Before Midnight is written by, directed by, and starring Jamie Leo
Before Midnight is an exploration of girlhood, the healing power of female friendships, and the raw anxiety of restarting your life.
At a New Year's Eve party, Eva, the protagonist, is an LA newcomer struggling to enjoy herself, the strain of her recent cross-country move weighing on her. Slipping into the bathroom for some relief, her attempt at solitude is shattered when Breanna, the host of the party, bursts in, seeking a Band-Aid for her blister. Eva immediately helps her, and the two girls get to talking, their conversation flowing from basic introductions to why Eva is hiding away in the bathroom as the clock counts down to midnight. Eva's facade slowly unravels as she confronts her fears, and her unexpected friend helps shift her perspective on her struggles.
What started as a fun writing exercise turned into a deeply personal and vulnerable piece, exploring the anxieties and insecurities that I’ve faced upon uprooting my life and chasing my dreams. It was important to me to write something authentic and honest about my life and experiences, while also commenting on the vulnerabilities of being a struggling actor in your 20s - feeling lost, feeling behind, and wondering if you aren’t good enough after all.
Before Midnight was first presented as a short play at The Brookside Project in West LA, before it was adapted into a screenplay and read to a sold-out Broadwater Second Stage in Hollywood. The film was funded by crowdfunding efforts.
Before Midnight is currently being finalized in post-production. Once completed, it will be submitted to festivals worldwide before becoming available to the public.
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