Petits Salons Jumped Into the Deep End — POOLS
This week, we had our biggest night at Petits Salons yet with our screening of the brand new feature film, Pools.
The night opened with a show-stopping musical performance by Haute and Freddy. Recently featured in Rolling Stone as "the Carnival-Pop Duo blurring centuries and breaking rules that you need to know”, Haute and Freddy blew the roof off of Petits Salons. After writing hits for Britney Spears and Katy Perry the pop duo started making their own music, and now these rising stars are blowing up. It was such a blast to to ride on the waves of their ascension.
They’re going on tour this fall, so make sure to go check out a show!
After the musical performance, we moved out to the pool for a synchronized swimmer performance by Aquabatix USA!
Aquabatix USA is North America’s leading professional synchronized swimming entertainment company. Based in Los Angeles with synchronized swimmers in most states, they produce innovative water entertainment across the US. Lilly Doyle, Nadine Brandl, and Elizabeth Davidson were the swimmers from Aquabatix that wow’ed our crowd. It was so special to have them kick off the film portion of the evening! Special thanks also goes to Adele Carsen, Miriam Margolis, and Katie Fried, other members of the Aquabatix team that worked closely with us to make this night happen.
Get in touch with Aquabatix to have them perform at your next event!
Petits Salons’ founders Sarah Carter, Darby Hannon, and James Aaron Oliver presented the film alongside filmmaker Sam Hayes and actor Michael Vlamis.
Pools follows Kennedy, a student who has one day to get her shit together or get kicked out of school for good. Instead of buckling down, she rallies a ragtag crew for a midnight pool-hopping adventure through the lavish estates of her college town. But under the surface, Kennedy is searching for answers to the questions tearing her up inside in the wake of her father's death. As the secrets spill, this wild escape becomes a cathartic journey of self-discovery.
POOLS stars Odessa A’zion, Michael Vlamis, Mason Gooding, Ariel Winter, Tyler Alvarez, and Francesca Noel. A film by Sam Hayes. Distributed by Utopia. Pools is in theaters now.
And then the joint film screening and pool party began! We set up the screen pool side so our audience had a choice whether to be in the water or cozy under faux fur blankets on the couches.
Pool parties have been a staple of the rollout for Pools. Filmed five years ago on a string of Chicago summer nights, Pools was a labor of love from the beginning. The team struggled to get into festivals and find distribution for their film, as is the case with many indie filmmakers, until they decided to take matters into their own hands by hosting pool party screenings.
Another staple of the Pools pool party screenings are their unique merchandise: coats made out of the pool towels that they used on set. There are so many creative ways that filmmakers can make their money back on independent films, and the Pools team has demonstrated just how innovative we can all be.
The Hollywood Reporter also came to spend the night with us, and wrote up an incredible piece about the event. Check it out below!
After the screening, we had a Q&A with filmmaker Sam Hayes and actor Michael Vlamis to wrap up the night.
Sam Hayes is a filmmaker from Chicago. He started his career in fiction, with his first novel, The Weather Man, published in 2017. After the release he decided to focus more on screenwriting and filmmaking, writing directing and producing Pools, his feature directorial debut. Sam recently produced Crossword, starring Michael Vlamis, Aurora Perrineau, and Harvey Guillen, in partnership with Keenan Thompson’s new Artists for Artists production company, alongside Executive Producer Alex Chi.
Michael Vlamis is an actor from Chicago. He began his career in marketing, and made his television debut in an episode of New Girl. After quitting the marketing world in 2017 to drive for Uber and focus on writing, Vlamis booked the lead role in the CW's Roswell, New Mexico. In 2019, Vlamis co-wrote a biopic about the life of late rapper Mac Miller, titled Blue Side Park, which made the 2019 Black List. In 2022, he made his feature directorial debut with Crossword, a psychological thriller he also wrote, produced, and acted in. You can see him next in Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey, coming to theaters in 2026.
Visit the Pools website and Instagram to stay up to date on their rollout.
We at Cheshire Moon Productions can relate deeply with the creative innovation required of independent filmmakers to gain recognition and distribution for our films. Our first film, In Her Name, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival two years after wrapping production, and is now available on all major streaming platforms, as well as on exclusive blu-ray where you will also receive an exclusive BTS documentary on the making of the film. Stream or purchase our film now!
Thank you to everyone who came out to support Pools!
Our Next Petit Salon: Requiem for a Dream
Join us on Monday, September 22nd for another night of film and music on the magical rooftop of Petit Ermitage Hotel.
Doors will open at 7:00pm where you can settle into the evening atmosphere. Grab a drink and some food and listen to live music before moving to the fire deck at sunset for the screening.
Our musical guest will be announced shortly. Music will start by 7:30pm sharp and seating is limited!
Our film screening will be Darren Aronofsky's iconic REQUIEM FOR A DREAM presented by producer Eric Watson.
Watson produced Requiem for a Dream with Aronofsky as well as Pi and The Fountain. Watson will discuss making this groundbreaking film in their twenties running around New York City. Come for this master class on bold indie filmmaking and with any questions of your own. Don't miss out on this very special evening and unique opportunity to network with fellow arthouse film lovers!
**This screening will include a special appearance by REQUIEM FOR A DREAM producer Eric Watson. Intro and Q&A to follow.
NO TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE DOOR. MUST PURCHASE YOUR TICKET BEFORE 7PM.
Optional valet parking for ticket holders is $15. See you there!
Screen Your Film at Petits Salons
Petits Salons is a collaboration between James Aaron Oliver, Darby Gaelle Hannon, and Sarah Carter in partnership with Cheshire Moon Productions, BLKBRD Films, and Petit Hermitage — a space for artists, filmmakers, investors, and friends to connect. Each evening begins with live music inspired by the film and closes with a Q&A designed to spark meaningful conversations and encourage fellow filmmakers to follow their creative instincts despite the challenges.
If you have a short film or feature you’d like to submit for consideration, or if you’re a musician interested in performing, we’d love to hear from you!
Please contact us using the link below.
Be sure to include:
A link to your film or music
A short bio
A brief description of the project
We look forward to discovering and celebrating your work!