Imagine never knowing your mother when millions of others did. 

In the Limelight follows Stephen, a young man who attempts to pursue a career in acting. The driving force behind Stephen’s pursuit is to follow in the footsteps of his mother, who died in childbirth and was a popular face in the industry (as the star of the iconic 90s sitcom Growing Up Hill), but who has since fallen into obscurity with modern audiences. Stephen's efforts are further bolstered by his demanding father, who secretly blames him for his mother's death and simply views his son as a re-entry into the world of success and fame he once had. When his mother's former talent agent calls, Stephen believes that his big break has finally arrived, but after his obsession with obtaining representation pushes those closest to him away, he must re-evaluate what truly matters most in his life.

It was important to me to write and tell this story because I think we can all relate to that feeling of wanting to be successful, but in that pursuit, we focus so heavily on the desired end goal that we push aside what truly matters most in the moment. Even though Stephen's story pertains to acting and the entertainment industry, that sentiment has a universal relatability that applies to virtually every job, hobby, and industry out there.  

My ultimate hope is that Stephen's story resonates with audiences so that they can leave the film with a better understanding of the vital role that the people and places around you play in achieving true success. Fame and fortune is never obtained overnight and is often an unfulfilling end goal. And at the end of the day, what is the point of success if you do not have a supportive group to build you up along the way.

Tackling a story like this also gives us the chance to explore both the idea of loss and the idea of fame, particularly in how they affect an individual at an early age. It is a level of complexity that I look forward to dissecting as we continue on this production journey.

As upper-division film students, this story is particularly important for our creative team to tell. With our eyes pointed towards the next stage of our lives/careers, all of us are also quick to acknowledge and appreciate the tight-knit, supportive community of filmmakers that we have been fortunate enough to build and call home for the past few years. Filmmaking, at its core, is a collaborative art form, a sentiment that also applies to every aspect of life. And with this community, we thankfully have both (as creative collaborators who push each other to give it their all, and as supportive friends who are there every step of the way).

With this hefty transitional phase just around the corner, the film's message is especially relevant to our peers as we try to find our way both personally and professionally in a world that does not always facilitate the right mindset. 

To highlight the stark contrast between the lives of Stephen and his mother Stephanie, the film will take visual inspiration from the slice-of-life intimacy of Destin Daniel Cretton's Short Term 12:

and the raw naturalism of Lynn Shelton's Outside In: 

as well as the theatrical vibrancy of classic 90s sitcoms and the entertainment landscape of the era:

Your contribution will help to cover the cost of:

Currently, the film is in pre-production with a finalized script. Our next steps in pre-production include location scouting, casting, set construction and dressing, storyboarding, below-the-line crew hiring, and rehearsals. From there, our plan is to start filming in early April with editing to follow and finish by Fall 2022. Afterward, we will be submitting our final film to multiple film festivals to reach larger audiences. Your generous donations will help to cover these costs and ensure that our creative vision comes to fruition. Should we raise more than our goal, those proceeds will be put towards both a higher overall production value and the associated costs for the mini-Growing Up Hill episode (see Incentives).

Thank you for accompanying us on this journey!