Life as a young, twenty-something couple trying to make it in the big city is sometimes a series

of rejections, gambles and introspection that doesnt always iron out in the end. Throw in alcohol, anger and suicidal thoughts and youve got the basic plot to How Did You Lose Your Soul Sweetheart, an independent film recently released by local filmmakers Colin Lamb, Paul Busetti and Chris Kiros.

Throw in a local cast, location shots, Iggy Pop songs, and youve great fanfare like what happened on Thursday, June 28 at the movie release party at the Old Town Theater on King Street.

Kiros graduated from West Potomac High School in 1994, Lamb in 2004, and Busetti is a 2000 Bishop Ireton alumni. Kiros went on to film school at New York University.

Filmed in black and white, with a twist of film noir effects, the movie is a compilation of personal experiences of the filmmakers and anyone in general.
It was tremendously autobiographical, said Busetti. The main character, Ron, is blaming everyone but under the surface, its about personal problems and paving a career path at that age.

There are lines of dialogue from fights with our wives, said Busetti.

Tara Bowen starred as Claire, the girlfriend who moved to the big city and managed to find a job while watching her boyfriend self-disintegrate. Bowen is a graduate of Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax County and won a Cappie theater award in 2001 and played the role of Cleopatra on a History Channel special in the past. She was picked for the part after auditioning along with a few other people. Her acting was based on instincts and experiences with past relationships. She described the couples plight as very representative of the human condition, she said.

Many of Bowens scenes took place in a restaurant, and what we gather is the couples apartment, including one love scene, which was new to Bowen. She wasnt wearing much so when they were filming, she felt completely uncomfortable, with all the cameras around, she said. It was part of the job and everyone treated it professionally. It was very liberating, Ill leave it at that, she added. Much of that scene was left on the cutting room floor though, and on screen the audience sees a lot of faces and shadows with quick camera moves so it could probably qualify for a PG rating.

Dave Cooperman, a graduate of the University of Maryland, plays a homeless man that the couple meet along the way. The homeless situation was also based on past experience. I was never homeless, but I was close, he said. Now, when Cooperman passes homeless people at the Metro or in the city, he looks at their situation differently. It could happen to us at anytime if were not careful, he said.

Colins mother, Christine Lamb, remembered Colins interest in movies as a child and supports his cinematic endeavor. Im thrilled that hes using his creativity in a positive way, she said. Colin Lamb was part of the news show at Waynewood Elementary School and the news show at Carl Sandberg Middle School in his early years.

Alya Lepp and Sarah Wilson work with Bowen at the Outback Steakhouse in Fairfax. They heard her talking about the movie and were on hand to support their friend. Shes been talking it up, said Lepp. Wilson is currently going to film school learning about screenwriting. Im excited to see what other indy filmmakers are doing, she said.