Chicago’s Kelli and Estlin Feigley’s sci-fi family adventure, “Traveling Without Moving,” will premiere on Sept. 28 in Washington, DC as part of the White House’s Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.
The honor was given to the Feigley’s production company, Dreaming Tree/Fresh Films, for bringing in teen filmmakers from throughout the US through such organizations as the Boys and Girls Clubs, to work alongside professional crews on movie sets, to teach them about filmmaking.
“Traveling Without Moving” stars Stephanie Andrea Barron, who recently followed the lead of dozens of other Chicago talent by recently moving from the Windy City to the City of Angels.
The relocation has proven to be a smart move for the young Orlando native, who has called Chicago home for the last six years. She just wrapped a small role in her first Hollywood feature, the ensemble indie dramedy “I’d Like to Be Alone Now,” directed by Jon Dabach.
In “Traveling,” Barron plays Mickey, who with her sister, Lex, (Anna Benuzzi) realize their high school science project is the key to finding their missing physicist-parents trapped in another world and saving the universe before the clock runs out.
The science project is based on real quantum physics and the science of wormholes, so filming against the backdrop of the STEM Academy at Aurora University, in the suburb, and in an AU physics classroom was a perfect fit, the producers say.
“I was never the cool kid growing up and I never felt like I was great at anything. I think that’s what made the role of Mickey so relatable for me. It’s really a coming-of-age story,” says Barron.
“The story is about finding the confidence in yourself and knowing that you can count on your family when you really need them.”
“Traveling” also stars Steve Guttenberg (“Police Academy”) and Harry Lennix(“The Blacklist”).
EP was Kelli Feigley, Joel Labahn was producer, Megan Swanson, associate producer. DP was Ric Reinhold, who was DP on the Feigley’s previous award-winning“ Moochie Kalala Detectives Club” TV series; Mike Meyer and Donna Wons edited.
Screenplay by Colin Costello and Estlin Feigley, based on a story idea by Feigley and Saundra Mitchell.
“Traveling’s” Washington, DC premiere will be held at the Landmark E Street Cinema. The feature then moves into limited theatrical release Oct. 1.
See the trailer here.
