We recently participated in an exclusive video junket with Chandler Levack, the writer, director and co-producer of the well-regarded festival film I Like Movies, which is now playing theatrically. Levack was accompanied by the lead actor of the film, TIFF Rising Star Isaiah Lehtinen, who plays the somewhat complicated Lawrence Kweller.
We come across Lawrence growing up in Burlington, Ontario, alongside his best friend Matt Macarchuck, (played by Wednesday actor Percy Hynes White), members of The Rejects Club, who would rather watch Saturday Night Live than attend parties. Lawrence entertains dreams of moving on and entering the exclusive Film program at New York’s Tisch School of the Arts and getting away from his small town life of Burlington.
Also participating in this fun junket was actress Romina D’Ugo, who plays Alana, Lawrence’s boss at Sequels, a thinly disguised Blockbuster Video. Alana carries with her a particular trauma. At a key point in the movie, she opens up to a socially phobic Lawrence as to how she feels in order to better motivate him in this comedy/drama.
The aforementioned talent opened up to Brief Take, who took a slightly different approach to examining the material than many of the outlets participating on the junket. The three recalled experiences of watching and experiencing the poignant coming-of-age movie at TIFF (as well as at SBIFF, at which the film had its U.S. premiere). Levack, Lehtinen and D’Ugo revealed intimate details as well, as to the ways in which the different audiences reacted to crucial moments in the film. Lastly, the talented trio explained if the movie altered their perspectives on cinema in any way. I Like Movies is sure to also change your perspective.
WATCH:
I Like Movies is now playing in theatres
