Table of Contents
Three Key Takeaways
- Highway To The Moon is Letitia Wright's heartfelt love letter to young black boys, exploring their complex emotions and brotherhood.
- Letitia found the filmmaking process transformative, learning to embrace the evolution of her film from script to screen.
- The core message of the film is that black boys are beautiful and their lives hold profound meaning.
Letitia Wright steps into the director's chair with her debut film, Highway To The Moon, premiering at this year's HollyShorts Film Festival.
Known for her acting prowess, Letitia channels her creative vision into a poignant coming-of-age fantasy drama.
The film stars Kenyah Sandy, Lamar Waves, Treva Etienne, Victor Prescott Jr., Aboulaye Touray, and Sekou Toure, with a talented crew including Director of Photography Andrew Yuyi Troung and Production Designer Clodagh Farrelly.
Your film, Highway To The Moon, is described as a love letter to young black boys. What inspired this story?
Highway To The Moon started as my desire to write a love letter to young black boys all over the world, especially in London, UK. The tragic news of model Harry Uzoka's murder in 2018 deeply affected me. It made me question why our black boys were hurting each other. This personal connection to the story drove me to explore themes of black boy joy, love, and unity. I wanted to create a narrative that transcends stereotypes and highlights their emotions, complexities, and dreams.
Could you share a moment from the filmmaking process that changed your perspective on the story?
I learned early on that having a tribe of filmmakers who truly believed in my vision was invaluable. During production and editing, the film took on new forms. I had to trust the process and allow the film to blossom into what it wanted to be.
"What you intended to create from the inception of the story changes during production and editing. You have to trust the process."
Is there a particular scene or element in the film that feels uniquely yours?
The script and internal dialogue for the character Micah, played by Kenyah Sandy, feels deeply personal. His words are poetic and spiritual—I had to dig deep to find his voice while writing the script.
What was the most challenging creative decision you faced?
The hardest decision was cutting some desert scenes to keep the film’s length manageable. Trusting my editor was vital in maintaining the essence of the film while letting go of parts I loved.
"The core message is that black boys are not only beautiful and worthy but that their lives have meaning."
How has making this film influenced the stories you want to tell in the future?
This film has encouraged me to draw inspiration from real-life experiences, allowing me to create from a truthful place.
What does having Highway To The Moon selected for HollyShorts mean to you?
It's an incredible feeling. HollyShorts is a prestigious film festival that truly values filmmakers. I hope it allows more audience members to experience the film.
What’s next for Highway To The Moon?
We are continuing our festival journey and hoping for a release on a great platform in the future.
"At the core of all my work is a desire to inspire & leave an impact."
Main Cast and Crew
- Aboulaye Touray, Sekou Toure: Cast
- Holly Fraser, Damian Bradfield, Alex Mattinson, Phil Van Der Krogt: Executive Producers
- Clodagh Farrelly: Production Designer
- Reece Ewing: VFX & Post Supervisor
For more details, follow their journey on Instagram at 3.16 Productions.
