Spectrum Magazine - Interview

I had the honor of being interviewed for a featured article in Spectrum Magazine about The Hideout. I talked about my favorite part of making the film, went in to detail on our casting process, and told how we miraculously came across the critical location of the treehouse.

Q: The subject matter of this film is pretty heavy. What made you decide to broach the issue of sexual abuse?

A: I woke up one day to find out that not only was my grandfather a convicted child molester, but he had abused several of my close friends as well. A whirlwind of emotions sought to consume me, and looking for an outlet, I created The Hideout. It was a way to process the shock. Working closely with victims of abuse and their families, I sought to craft a film that was both unsettling and hopeful, authentic and bold. In every screening of The Hideout so far, a survivor has approached me afterwards with their story; it’s incredible really. This is why I got into film, and I hope to continue to make a difference.

Click here if you would like to read the rest of the interview.

The Director's Statement

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As we enter the film festival circuit for The Hideout, one of the first things many require is a press kit, including posters, story summaries, and cast and crew portraits. One of these requirements is a "director's statement," which encapsulates the director's vision for the film. I had never written one before, so this was a learning experience for me.

After reading some impeccable director's statements from Nicolas Winding Refn, Ridley Scott, and Derek Cianfrance, I felt inspired enough to write my own for The Hideout. You can read it below:

The original concept for the The Hideout was to make a movie about two kids ditching school to play in the woods. However, as I was developing the story I became aware of some shocking news: my grandfather, my favorite relative, the man I couldn’t wait to visit every summer—well, he was a child molester. Not only that, but I found out that he had abused one of my very close childhood friends. Reeling from the news, I found writing to be the only way to process my feelings. It was therapeutic.

As I threw myself into the project I was astounded as more and more friends would approach me, opening up that they had somehow been personally affected by child sex abuse. I gathered stories, moments, and painful memories from these wonderful people and poured it into the script, resulting in a film that rang as emotionally true as I could.

I think The Hideout tells an important story because it is not a matter of "if" you know someone who has been affected by this issue; the odds are that you definitely DO know someone. A family member. A classmate. A brother or sister.

The film that came out of this experience is something that I hope is able to resonate deeply with survivors, their families, and compassionate hearts everywhere.

In addition, prior to filming, Matthew Disbro, producer of The Hideout, interviewed me on why I chose to tell this story. I found expressing myself and clarifying these motivations enabled me to have a clearer vision for the project. You can watch the interview at the bottom.

Now that I've explored the inspiration behind The Hideout, my next post will delve into the screenwriting process and possibly give you a look into the script itself. Thanks for reading!