Holden On
Holden On
Release Date: Screened at the Woodstock Film Festival – October 15, 2017
Runtime: 102 minutes
Rating: none yet
Studio: Granger Pictures / Filmed Imagination
Director: Tamlin Hall
Cast: Matthew Fahey; Greg Thompson; Kelly Finley; Carli Olson; Max Reed III; David Atkinson
In October of last year, I had the pleasure of attending a screening of the film “Holden On” at the Woodstock Film Festival in upstate New York. Directed by my friend and first-time director and screenwriter, Tamlin Hall, “Holden On” tells the true story of Holden Layfield, your typical all-American high school student in early-90s suburban Georgia. Holden is the dream son of any parent, the dream friend of any classmate, and the dream student of any teacher. But just beyond the charmed life and college-bound façade is a darkness and a crippling anguish that lies within Holden. Eventually, Holden’s demons overwhelm him and he takes his own life at the age of 19, sending shockwaves throughout the community and those who knew Holden Layfield.
One of these people was Tamlin Hall. I met Tamlin back in the mid-2000s when we were both acting students of Art Wolff in Los Angeles. Even then, I could tell that Tamlin was a man of passion and intention, a genuine artist. True to his nature as a storyteller (he received an MFA from UCLA), Mr. Hall delivers Holden’s story as a clear, thoughtful, and moving tribute to his late peer. But what Mr. Hall brings to the screen is a story that is so much more than its hour and forty-two minutes running time; he has breathed life into a movement, raising awareness and sparking conversation around the topic of mental illness and suicide prevention. “Holden On” is more than a movie: it’s a catalyst for discussion and a pathway from which to incite progression on a topic that needs to be addressed without stigma or embarrassment.
Writer/Director Tamlin Hall and star Matthew Fahey at the Q & A following a screening of “Holden On” at the 2017 Woodstock Film Festival
Mr. Hall has taken his film and Holden’s story on the road and in the process both he and his film have won numerous awards from film festivals around the country (Breckenridge Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Orlando Film Festival, just to name a few). Extraordinary lead actor, Matthew Fahey (of MTV’s “Awkward”), has also seen his share of awards for his brilliant portrayal of Holden. Furthermore, Mr. Hall has recently been honored by the state of Georgia for his work promoting mental health awareness, most notably via the non-profit organization IAmHoldenOn.org, which has been developed to further the dialogue around mental health and suicide prevention, especially among youths.
“Holden On” is an eye opening, beautifully acted, and lovingly realized film about your average young man navigating the terrifying illness that lives within him. The movie is the gateway to a nationwide movement that seeks to enhance the discourse surrounding mental health and suicide prevention. It is not only an excellent film from a filmmaker-to-watch, but an important and necessary piece of cinema that should be seen.
After the Woodstock Film Festival screening, I had the honor to sit down with my friend, Tamlin Hall, to discuss his film. Read the interview transcript here.
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