Under the \u2062Lights<\/a><\/strong>. According to Levin, \u201cThe best movies come from journal entries you wouldn\u2019t want anyone\u2063 to read.\u201d His film aims to turn \u200dprivate pain into universal storytelling, resonating deeply with audiences who have felt similarly silenced.<\/p>\nThe emotional leap<\/h2>\n
For Levin, creating\u2062 Under the Lights<\/strong> was an emotional leap<\/strong>. He\u200d highlights\u200d that stories we\u2064 wish\u2062 to hide often strike a chord with others. \u201cIf you\u200c have a story that comes\u2063 out of you with no risk whatsoever, \u2063it\u2019s less likely to be\u200b honest. \u200bBut if it\u2019s\u2062 something you\u2019d rather hide under your \u200cbed\u2026 \u200bIt \u2063can be relatable to other people,\u201d he explains. Levin\u2019s dramatic retelling of \u2062his experiences aims to bridge the gap between personal vulnerability and shared understanding.<\/p>\nRecognition at American Film Festival<\/h2>\n
The\u2062 film has already garnered significant attention, winning four prizes at the industry sidebar of Poland\u2019s American Film \u2062Festival, U.S. in Progress<\/strong>. Currently in\u200d post-production, Levin\u2019s drama \u2064follows the \u2063journey of Sam, a teenager striving for normalcy despite his epilepsy. He dreams of attending prom, facing the fears and protective instincts of his mother. The story, rich\u2063 with raw emotion, is a testament to the struggles\u2063 and triumphs of\u2064 those living with\u2063 this condition.<\/p>\nA talented cast<\/h2>\n
Pearce Joza, who starred in Levin\u2019s 2020 short film of the same\u200b title, reprises\u2064 his role in the feature-length version. Joza\u2019s profound impact on the epilepsy community \u2064is acknowledged by Levin:\u2062 \u201cWe have so few torchbearers. Pearce is someone who truly\u2064 understands.\u201d The ensemble cast also includes Lake Bell<\/strong>,\u2064 Nick \u2063Offerman<\/strong>,\u2062 Mark Duplass<\/strong>, Randall Park<\/strong>, Tanzyn Crawford<\/strong>, and Marin Hinkle<\/strong>. The blend of empathy and personal connections to epilepsy among the\u2062 actors enriches the narrative, ensuring authenticity.<\/p>\nThe essence of raw and honest storytelling<\/h2>\n
The film\u2019s producer, Natalie\u2064 Metzger, Vice President of production and development \u2062at Vanishing Angle, emphasizes the raw\u2062 and honest interactions between Sam and his mother. \u201cThere are\u200d really\u2063 raw scenes\u2062 between them in \u2062the film: raw and honest,\u201d she elaborates. Levin himself reveals his insecurities about translating his personal experiences onto paper, acknowledging the inescapable \u2063complexities of\u2063 family dynamics \u2063affected by disability. Writing this script has given him a deeper understanding of his own parents, especially his mother.<\/p>\n
Not just another teen movie<\/h2>\n
Although focused on\u200b a teenager\u2019s story, Under the Lights<\/strong> \u2062 is \u2064far from a typical\u2062 teen movie. Metzger assures that while it does\u2064 contain elements of humor, it is a far cry from a \u2064clich\u00e9d prom movie. Levin and Metzger aimed to craft\u200b a film that \u200dis both entertaining and profound, avoiding the trap of delivering a dreary\u2063 Public\u2063 Service Announcement about epilepsy. Levin insists, \u201cWe need\u200d you to understand this is\u2063 not \u200da \u2018prom movie.\u2019 It\u2019s about not wanting to feel\u200d left behind.\u201d<\/p>\nBreaking \u2062stereotypes about disability<\/h2>\n
One of Levin\u2019s paramount goals is to shift the narrative surrounding disability in cinema. He criticizes the stereotypical portrayal of disabled characters as solely tragic figures deserving of pity. \u201cThere are 100 little ways \u200din which you \u200dcould \u200dtake a film like this and make it awful,\u201d Levin warns. His approach ensures that the film reflects the nuanced reality of living with epilepsy, presenting characters as multi-dimensional \u2064individuals rather than as mere embodiments of their afflictions.<\/p>\n
The complexity\u2064 of human interactions<\/h2>\n
Levin\u2019s film underscores the \u2064idea that \u201ceveryone is complicated.\u201d He conveys that human interactions are fraught with potential mistakes, often made by those who mean well.\u200c Highlighting a line from a scene with Nick Offerman, Levin illustrates \u2063this theme: \u201cJane, she\u2019s trying to help you. Let her help you.\u201d\u200b This sentiment encapsulates \u2063the film\u2019s \u2064core narrative,\u200d emphasizing the necessity of empathy and mutual understanding.<\/p>\n
Impacting an invisible population<\/h2>\n
Levin hopes that Under the Lights<\/strong> will spark \u2064a wider \u200drecognition and appreciation for the struggles faced\u2062 by the epilepsy community. He aspires for the film to resonate not only\u200d with those directly affected by epilepsy but\u200c also with a broader audience, fostering greater awareness and empathy. Referring to his\u2063 personal sacrifices and experiences, Levin immerses himself fully in his art, declaring, \u201cI\u2019ve never loved anything as \u200bmuch as\u2062 I love this film.\u201d<\/p>\nAs the film’s release approaches, Levin\u2019s dedication\u200d and passion shine through, ensuring that Under the Lights<\/strong> will be an\u200b impactful and memorable contribution\u200d to cinema. Engage\u2064 with this\u2063 compelling narrative by sharing the \u2063story and following our platform for more updates on its journey.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Director Miles Levin brings his personal journey with epilepsy to the forefront in “Under the Lights,” a film that promises to resonate deeply. \u201cThe best movies come from journal entries you wouldn\u2019t want anyone to read,\u201d Levin shares. Featuring Pearce Joza, Lake Bell, and Nick Offerman, the film delves into the complexities of living with epilepsy, aiming to revolutionize perceptions. Set to premiere in 2025, this drama is a compelling blend of raw emotion and humor<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":17002,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17000","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-movie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/movieetv.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17000","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/movieetv.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/movieetv.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/movieetv.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/movieetv.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17000"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/movieetv.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17000\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/movieetv.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/movieetv.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17000"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/movieetv.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17000"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/movieetv.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17000"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}