On June 14, the New Beverly Cinemas played host to the premiere of Bitter Orange, written and directed by acclaimed cartoonist Hope Larson (Chiggers, Mercury, A Wrinkle in Time), and now, just days later, it's available for viewing online.

Starring Brie Larson (United States of Tara, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World), Brendan Hines (Lie to Me, Scandal) and James Urbaniak (The Venture Bros., The Office), the short is set in the 1920s and follows Myrtle, a career girl who, while in the company of the bootlegger Jack, is forced to choose between a legitimate career and success at any cost.

"A year ago I wrote and directed my first short film, Bitter Orange, a miniature period piece set in 1920s Hollywood," Hope Larson wrote last week on her blog. "The project came together like a dream, and I soon found myself on set – a real set! – directing an unbelievable cast: Brie Larson, Brendan Hines and James Urbaniak. The experience was the most invigorating and inspiring few days of my life, and I’m thrilled that I can finally share the film we made."

She also enlisted additional comics talent for the project: Becky Cloonan to illustrate the poster (below) and Dustin Harbin to letter it, and Jen Wang to draw the storyboards.

(via Johanna Draper Carlson)