As writer, producer, co-director, and editor (also visual effects, props, costumes, you name it), I think of this film as my child. It can do no wrong. But just like a real child, it has problems - and the parents are definitely to blame.
The film suffers from audio issues. That's front and center. It's filmmaking 101 and it's harped on over and over - get good audio on-set. But we had some issues and ended up with poor dialogue audio in multiple places. I've heard worse (in blockbuster films, no less) but it still gets points taken away. On the plus, the sound design of the ambient sound and sound effects can be fun to listen to. There's a whole story in the audio alone.
It doesn't have a great look. It's true - it lacks that cinematic quality. We are terrible at lighting a set - and we were doing things at breakneck speeds. But I watched a doc years ago that said "if you have a story, don't worry about your camera or the look of the movie, just get it on camera." And I've taken that to heart. It's DIY. It's punk rock.
The story is simple, sweet, hopeful, and fun. And that's exactly what we set out to create. It's not complicated. It's not mind-blowing. It's a simple story about people changing their lives for the better.
The actors are lovely and fun (and were always game for whatever we threw at them). They're the real draw of this film - their believability, their relatability, their chemistry, their charms.
All in all, The Exploding Boy is a tender and funny romp that merely exists to bring a little light and happiness into the world. It's a movie about improving oneself, it's a movie about love and friendship, and it's a movie about kindness. I think everyone should check it out.
