Hold Her Hand

Our film is set both in Sligo, Ireland and Scranton, Pennsylvania. We'll be traveling to Sligo (where the director's cousin and script consultant is from) to capture drone footage of rolling hills as well as close-ups of exteriors of buildings. The other 95% of the principal photography for the film will be captured in the director's hometown of Scranton, PA. Scranton's rough textures, beautiful architecture and staple, local-favorite locations will serve to create a hometown feel that grounds our story in authenticity.

There are 37 characters in our story, ranging from an airplane steward with one line, to people we see in several scenes, to our main characters. Below are our two main protagonists. It can be said that the antagonists in our story are the troubled and angry inner wounds of them both.

Evelyn
Evelyn is emotionally charged and extroverted. She can be difficult when fired up, but she typically masks with a cool exterior. She’s incredibly protective of the ones she loves- especially her grandmother Lisa, who raised Evelyn on their family's old dairy farm. Evelyn's Father died when she was six, and her Mother left Ireland shortly after, to seek the successful acting career of her dreams. Evelyn's energy is brazen and strong, but her unprocessed childhood trauma leaves her lacking in confidence. She doesn’t trust her photography or sketch artwork, so she keeps this piece of herself quiet while bartending for a living. If Evelyn is a leaf being tossed around in the wind.. it’s as if she finds her tree the night Jack walks in.

Jack
Jack is cerebral and introverted. He’s curious but cautious. His Mom and Dad split when Jack was five, for reasons unclear to Jack. Ever since, Jack’s Mom, Dolores, has struggled with substance abuse and depression. Having largely raised himself, Jack is independent and strong, but is hardened.. and skeptical of the world that he feels lost in. He found a home in the army - a place where he feels worthwhile and strong. But after all he’s seen, and after the loss of his good friend, Jack is left with post traumatic stress and depression. His inclination toward music is unsupported by his lifestyle, leaving his inner artist starved and out of balance. That first night Jack meets Evelyn.. it’s as if a light turns on in a room that’s been otherwise dark for some time.

I see the world through a trauma-sensitive lens. Whether I’m making art, working on a character or teaching yoga- I’m moving through space and time with a commitment to sensitivity. Everyone has been through something. But there are those among us who struggle the most- with childhood trauma, grief from a recent loss, chronic illness, severe depression, anxiety, substance abuse disorders and so much more. Hold Her Hand tells a story about a man with PTSD, depression and a history of neglect, who meets a woman who’s dealt with immense loss in childhood, and who manages fear and anxiety around abandonment. Both characters suffer a loss of self worth, and they struggle to pinpoint their authentic identity. The weight of managing their unprocessed trauma is like carrying a boulder around on their shoulders day in and out.

These burdens are familiar to anyone managing trauma. Our society’s pressure to keep life moving quickly, while often neglecting our emotional processing, only makes that boulder heavier. No one who struggles should be left alone, or be forced to set aside their pain. So often, neglecting our pain can lead to exiling our inner child of the past. In our story, each of the main character’s younger selves join them on their journey- reminding them that the processing of the past must come before they can open their hearts to each other.

But why now?
There is an enormous amount of content to digest on all streaming platforms right now. There’s more television than ever and a new movie to watch every day. But how much of it can we identify with? How much of what we see is uplifting and real; hopeful and relatable? Our world is currently in an upheaval of violence, corruption and chaos. Those of us who need help the most are being stripped of resources, aid, and dignity. I’ve been writing this screenplay for six years, and finally it feels imperative that the time to take action and bring it to life- is right now. Our story counters the present day culture that encourages violence, exhaustion and exclusion. We instead offer a narrative of hope, inclusion and love. Worth is our birthright. It is every human’s right to feel safe, to feel seen- and to feel loved. Hold Her Hand champions the notion that all humans deserve support, love and respect- especially in the face of hardship and trauma.

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