Strand Releasing recently released writer-director Justin Lerner’s Girlfriend on DVD in the United States. The DVD release includes a BBC Interview with writer-director Justin Lerner and a couple of behind-the-scenes features: "The Making of Girlfriend' and "The Scoring of Girlfriend". Winner of the Audience Award at Gotham Independent Film Awards, Girlfriend is a moving, coming-of-age drama that explores the nature of love and human compassion. Evan (Evan Sneider), a young adult with Down Syndrome, lives with his mother (Amanda Plummer) in a poor, working-class town. He unexpectedly inherits a large sum of money and decides to use it to help out his friend, Candy (Shannon Woodward), a single mother in dire financial straights. Girlfriend subverts conventions, presenting a fresh take on love, struggle and family in contemporary society. Strand Releasing provided Smells Like Screen Spirit with this exclusive 2:15 clip from Girlfriend for our loyal readers to enjoy.
- 8/17/2012
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
In early 2009 I took my childhood friend Evan Sneider, a 31 year-old with Down Syndrome, out to lunch to see whether he’d be interested in letting me write a feature length film for him to star in, Girlfriend.
“It’s going to be a little dark, Evan,” I said to him. “There’s going to be violence, and maybe even a little sex.”
“That’s fine with me,” Evan said with a smile while finishing a steak and cheese pizza. “Sounds like fun.”
Five months after that lunch we were casting the other roles and had found three willing actors – Shannon Woodward, Amanda Plummer, and Jackson Rathbone – to act alongside Evan and a group of non-professionals I hand-picked from our hometown of Wayland, Massachusetts.
Four months after that we were shooting, and year after that we were world premiering at the 2010 Toronto Int’l Film Festival.
And then, another year and some film festivals later,...
“It’s going to be a little dark, Evan,” I said to him. “There’s going to be violence, and maybe even a little sex.”
“That’s fine with me,” Evan said with a smile while finishing a steak and cheese pizza. “Sounds like fun.”
Five months after that lunch we were casting the other roles and had found three willing actors – Shannon Woodward, Amanda Plummer, and Jackson Rathbone – to act alongside Evan and a group of non-professionals I hand-picked from our hometown of Wayland, Massachusetts.
Four months after that we were shooting, and year after that we were world premiering at the 2010 Toronto Int’l Film Festival.
And then, another year and some film festivals later,...
- 12/1/2011
- by Justin Lerner
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
We have a special treat for you tonight, with a fantastic review of Jackson Rathbone’s movie, Girlfriend. The review is written for Ta by our very own Becky, perhaps better known as Becky in Philly to many who know her here. Enjoy the Girlfriend review below, and then find a way to watch the movie!
Girlfriend is the story of a young man named Evan, with Down Syndrome, whose wish is for a love affair. When his mother dies, he is left on
his own and he decides to use money left by his mother to help a former classmate, Candy, played by Shannon Woodward, who is struggling to raise her son and deal with her ex-boyfriend, Russ, played by Jackson Rathbone.
The movie follows a series of choices Candy, Russ, and others around Evan make that in some way affect him. Some choose to use him, others choose to ignore or dislike him, though some choose to be his friend. The film is a lesson on how we treat others and how they in return treat us. It is compelling and gripping, drawing you into Evan’s life and those around him.
Newcomer Evan Sneider plays the role of Evan as if he were a well-versed actor. He is, at times, the innocence in a sea of people that only want things from each other and will use any means they can to get it. You feel the loneliness Evan feels as he goes about his life with people all around him that don’t have the time for him or don’t want him around. You feel the frustration he has with his own physical limitations and people’s perceptions of those with disabilities. You feel his utter sadness at the loss of his mother and his want to seek solace and comfort in someone.
Woodward’s Candy is trying to protect her son, while at the same time making bad choices about the men in her life. She struggles with trying to understand Evan’s interest in her but chooses to play along with him, thinking he doesn’t understand her actions, and uses him to her own advantage.
Rathbone plays the role of bad boy Russ well. He makes you dislike Russ, giving him a smarmy smile and a condescending attitude. Russ’ only interest in Evan is to use him to get to Candy.
