Surviving Family
| Surviving Family | |
|---|---|
 Promotional film poster | |
| Directed by | Laura Thies |
| Produced by |
Mara Lesemann Carlo Fiorletta |
| Written by | Mara Lesemann |
| Starring |
Billy Magnussen Sarah Wilson Tara Westwood Bill Sage Johnny Hopkins J. D. Williams Phyllis Somerville Vincent Pastore Katherine Hughes |
| Music by | Barry Salmon |
| Cinematography | Timothy Naylor |
| Edited by | Laura Thies |
Production company |
Surviving Family Productions |
Release dates |
|
| Language | English |
Surviving Family is a 2012 American drama about the effects of mental illness and alcoholism on the fictional Malone family.[1] It was directed by Laura Thies and written by Mara Lesemann.[2] The movie starred Billy Magnussen, Sarah Wilson, Tara Westwood, Bill Sage, Johnny Hopkins, J. D. Williams, Vincent Pastore, Phyllis Somerville, and Katherine Hughes. Surviving Family premiered at the 2012 Woods Hole Film Festival, where it was the Runner Up for the Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature.[3]
It was released on iTunes on August 15, 2014.
Plot
Surviving Family counterpoints romance and comedy as it examines the dramatic role of alcoholism and mental illness in the lives of the fictional Malone family.
Terry Malone (Sarah Wilson) shows up unannounced on her father's doorstep - with her fiancé (Billy Magnussen) and a plan to get married in 5 days. She learns that she's not the only one in the family with secrets. As Terry struggles to re-build her relationship with her older sister Jean (Tara Westwood), she learns that her young niece Lily (Katherine Hughes) has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. With the help of her Aunt Mary (Phyllis Somerville), Terry begins to come to terms with the truth behind her mother’s life and death, and her father's alcoholism.
Cast
Billy Magnussen as Alex D’Amico
Sarah Wilson as Terry Malone
Tara Westwood as Jean Malone Fulton
Bill Sage as Jerry Fulton
Johnny Hopkins as Hank Malone
J. D. Williams as Bobby
Phyllis Somerville as Mary Giaccone
Vincent Pastore as Mayor Avenoso
Katherine Hughes as Lily Fulton
Production
Director Laura Thies had previously collaborated with producers Mara Lesemann and Carlo Fiorletta on several short movies, and came on board early in the pre-production process.
The movie was shot over 20 days in July and August of 2011 on a Red One camera. Shooting locations were in New Jersey (Teaneck and Jersey City), New York City, and Bushkill, PA.
Barry Salmon wrote the score.[4] The soundtrack includes Bach’s Prelude to Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007, performed by Canadian Stephane Tetreault. Thies found the young violinist on YouTube.
Release
Surviving Family premiered at the 22nd annual Woods Hole Film Festival on Cape Cod, MA on August 5, 2012. It was the Runner Up for the Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Festival. It went on to screen at 18 other festivals in the US and Canada, winning 20 awards.
Home Media
Surviving Family was released on iTunes on August 15, 2014. Amazon Prime was added in December of that year, along with CineVolt.
References
- ↑ "“Surviving Family” by NSPE Alumnae to Screen at the Manhattan Film Festival: 6/22". Public Engagement. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
- ↑ "Interview with Mara Lesemann and Laura Thies". Rogue Cinema. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
- ↑ "Woods Hole Film Fest 20012 Winners". Woods Hole Film Festival. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ↑ "Conversations with Filmmakers - The Making of a Scene - Surviving Family". NakedFilmmaker. Retrieved 27 January 2012.