There was a great rapture around this time last year, when filming first began for the independently produced feature film, Renee. The heat of the excitement went soaring sky-high when it was announced that several extras were also needed for the film and a number of young people rooting for the movie were given a chance to take part. The film is set to be released this year, and although a definite release date has not been announced yet, thousands like myself are eagerly anticipating its release. I have my own reasons for wanting to watch it and for believing that it will be a big hit with young people.
A noteworthy cast including Kat Dennings, Chad Michael Murray and Rupert Friend has little to do with it. A superb soundtrack featuring music by Gym Class Heroes front-man Travie McCoy and singer/songwriter Rachael Yamagata is also not the singular factor of its brilliance. Nor is it the association with the popular and beloved movement, To Write Love on Her Arms. It is the story of Renee that makes the wait for it so difficult, yet absolutely worth it- a story that is powerfully close to the heart and a story that is almost Bildungsroman in relation to its protagonist.
The film tells us the story about a young girl Renee Yohe (Dennings). In this, there isn’t the usual easily-detectable gap between the glamorous Hollywood teens that miraculously end up living happily ever after and an average teen in the audience. The story unfolds as a struggle- it’s the battle that Renee had to fight with her inner demons in order to seek out the fairy tale life that she had always dreamt of. We get to see her transformation from a troubled young girl battling depression, drug-use, alcohol-abuse and self-injury to the inspiring and together young lady she is today.
Renee Yohe
Renee had to spend five days sobering herself up just before rehab, and these susceptibly testy days were spent with a friend, David McKenna(Friend). It is at David’s that Renee came into contact with Jamie Tworkowski (Murray),who listened to Renee’s story and posted about it in his MySpace blog. Jamie wrote ‘For the next five days, she is ours to love… come alive to meet her needs, and to write love on her arms’. He was a little taken aback by the number of hits it got and by how many people said they were able to relate to Renee’s story. This, right there was the turning point that led to the initiation of a movement that has helped to shape the lives of so many young people-both troubled and not.
What it led to was the establishment of the non-profit organization, To Write Love On Her Arms, which brought the subject of self-injury boldly out in to the open and has generously donated more than $ 1 million to do just what its title says-to write love on her arms: using love to shut out the pain that would otherwise be inevitable to troubled teens with self-mutilating tendencies.
The story is true and the filming has been done entirely in Orlando, Florida, where Renee is from, with much effort being put into keeping the places and the settings the same as those from Renee’s life. It is almost a reenactment of young Renee’s life and significant focus has also been attributed to the role music and friendship play in one’s happiness. The film is directed by Nathan Frankowski and produced by Cameron ‘Kim’ Dawson, David Nixon and David McKenna- the same McKenna that helped Renee during the five crucial days before rehab.
Supporters of TWLOHA movement and fans of Chad Michael Murray, who have been more than a little disappointed with his abrupt disappearance, are bound to make up for more than three quarters of the audience. Just the Facebook and Twitter pages of Renee are enough proof of the overwhelming enthusiasm and anticipation that is being displayed by those eagerly awaiting its release. All elements that make up the film-the profoundly poignant story of Renee Yohe with all her troubles, struggles and road to light will be sure to leave an everlasting impression in the minds of those who watch it. It’ll help to lighten the lives of those struggling with the knowledge that there are people out there who care and ready to help. And it’ll reaffirm in everyone else the fading faith in the goodness of mankind.
About what has been an absolute whirlwind of a ride, Renee Yohe says: It (TWLOHA) propelled me forward in to a future beyond my wildest dreams and has somehow landed me here…on a movie set, watching my own life unfold on film. I can’t imagine what beautiful things can come of this, the lives that could be touched and changed’.
For more updates about the film and to find out its release date, keep checking the Facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/reneethemovie and the IMDB page http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1850418/.
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Just where is the facebook like link ?
Check the “Share” button on the top right corner of the article. You’ll see the facebook button there.
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