An award winner at Tiff ’10, the movie has been high anticipated and very well reviewed. The movie enjoyed an extended run at the Quad Cinema in New York City in July. It has been shown at a number of film festivals around the world including Ireland, Portugal, and Russia as well as a number of festivals here in the Us. It recently won Best Narrative Feature and Best of Festival at the Woods Hole Film Festival in Massachusetts. The movie was filmed outside of Boston.
On September 16, there will be a showing at the Cornell Cinema, the Cornell University Film School’s year round film festival. You can check out more here.
On September 21, Girlfriend will make its Los Angeles premiere at the Downtown Independent Theater to be followed by a Q & A and then a rooftop after party DJ’d by Jackson Rathbone. Find out more here.
The film will also have a showing on Friday, October 21, in Auburn Hills, Mi to benefit the Spencer Bell Endowment fund at the University of Michigan.
Check out Girlfriend Motion Picture for more info!
Many, many thanks to Ta’s own Becky for her fantastic review and constant work to get Girlfriend the attention it deserves!
Girlfriend is the story of a young man named Evan, with Down Syndrome, whose wish is for a love affair. When his mother dies, he is left on
his own and he decides to use money left by his mother to help a former classmate, Candy, played by Shannon Woodward, who is struggling to raise her son and deal with her ex-boyfriend, Russ, played by Jackson Rathbone.
The movie follows a series of choices Candy, Russ, and others around Evan make that in some way affect him. Some choose to use him, others choose to ignore or dislike him, though some choose to be his friend. The film is a lesson on how we treat others and how they in return treat us. It is compelling and gripping, drawing you into Evan’s life and those around him.
Newcomer Evan Sneider plays the role of Evan as if he were a well-versed actor. He is, at times, the innocence in a sea of people that only want things from each other and will use any means they can to get it. You feel the loneliness Evan feels as he goes about his life with people all around him that don’t have the time for him or don’t want him around. You feel the frustration he has with his own physical limitations and people’s perceptions of those with disabilities. You feel his utter sadness at the loss of his mother and his want to seek solace and comfort in someone.
Woodward’s Candy is trying to protect her son, while at the same time making bad choices about the men in her life. She struggles with trying to understand Evan’s interest in her but chooses to play along with him, thinking he doesn’t understand her actions, and uses him to her own advantage.
Rathbone plays the role of bad boy Russ well. He makes you dislike Russ, giving him a smarmy smile and a condescending attitude. Russ’ only interest in Evan is to use him to get to Candy.
An award winner at Tiff ’10, the movie has been high anticipated and very well reviewed. The movie enjoyed an extended run at the Quad Cinema in New York City in July. It has been shown at a number of film festivals around the world including Ireland, Portugal, and Russia as well as a number of festivals here in the Us. It recently won Best Narrative Feature and Best of Festival at the Woods Hole Film Festival in Massachusetts. The movie was filmed outside of Boston.
On September 16, there will be a showing at the Cornell Cinema, the Cornell University Film School’s year round film festival. You can check out more here.
On September 21, Girlfriend will make its Los Angeles premiere at the Downtown Independent Theater to be followed by a Q & A and then a rooftop after party DJ’d by Jackson Rathbone. Find out more here.
The film will also have a showing on Friday, October 21, in Auburn Hills, Mi to benefit the Spencer Bell Endowment fund at the University of Michigan.
Check out Girlfriend Motion Picture for more info!
Many, many thanks to Ta’s own Becky for her fantastic review and constant work to get Girlfriend the attention it deserves!
- 9/4/2011
- by Evie
- twilightersanonymous.com
It's not often that I can honestly say that a movie strikes me as completely original, but that is true of Justin Lerner's new film "Girlfriend," opening today in New York. It's the sort of film I have trouble even assigning a genre as I watch it, and I strongly encourage you to get out and support this tiny indie right now while you can, and maybe we'll see this one get a wider release, which it absolutely deserves. I'm curious what the order of events was for this one. The lead in the movie, Evan Sneider, is a young man...
