Tampa native Ali Scher is bringing her hometown pride to Hollywood with the highly anticipated debut of her feature film, "Popular Theory." Born and raised in the Davis Islands area, Scher drew upon her personal experiences growing up in Tampa to create the high school environment depicted in the movie.

"Popular Theory" follows the journey of a young girl who challenges the traditional high school hierarchy by creating a chemical formula that catapults her classmates into popularity. Scher's story explores themes of connection and social structures. She also drew inspiration from her own formative years in Tampa.

For Scher, the road to bringing "Popular Theory" to the silver screen has been a long one with a decade under her belt conceptualizing, searching for the right production team, crew, and cast. Scher's ties to Tampa remain strong and  a source throughout her filmmaking journey. Local donors played a crucial role in funding the project and in 2022 she began to make her film a reality.

Reflecting on the creative process, Scher emphasizes the importance of storytelling that resonates with audiences on a deeply emotional level. "I wanted to make a movie about connection, because after food and water, it’s the thing that humans thrive on the most," she explains. The exploration of human connection is woven throughout the storyline of"Popular Theory," offering viewers a poignant and relatable narrative.

From former teachers to childhood friends turned educators, the film's storyline resonates with individuals who have played a significant role in Scher's life. Scher hopes the film can hope build the bridge of shared experiences and of course entertain and challenge the audience to think.  You can watch the trailer for "Popular Theory"  below.

Sources:

1. Original article: https://www.wusf.org/arts-culture/2024-02-08/ali-scher-popular-theory-debut-tampa-hollywood-feature-film
2. Ali Scher's IMDb page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3262251/?ref_=tt_ov_dr