On the brink of graduation, an arrogant student’s career plans are upended and he is forced to spend a stifling summer navigating relationships, pressures and desires he didn’t know existed.
Drinking is fun, but it will never be as thrilling as drinking apple juice and pretending it's a scotch after a long day. I think that’s growing up. The world isn't sweet, it burns.
For many, the thrill of truly living lasts about as long as youth. Our protagonist, Jacob, has arrived at the juncture of college graduation where the real world beckons while the thrill stays behind. He nearly loses sight of it before finding that he has the power to hold onto it, even if only manifested in the pursuit. So often it is the lessons, heartbreaks, failures and disappointments which burn going down that make us appreciate the beauty of the most ordinary days. This is what we are capturing in Child of Woe.
Just as classic cinema has influenced our writing and characters, the midcentury architecture of our hometown Denton, Texas perfectly captures the essence of Child of Woe. A town whose infrastructure hasn’t budged in seventy years, the influence of a new generation and art has slowly changed its color, much like Jacob is changed by his new friends and love for writing. The shooting locations we’ve chosen perfectly reflect the story. The town square that exudes the energy of the 1950s is a reminder of the familial and societal expectation of success that Jacob feels. The sweltering, stale heat reflecting off the curb of Don’s Furniture Depot is the oven in which Jacob slowly roasts, dying to escape. As the city goes to bed and the night life comes alive, Jacob is awakened to new possibilities and alternate paths.
Child of Woe is a fiscally sponsored project of the Austin Film Society. Visit our fiscal sponsor page to learn more and donate. You will receive a letter acknowledging your gift to the Austin Film Society on behalf of the project. Since AFS is a non-profit organization, your donation may be deducted from your taxes as a charitable contribution under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code.
Writer and Director
Writer and Director
Director of Photography
Executive Producer
Producer
Casting Director
Watch this trailer and learn about our previous film here.
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