A Story Worth Living
Allison Foster and her childhood best friend, Melissa, find themselves attending the same college. Wanting to end her junior year strong, overachiever Allison receives a class assignment that goes beyond the classroom and encourages her to perceive life in a more positive light. Coming from a family that has a past of dealing with mental illness, Allison strives to obtain a more optimistic view with the help of her new boyfriend, Jacob Russell. However, Allison's merry shift of focus may be short-lived, as she did not foresee what was about to change everything.
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Vanessa LeonardDirectorMock N Roll, New Blood Rising, New Blood Awakening, Talk Nerdy to Me, Fire Power
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Kayla ElizabethAssistant DirectorNew Blood Rising, New Blood Awakening, Descending
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Vanessa LeonardWriterMock N Roll, New Blood Rising, New Blood Awakening, Talk Nerdy to Me, Fire Power
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Mark StewartProducerMock N Roll
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Zak KolhoffCinematographerNew Blood Descending, Talk Nerdy To Me
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Vanessa LeonardKey Cast"Allison Foster"Mock N Roll, New Blood Rising, New Blood Awakening, Talk Nerdy to Me, Fire Power
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Joe MoralesKey Cast"Jacob Russell"The Last Summer, Gretchen's Lock, Unwavering, Billion Dollar Bus Stop
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Melissa Sue ZahsKey Cast"Melissa Watkins"New Blood Awakening, Descending, Talk Nerdy to Me, Pi Day Die Day
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Sarah Bertz-ThomasKey Cast"Janet Foster"New Blood Awakening, Talk Nerdy to Me, Shelved, Pi Day Die Day
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Allan MeyetteKey Cast"Mark Foster"New Blood Rising, New Blood Awakening, Descending, Talk Nerdy to Me, Shelved, The Organization
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Project Type:Feature
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Genres:Drama, Romance, Mental Health
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Runtime:1 hour 36 minutes 16 seconds
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Completion Date:November 10, 2019
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Production Budget:6,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital, Sony and Canon
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Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Golden State Film FestivalLos Angeles
United States
February 24, 2020
World Premiere
Official Selection -
International New York Film FestivalNew York City
United States
June 21, 2020
New York Premiere
Official Selection, Won Best Feature under $25k, Best Woman Filmmaker -
Manhattanhedge International Film FestivalNew York City
United States
July 15, 2020
Official Selection -
Las Vegas Film and Screenwriting FestivalLas Vegas
United States
November 14, 2020
Nevada
Official Selection -
The Hague Global Cinema FestivalHague
Netherlands
November 14, 2020
Netherlands
Official Selection -
Vesuvius International Film FestivalCampania
Italy
November 28, 2020
Italy Premiere
Official Selection - Won Best Director, Best Trailer, Best Poster -
Seattle Film FestivalSeattle
United States
December 19, 2020
Washington Premiere
Official Selection, Nominee for Best U.S. Feature, Best U.S. Director, Best U.S. Feature Actress, Best World Emerging Director -
Central Florida Film FestivalOrlando
United States
January 22, 2021
Florida Premiere
Official Selection, Nominee for Best Drama -
Depth of Field International Film FestivalNassau
United States
February 27, 2021
Delaware Premiere
Award of Excellence, Official Selection -
Colorado International Activism Film FestivalDenver
United States
July 23, 2021
Colorado Premiere
Best Direction and Best Production Awards, Finalist, Official Selection -
Up Next Film FestivalAtlanta
United States
September 11, 2021
Georgia
Best Feature Film, Finalist, Official Selection -
Raleigh Film & Arts FestivalRaleigh
United States
October 2, 2021
North Carolina Premiere
Official Selection -
Mabig Film FestivalMabig
Germany
December 4, 2021
Germany Premiere
Official Selection -
Silver State Film FestivalLas Vegas
United States
October 28, 2021
Nevada State Premiere
Best Original Feature Screenplay, Official Selection -
Mesa International Film FestivalMesa
United States
December 3, 2021
Arizona State Premiere
Official Selection -
Athens International Digital Film FestivalAthens
Greece
December 11, 2021
Greece Premiere
Finalist, Official Selection -
Paris Independent Film FestivalParis
France
April 23, 2022
France Premiere
Official Selection, Best Low Budget Feature -
Cannes Independent Film FestivalCannes
France
May 18, 2022
Premiere in Cannes
Official Selection, Best Low Budget Feature
Ohio native, Vanessa Leonard is no stranger to the stage or camera. She performed in several theatrical acts when younger for her church and school. But her passion for making movies started when she was twelve years old, when she asked her parents for a video camera. Once gifted with a camcorder, then came the story writing and the casting friends and family for fan fiction projects like "Sherlock Holmes" and "Star Wars" shorts, as well as original short stories.
After receiving her bachelor's degree at Bowling Green State University, Vanessa found opportunities that let her continue her passion, as she landed various roles for several regional independent films and television advertisements.
Vanessa, however, wanted to expand her acting talents. So she returned to her teenage roots and wrote her first screenplay and directed her first feature-length film, “A Story Worth Living.”
Though the message is timelier now, I wrote the script in 2017. The goal is to normalize the topic of on mental illness in a fresh way. I wanted this film to be as raw and authentic as possible when addressing depression and mood disorders.
Mental illness is often over-dramatized in big budget films, being portrayed in horror or suspenseful genres. But statistically prior to the pandemic, 1 in 5 adults have an emotional or mental trauma, while living every day normal lives. They are family members, coworkers, neighbors, and sometimes ourselves.
I aim to inspire the audience to bring out the best in others while making the most out of their own lives. I am confident my film will bring tears to viewers' eyes - both happy and sad.
And with popular tunes from Foster the People, Starflyer 59, Further Seems Forever, Southbound Fearing, Cappa and more, A Story Worth Living is sure to be a crowd favorite.