No Right Way

Chelsea Bo. Remember that name. This writer/director/actor has delivered a near-perfect movie experience. For me, the standout element was the amazing performances Chelsea drew out of her young actors. Granted, Ava Acres is an extraordinary actor, but this is a cast with more kids than adults and every performance is spot-on. When asked how, Chelsea said that she worked hard to create a "safe environment" for the young people on set, then "empowered them". She acknowledges that adults often talk down to kids and her aim on set was to give all her actors some freedom (with unscripted dialogue) and to "trust" them. Turns out she was exactly right, because the young people are the story here and they hold it, carry it, and deliver it with deep authenticity. Hopefully, her next project also includes young actors, because she has a Spielberg-thing going with getting the best out of children and youth on screen. The choice of shots, the setting, the soundtrack - everything underlines the strong writing. If you get a chance to see this film - don't miss it.

This film shows all of the blood, sweat, tears, and dancing that went into making it. It beautifully captures the complexity of life with the family dysfunction everyone experiences at some point. What is particularly impressive are the strong female characters that drive the story and have dominant voices, yet the film reaches a wider audience not just of women and girls, but of men and boys alike. I found myself, a man in his thirties, watching these sisters and seeing myself- my own relationship pains and struggles with some of the people I love most. The reason is that this film displays complex truth. From purely a production quality standpoint, the casting is superb. I genuinely believe the relationships I am watching unfold. I particularly love the soundtrack and felt the music helped drive the emotion with balance of supporting what is onscreen without overshadowing or making you feel directed to feel a certain way. The cinematography is stunning throughout, giving an authentic feel of always being in the room with the characters while also maintaining a beauty in the art of composition, lighting, and angles- simple yet impactful. I can honestly say I watched the entire film without once thinking about the time or wondering when it would end. This is a testament to the pacing and editing used to seamlessly keep the train moving in a way you hardly even notice. All around, "No Right Way" is a film that captures the truth of love and pain in gorgeous indie film style that feels important and mainstream. When you have the opportunity, do yourself a favor and watch it.

Just saw No Right Way a couple nights ago at the Alameda Int'l Film Festival and really loved it. Everyone that I spoke to after the screening felt the same way. This story of a family in crisis is a touchingly realistic, finely observed film that features terrific performances from the entire ensemble, and especially from Ava Acres as Georgie, a teen removed from her home by CPS, Eliza Coupe as her troubled mom Tiffany, and writer-director Chelsea Bo starring as Georgie's much older adult half-sister, who takes her in. It's a touchingly dramatic and at times wryly funny movie that's engaging, credible, and charming. It's amazing that it has not yet been picked up by a major distributor, as it certainly ought to be. If you get a chance to see this one, don't miss it.

With the simplest of budgets, a complicated journey is told through just a few weeks span of Georgie's life. I was surprised to find out that this wonderful storytelling that made me smile, laugh and cry, was primarily improvised. The women in this film opened my eyes and effectively reminded me that my life's treasure can look very different from somebody else's treasure. The film also reminded me to withhold judgement, keep an open heart and mind, and to operate from a place of love. The characters all had flaws revealed and yet I walked away only remembering and being inspired by their best traits. Thank you for a beautiful film. The message reaches a wide audience, inspiring youth and adults alike, encouraging all sorts of people from all walks of life.

My wife and I attend an annual film festival every year with an emphasis on outdoor / mountain culture for the last 20+ years. Despite our aging bodies, we love the creativity, adventure, adrenaline, etc. Which never ceases to excite our souls.

That being said, we were invited to take part in an early viewing of "No Way Out" this past week. While also falling into the "indie" category, it was a distant leap to what we are used to. We were blown away by how the movie captured us within the roles of Georgie and Harper. The storyline delivers roadblocks for each character which left us intrigued by how they navigated the situations they were faced with. The combination of a story line with a "real life" parallel, creative improvisation, and a dose of "downs" and steady "feel-good ups", made this a really enjoyable experience to take part in AND take with afterwards. Great work by all involved!