Runaway - In Development
It’s about Sam, a teenager who takes care of her parents and wants to be free to focus on herself, but the stops she makes on her way out of town make her reconsider the whole situation.
Brief Description
Sam is a high schooler leaving her dysfunctional household. She drives to a gas station and talks to her attendant friend about the difficulties of juggling school and life. She goes to the grocery store and when shoppings she helps a child find his Mom. Once back to her car she opens her camcorder to reminisce. She notices all of the things she will be leaving behind as she drives to a diner. Once there she talks to an older man about his regrets including leaving his wife. As she begins to reach the edge of town she turns around.
Audience Goals
There are three main groups this film is after. Teenagers, parents of teens, and young adults. With each of these three main groups it's mainly focussed on the ones who are struggling with mental health and responsibility. Teenagers especially those with younger siblings or struggling parents will relate to this film as it tackles the difficulties of those responsibilities. The feelings in this film will relate the most to parents as the main character has taken over the responsibilities of her parents. These parents will mainly be those who struggle with mental health and have difficult home lives. For the young adults it's for those who have either left it all behind or thought about what life would be like if they did. The audience will be mainly women for all three groups and possibly queer. For outreach the focus will be on mental health forums and forums that deal with difficult home lives. It will be about finding places where those with issues similar to the main character gather.
Directors Statement
This film is on paper a fairly grounded melodrama. The only experimental element on the script is the camcorder footage used as flashbacks. That is where the funk of the film will go. The camcorder footage will be spliced in using a variety of methods including rear and front projection. The film will have an early morning y2k look focusing on blues and pinks. The film is about these grounded performances that people can relate to. As the director it is my job to make those performances feel as raw as possible so the audiences can connect. The emotions of the film are new to the main character and I will express that with the way I direct her. The visual style will have a focus on an almost documentary look except for in her own home where that will have a strong emphasis on production design. In a more practical sense I want to create a comfortable and fairly serious set environment. Goofy behavior will be allowed but not during the most emotional moments. I will build a group that are as passionate about their role as I am about mine. The film will be a love letter to my childhood and to my experiences at Temple University.