Rouzbeh Heydari Interview: Neon Lights
Neon Lights, currently available on digital and On Demand, is a psychological thriller that dives deep into family trauma and mental health. Dana Abraham not only stars in the movie but also wrote the script, and his feature film debut is a testament to the power of collaboration with trusted artists. Rouzbeh Heydari, who helped craft the story, also directed the film about a man piecing his life back together during an unusual retreat with his estranged siblings.
Abraham's character Clay Amani is haunted by the demons of his past, and Neon Lights serves an intimate portrait of his mental state as he tries to sort through the broken bonds of his childhood and fully immerse himself in the present before losing his company. The cast is equally intimate, with only a few characters in a scene at a time. Brit MacRae, Erika Swayze, René Escobar Jr., Brenna Coates, Stephen Tracey, Lauren Howe, and Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy) each play a member of Clay's family or an important figure in his recovery.
Related: 10 Underrated Psychological Thrillers You Have To See To Believe
Screen Rant spoke to Heydari about the casting and pre-production process for Neon Lights, which had to be thorough in order to ensure a smooth two weeks of actual filming. He also shared what it was like to collaborate with co-writer and star Dana Abraham, as well as working alongside an actor like Kim Coates as producer.
Screen Rant: I 'm fascinated by the title of Neon Lights, and Dana mentioned you played a big role in connecting those lights to each character and Clay's mental state. Can you talk a little bit more about the process of getting from the first draft to the final product, and how the title inspired the path you took?
Rouzbeh Heydari: Yeah, I
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