- 7/15/2011
- Hitfix
Poster from Justin Lerner's Girlfriend starring Evan Sneider, Jackson Rathbone, Shannon Woodward and Amanda Plummer. Girlfriend tells of a young man with Down's Syndrome romantically pursues a small town single mom who is still mixed up with her volatile ex-boyfriend. Justin Lerner makes his feature-length directorial debut on the drama, helming from his own screenplay. Pic is produced by Jerad Anderson, Kristina Lauren Anderson, Shaun O'Banion, Jackson Rathbone, Sarah Steinberg Heller and Lerner...
- 6/23/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Poster from Justin Lerner's Girlfriend starring Evan Sneider, Jackson Rathbone, Shannon Woodward and Amanda Plummer. Girlfriend tells of a young man with Down's Syndrome romantically pursues a small town single mom who is still mixed up with her volatile ex-boyfriend. Justin Lerner makes his feature-length directorial debut on the drama, helming from his own screenplay. Pic is produced by Jerad Anderson, Kristina Lauren Anderson, Shaun O'Banion, Jackson Rathbone, Sarah Steinberg Heller and Lerner...
- 6/23/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Poster from Justin Lerner's Girlfriend starring Evan Sneider, Jackson Rathbone, Shannon Woodward and Amanda Plummer. Girlfriend tells of a young man with Down's Syndrome romantically pursues a small town single mom who is still mixed up with her volatile ex-boyfriend. Justin Lerner makes his feature-length directorial debut on the drama, helming from his own screenplay. Pic is produced by Jerad Anderson, Kristina Lauren Anderson, Shaun O'Banion, Jackson Rathbone, Sarah Steinberg Heller and Lerner...
- 6/23/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
MTV has a great article talking about how Jackson Rathbone’s indie hit Girlfriend is having some money troubles and limiting the number of people who see the movie. To help the film reach as wide of an audience as possible, the producers of Girlfriend have set up a fundraising page. Read more below:
Sometimes, critical acclaim, online buzz and a “Twilight” star just aren’t enough for an indie film to reach a wider audience. Such is the case with the Toronto International Film Festival hit “Girlfriend,” starring Shannon Woodward (“Raising Hope”), Evan Sneider (the first lead feature film actor with Down’s Syndrome) and some guy you may have heard of named Jackson Rathbone.
As a way to get their film to as wide an audience as possible, the producers of “Girlfriend” created their own fundraising page on IndieGoGo.com. It’s pretty simple: The adoring public spares some cash, and the producers will use that money to hold more screenings of the film in theaters, on demand and online.
In a statement exclusive to Hollywood Crush, “Girlfriend” producers Justin Lerner (who also directed the movie), Jerad Anderson, Kristina Lauren Anderson and Shaun O’Banion explained why they created the site.
“As many people know, the costs of finishing a film, making prints, submitting to festivals, as well as publicity and marketing (the big one) are, as Kevin Smith pointed out at Sundance this year, sometimes more costly than an indie film’s entire budget. Therein lies the dilemma for a complex, artistic, intelligent film like ours,” they wrote.
Read the full story at MTV here.
Sometimes, critical acclaim, online buzz and a “Twilight” star just aren’t enough for an indie film to reach a wider audience. Such is the case with the Toronto International Film Festival hit “Girlfriend,” starring Shannon Woodward (“Raising Hope”), Evan Sneider (the first lead feature film actor with Down’s Syndrome) and some guy you may have heard of named Jackson Rathbone.
As a way to get their film to as wide an audience as possible, the producers of “Girlfriend” created their own fundraising page on IndieGoGo.com. It’s pretty simple: The adoring public spares some cash, and the producers will use that money to hold more screenings of the film in theaters, on demand and online.
In a statement exclusive to Hollywood Crush, “Girlfriend” producers Justin Lerner (who also directed the movie), Jerad Anderson, Kristina Lauren Anderson and Shaun O’Banion explained why they created the site.
“As many people know, the costs of finishing a film, making prints, submitting to festivals, as well as publicity and marketing (the big one) are, as Kevin Smith pointed out at Sundance this year, sometimes more costly than an indie film’s entire budget. Therein lies the dilemma for a complex, artistic, intelligent film like ours,” they wrote.
