If recent genre trends are anything to go by, the grittier side of young adult life is far from a closed book. Much in the same vein as Euphoria, The Idol, and Generation, bold visuals and sketchy parties lead the dance in this hyper-realistic take on the tried and true coming-of-age formula. Through friendly and romantic bonds, drugs, and sex, the pilot episode of writer/director Sean Perry’s Track 7 paints a daring portrait of New York’s underground Black youth.
Jumping right into the deep end of this community, the film opens with the arrival of Makei Carter (Jovan E’Sean) and his two friends, JaKody Blue (Yahrock Bates) and Steven Urbano (José Rodriguez), in tow. Makei is returning to his sisters Kamden (Anesia Saunders) and Colette (Blasina Olowe), the former of whom is upset over his past fling with her best friend Angelique (Kaylin Lavena). Down at the bar, the two women reconnect, but not before Kamden grabs the attention of fellow bargoer Xavier Ritchie (Connor Woods). Meanwhile, Makei re-engages in a dangerous liaison with drug queen Violett Mendoza (Eloise Gordon), a relationship that spells trouble for him and everyone he holds dear.
If all this sounds overwhelming, that’s because it often is. Track 7 has a problem keeping its focus on what really matters, and that is its story. There’s no time to get to know anybody as we jump from scene to scene, with little connective tissue holding the people and places together. Starting in medias res is a clever way to immediately grab the viewer’s attention, but because the characters lack a backstory or tangible motivations, we move past them without even acknowledging them.
The only standout is E’Sean’s Makei, who actually grapples with some semblance of responsibility dealing with the city’s seedier side. Those around him, like his sister Kamden, Xavier Ritchie, JaKody, and even Angelique, feel quite underdeveloped as they are inexplicably sidelined at different increments of the film. If there was another actor who bucks this trend, it would have to be José Rodriguez’s show-stealing Steven “Seven” Urbano. A gay up-and-coming DJ and music producer, Steven is a delight and by far the most intriguing member of Track 7’s ensemble.
You have to commend Perry’s boldness for attempting so much at such a high technical level. The photography of Track 7 (Nicolas Vallejo) is on par with some of the best TV dramas right now. Energetic and vibrant, the camerawork bears a striking resemblance to the current works of Sam Levinson, drenching every set in a unique lighting configuration. Yet despite its world-class imagery and camerawork, the audio can sometimes feel poorly mixed. One minute you’re getting crisp dialogue, the next it’s bad ADR or sound that was clearly not recorded properly on location.
All that’s to say, Track 7 is the first of a seven-part episodic series. The pilot is currently the only filmed episode. It has all the great ingredients to cook with, but not quite delivering on the potential of the recipe.
Ambitious to a fault, Track 7 shows us glimpses of a promising inaugural chapter of what could be a terrific series under writer/director Sean Perry.
