The Boy Who Lived Before is the debut feature film written and directed by Stephen Anunson. On August 27th, the film will be released into the Internet from where the idea was born. Join in celebrating this achievement by watching the film at Studio Current with the director and select cast +crew. Bar will be open before the screening.

Doors and Bar: 7:30
Screening 8:00

Film Synopsis:

Cody, a young boy haunted by memories of a past life, delves into the online world, attracting the attention of a budding film crew looking for sensational stories. Cody’s big brother Oliver is his confidant and guide as the pair moves through changing Seattle landscapes. As the memories become stronger and translated through the internet, the brothers confront their parents, who struggle to answer Cody’s questions about his past.

Will this process help him move beyond these troubling memories? Or trap him inside them forever?

Note from the director:

I finished writing the first draft of The Boy Who Lived Before in May of 2014 and shared it some of my close friends and family for feedback. Just now I’ve looked back at that mess of a draft and feel thankful that anyone gave it any feedback at all.

After another 4 months of processing and rewriting, I began reaching out to people I admired in the Seattle film and art community asking them to work with me. To my surprise, almost everyone enthusiastically got on board.

At the time, I was also a nanny for two young boys (Leo and Neko McHegg). I’d noticed that spending time with them had greatly influenced my work and I had a feeling that they may be the right fit to play the lead roles. Again, I was met with enthusiasm when I shared the idea with them and their parents.

In January of 2015, Samantha Herndon joined forces with me as a producer and with huge support from filmmaker Julio Ramirez, we began fundraising and casting the project. By April of 2015 we had successfully raised enough money through Kickstarter to being filming. In addition we gained support from a grant from 4Culture and began making the film shortly after.

We finished principle photography in January, 2016.

For the next 6 months I edited the film. Katie Schultz created the sound design with Lawton Hall doing dialogue. Hannah Gregg did the color correction. The film was finished. We screened at the 2016 Local Sightings Film Festival. Following the screening, we entered the film festival applications and spent about a year mostly being denied. The film was selected for the Riverside International Film Festival and the Seattle International Children’s Film Festival.

By the end of 2017 we were exhausted by the work and I felt I needed some time away from the project. Now, almost a year later (!!!!!!!!!!!) I’m ready to share the film (officially) to the rest of the world.

Please join us in celebrating this work. Everyone involved in this film has grown as artists since completing this film. In addition, the community I find myself in has continued to evolve. Studio Current has played a big part in this change, and I’m excited that they’ve offered to host this release party.

The first person to give me feedback and encourage me was my mother. Looking back at emails related to this film, I found the first draft of the script with her feedback. Here were her closing words.

I just took a walk and was in a mediocre mood. While walking I experienced the most beautiful scene of tiny puffs of cotton blowing through the air. The sun and the white cotton fluffs were truly spectacular.
The wind was coming at me. I was reminded at that moment that the world is full of magic.. Then when I came back and read your script I had to share that with you. There is magic in the world.

Don’t ever forget that.
peace/love

mom

This magic is infused into the film and I think you may even see exactly where it landed. 😉

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