New Comedy Film 'Brian' Captures the Raw, Relatable Struggles of High School Life

High school is tough—especially when you're Brian. Socially awkward, plagued by panic attacks, and harboring an inappropriate crush on his English teacher, Brian’s journey is one many teens will recognize. In his directorial debut, Brian, Will Ropp crafts a sharply self-aware coming-of-age story that feels both hilarious and painfully real.

The film, written by Saturday Night Live writer Mike Scollins, follows Brian (Ben Wang) as he confronts his social anxiety by running for student body president—led by his crush, Brooke (Natalie Morales), his English teacher. With unwavering support from his overbearing but loving parents (Randall Park and Edi Patterson), a new classmate (Joshua Colley), and his therapist (William H. Macy), Brian begins to build both a campaign and a stronger sense of self. Yet, his quest is filled with uproarious missteps, brought to life by a talented cast and a director who fully embraces the script’s charm.

Premiere at SXSW 2024

Brian premiered at the 2024 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival as part of the Narrative Feature Competition. While it didn’t win an award, critics praised its humor and heartfelt portrayal of adolescence. The cast—including Wang, Morales, Patterson, Park, and Macy—along with director Ropp, discussed the project’s creation during a Den of Geek studio session at SXSW.

Authenticity in Portraying Mental Health

Ben Wang, who plays Brian, revealed that embodying an awkward teenager with anxiety came naturally. “I mostly just showed up and was myself,” Wang said. While prioritizing humor, he ensured scenes addressing mental health remained authentic. “Making it real meant that I derived most of the quirks, the tics, and the personality for the character from pieces of me.”

This commitment to realism extended to small but meaningful details, such as Brian’s roller backpack. Wang shared that he, too, used one in high school without realizing it was considered “embarrassing.” Director Ropp admitted he had one as well, though he abandoned it after being teased. “I didn’t understand why everyone was like, ‘This is a really great detail to show. This is really funny,’” Ropp said. “I was like, ‘Why? Why is that funny? It’s efficient.’”

A Crush That Crosses Boundaries

In the film, Brian wheels his roller backpack into English class while pursuing his inappropriate crush on Brooke. Morales, who has previously played educators—including in Language Lessons (2021 SXSW Audience Award winner)—portrays a very different kind of teacher here. “I had so many scenes with Ben, who’s an incredible actor and scene partner and so fun to play off of,” Morales said. “It’s always fun when someone’s obsessed with you and loves you because then you get to go home feeling that way. Although, this particular situation was very inappropriate, and I was glad