s curatorial background with our love for Charli’s album.”