Director's Statement

There's an old adage among Hollywood writers and directors: Write What You Know. Oftentimes, screenwriters think up a fun story about an unfamiliar world, do a bunch of research, and then churn out a story based on what they've read in books and articles. I have to admit, I've done the same a few times myself. But this case, with this script, the story, setting, characters, and conflicts all come directly from my own life experience.

I lived until age 10 in the heart of urban Seattle, where we lived an incredibly frugal lifestyle. Like the main character in the film, I grew up shopping at thrift stores, driving in cars that constantly broke down, and listening to bitter arguments between my parents over money that ran out far too soon each month. My ragtag wardrobe made me the butt of a thousand jokes that—today—I chuckle about, but at the time made me hate and resent everything in my life. Like the film's main character, I thought everything would be better if only we had money. Then, my parents moved our family to rural Whidbey Island, one of the islands in Washington State's San Juan Archipelago. My brother and I quickly learned how to shoot BB guns, chase raccoons, build forts, and got ourselves into all kinds of mischief that didn't require the use of Nintendos, televisions, or technology of any kind. For the first time, we could just be kids. They were some of the best years of my life.

I see lots of kids today, and their idea of excitement is sitting in front of a computer, going on 'virtual adventures' with people they've never met. Lost & Found is a story for each and every one of those kids. As the movie begins, we will establish where the boys come from: a world of concrete, hard lines, sharp edges. The sounds of the city will be everywhere. Cars honking, trains passing. The music will be harsh, urban. The camera will move simply, up and down, left and right, always fixed in one plane. When Andy and Mark leave the city for the first time in their lives, everything will change. The camera will begin to float. The urban sound design will disappear. The music will become more orchestral. And as they cross the sea, Walton Island will appear…ghostly…through the fog. For the rest of the film, all the elements of cinema, from music to sound design, cinematography to set dressing, will reflect the mystery and the sense of thrill that accompany the boys along their journey. We will also use lots of subtle but powerful techniques to highlight our main character's journey from isolated and alone to bonded and connected with his family.

At its heart, this movie is an examination of family, of brotherhood, of the ways that money can drive us apart, but how love can ultimately bring us back together. My father's family was torn apart by jealousy over the promise of an inheritance that never came. It's a common story that we have all seen over and over. Though this film has all the fun elements of adventure, romance, and treasure hunts that push the plot forward, it also is layered with real-life lessons that we hope will subtly find their way into the hearts of our young audiences. For me personally, the themes of this story resonate in everything I do. They are the reason why I have fought for this movie and dreamed of this movie, and will continue to fight and work and dream through all the phases of production and distribution.

But in the end, lest we forget…movies are fun! They are entertainment, and entertainment of the best kind. They have the power to transport imaginations and transform lives. When I was a kid, I used to love reading The Hardy Boys. I loved the way those two guys used their brains and courage to solve crimes that the grown-ups never could. I sat up for hours, late into the night, reading about the crazy adventures on which they would embark. Maybe you're reading this and remembering nights you spent doing just the same. When writing Lost & Found, I designed the story and created characters to empower kids in much the same way.

There are films that make money (and not much else), and then there are films that have the opportunity to make the world a little juicier, a little more exciting, and maybe even a little better in the process.

I hope you'll agree that Lost & Found has the chance to do all of the above.