Finally I have been able to find out what the title of the movie Aly is currently filming – The Sequoia National Park. For the moment the name is just a running title so it is likely to chance over the course of production and post-production! Aly stars alongside Dustin Milligan, who you might know from 90210. And now thanks to Jess we have the plot of the film.

Written by Andrew Rothschild, directed by Andy Landen, and produced by Ashleigh Phillips, Giles Andrew and Jessica Latham, the movie Sequoia National Park tells the story of 21-year-old Reilly MacGrady. She’s like any other teenager, an angelic face obscured by various failed attempts at severity: a nose ring, dyed black hair, heavy eyeliner.

She also has the requisite teenage contempt for her parents, though in this case, not entirely misguided. Left unsupported in the face of cancer, Reilly takes control and decides to take her own life in Sequoia National Park, Reilly’s favorite place in the world and the place of her last happy memory. On the way, she meets a boy, Ogden, who disrupts her plan and her conviction to not stick around. Meanwhile, her dysfunctional family races against the clock to reach her in time.

“Sequoia (the movie) is painfully funny and honest,” said Latham, who will be in Visalia to hold a casting call for several acting roles in the film and to finalize some last minute film locations details. “It’s a story about life and love and how the very relationships that tear us apart might also be the only thing that can save us.”

Director Andy Landen said the scenic beauty of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks andthe Sierra Nevada mountains made shooting this film on location in Tulare County the logical creative choice.

“Not only is Sequoia National Park a gorgeous setting cinematically, the park has an ethereal,magical feel to it,” Landen said. “There is an energy …a pulse amongst those giant trees. I can see why our protagonist Reilly ultimately finds her salvation in Sequoia.”

Landen was born in a small town in the Canadian province of Ontario and completed an MFA in directing at the University of Southern California’s Film School. While at film school, he won the prestigious Coca-Cola Filmmakers Award, which saw his short shown in over 30,000 movie theaters in the US. Landen loves to create visually stunning, character driven films that blend drama with humor and speak to the truth about life and beauty that can be found in all of it’s awkward, sad and happy moments.The film “Sequoia National Park” has already found a lot of local support from the Tulare County

Sounds like a great project for Aly and I can’t wait to see the finished result! Chances are Aly will be playing the Reilly MacGrady character. Below is a video one of the extras from the movie posted, talking about their experience on set. I’ll post the pictures from set tomorrow.