Read the full story at MTV here.
- 2/1/2011
- by Evie
- twilightersanonymous.com
The first photos of Daniel Radcliffe in Victorian-era garb on the set of gothic thriller The Woman in Black, and the first stills of Jim Sturgess and Anne Hathaway in Lone Scherfig's "One Day" at USA Today and The Guardian.
With filming underway on "Captain America", photos have emerged of a submarine to be used by the titular hero in the film. There's also a video of Chris Evans filming an action scene.
Poster for Another Year, The Next Three Days, Stone, Carlos, Unstoppable and Red
"Clint Eastwood's "Hereafter" has changed its release plans. While it will still open wide on October 22nd, it will now also open in New York City, Los Angeles and Toronto on October 15th..." (full details)
"Chris Noth says the "Sex and the City" film franchise is dead and blames the critical slams of the sequel - "It's over. The franchise is dead.
With filming underway on "Captain America", photos have emerged of a submarine to be used by the titular hero in the film. There's also a video of Chris Evans filming an action scene.
Poster for Another Year, The Next Three Days, Stone, Carlos, Unstoppable and Red
"Clint Eastwood's "Hereafter" has changed its release plans. While it will still open wide on October 22nd, it will now also open in New York City, Los Angeles and Toronto on October 15th..." (full details)
"Chris Noth says the "Sex and the City" film franchise is dead and blames the critical slams of the sequel - "It's over. The franchise is dead.
- 9/29/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
A new, behind-the-scenes video from Jackson Rathbone's Girlfriend movie has just been revealed by MTV's Hollywood Crush.
In the video, Rathbone and his co-stars are shown filming a fight scene for the movie, and it seems that despite the heated tension of the moment, the set was a place of much fun for all involved.
Girlfriend was written and directed by Justin Lerner, and it stars Evan Sneider, Shannon Woodward, Amanda Plummer, and Jerad Anderson (from Rathbone's band 100 Monkeys). They have all been in Canada promoting the movie at the Toronto International Film Festival this week, and a trailer for the movie was revealed a few we ..
In the video, Rathbone and his co-stars are shown filming a fight scene for the movie, and it seems that despite the heated tension of the moment, the set was a place of much fun for all involved.
Girlfriend was written and directed by Justin Lerner, and it stars Evan Sneider, Shannon Woodward, Amanda Plummer, and Jerad Anderson (from Rathbone's band 100 Monkeys). They have all been in Canada promoting the movie at the Toronto International Film Festival this week, and a trailer for the movie was revealed a few we ..
- 9/16/2010
- by thetwilightexaminer
- Twilight Examiner
There have been a few new great Twilight cast interviews popping up here and there, so to keep it simple, here's a round-up of the latest!
Jackson Rathbone with Chum Radio: Jackson Rathbone ("Jasper" in the Twilight series) took time while in Toronto (at Tiff) promoting his movie Girlfriend's release to talk to a local radio station about his fan experiences, how he enjoyed working with co-star Evan Sneider for the picture, and more. You can listen to it in full here.
Rachelle Lefevre with the Montreal Gazette: A short but lovely interview with Rachelle Lefevre has been posted by the Montreal Gazette, introducing Lefevre's thoughts on her character in Barney's Version, he .. Chaske Spencer, Kellan Lutz, Daniel Cudmore, Tyson Houseman, Tinsel Korey, Robert Pattinson's directors for Water For Elephants and Bel Ami (2011) . . .
Jackson Rathbone with Chum Radio: Jackson Rathbone ("Jasper" in the Twilight series) took time while in Toronto (at Tiff) promoting his movie Girlfriend's release to talk to a local radio station about his fan experiences, how he enjoyed working with co-star Evan Sneider for the picture, and more. You can listen to it in full here.
Rachelle Lefevre with the Montreal Gazette: A short but lovely interview with Rachelle Lefevre has been posted by the Montreal Gazette, introducing Lefevre's thoughts on her character in Barney's Version, he .. Chaske Spencer, Kellan Lutz, Daniel Cudmore, Tyson Houseman, Tinsel Korey, Robert Pattinson's directors for Water For Elephants and Bel Ami (2011) . . .
- 9/15/2010
- by thetwilightexaminer
- Twilight Examiner
There have been a few new great Twilight cast interviews popping up here and there, so to keep it simple, here's a round-up of the latest! Jackson Rathbone with Chum Radio: Jackson Rathbone ("Jasper" in the Twilight series) took time while in Toronto (at Tiff) promoting his movie Girlfriend's release to talk to a local radio station about his fan experiences, how he enjoyed working with co-star Evan Sneider for the picture, and more. You can listen to it in full here. Rachelle Lefevre with the Montreal Gazette: A short but lovely interview with Rachelle Lefevre has been...
- 9/15/2010
- by amandajunebernard
- Examiner Movies Channel
Toronto is crawling with the movie stars you’d expect to see here, from Kevin Spacey to Colin Firth to Marion Cotillard. But there’s always room in the festival for a genuinely new face, and nobody at Tiff 2010 exhibits that quite as dramatically as Evan Sneider.
Sneider, a 31-year-old actor with Down Syndrome, is the star of “Girlfriend,” the sweet, beguiling and at times wrenching feature debut from writer-director Justin Lerner about a small-town young man with Down who romantically pursues a single mom.
Sneider, a 31-year-old actor with Down Syndrome, is the star of “Girlfriend,” the sweet, beguiling and at times wrenching feature debut from writer-director Justin Lerner about a small-town young man with Down who romantically pursues a single mom.
- 9/14/2010
- The Wrap
"Girlfriend" is another film that is going to have its world premiere at upcoming Toronto International Film Festival and a trailer for the movie has been provided. The video opens with a preview to Evan, a young man with Down Syndrome who has a crush on a local girl named Candy.
Though she used to keep her distance with Evan, Candy cannot refuse some money offered by Evan when she is hit with huge debts. As she gets closer to Evan, Candy also cannot shake the attentions of her volatile ex-boyfriend, Russ, leading them to an intricate tangle of emotions, expectations and secrets.
Evan Sneider takes the lead role with Shannon Woodward portraying his love interest. Jackson Rathbone stars as Russ, joined by Amanda Plummer who plays Evan's mother. Justin Lerner directs the drama and writes the script. This film will be screened at Tiff on September 12, 13 and 19, but is yet to get U.
Though she used to keep her distance with Evan, Candy cannot refuse some money offered by Evan when she is hit with huge debts. As she gets closer to Evan, Candy also cannot shake the attentions of her volatile ex-boyfriend, Russ, leading them to an intricate tangle of emotions, expectations and secrets.
Evan Sneider takes the lead role with Shannon Woodward portraying his love interest. Jackson Rathbone stars as Russ, joined by Amanda Plummer who plays Evan's mother. Justin Lerner directs the drama and writes the script. This film will be screened at Tiff on September 12, 13 and 19, but is yet to get U.
- 9/2/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
From Hollywood Crush: In previous interviews with the director and cast of “Girlfriend,” the creators of the film were hesitant about revealing too many plot points. What was known was the plot involved a romance between "New Moon" star Jackson Rathbone and Shannon Woodward as ex-high school sweethearts, but a love triangle was also mentioned with the third angle not disclosed.
Earlier this week, on a visit to the set of “Girlfriend,” director Justin Lerner and his crew decided to share exclusively with MTV the large portion of plot they have been hiding secret: the film’s main character, Evan Grey.
Evan Grey (played by Evan Sneider, pictured, also inspired the character) is a man in his twenties with down syndrome who wants to find love from a woman, and the film (appropriately titled) is about his journey to find a girlfriend. During the course of the tale, Evan comes...
Earlier this week, on a visit to the set of “Girlfriend,” director Justin Lerner and his crew decided to share exclusively with MTV the large portion of plot they have been hiding secret: the film’s main character, Evan Grey.
Evan Grey (played by Evan Sneider, pictured, also inspired the character) is a man in his twenties with down syndrome who wants to find love from a woman, and the film (appropriately titled) is about his journey to find a girlfriend. During the course of the tale, Evan comes...
- 10/19/2009
- by Terri Schwartz
- MTV Movies Blog
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