Trevor Hayes lighting bug was a very touching film that hit very close to home for myself and many others who have watched the film. The cast that was chosen was brilliant, Ashley laurence gave a truly amazing performance in this and honestly i think its her best work that truly show cased her true acting skills. Like myself and many others the abuse that was shown in the film hit home in more ways then one, Robert Hall was our voice and demonstrated that if you have a talent and a dream and the will power you can truly over come any obstacle to achieve it through his film. This film should be viewed by many and spread amongst anyone who thinks that they cant achieve their dreams cause things are too hard.

Woodyanders The harsh distinction between chasing your dreams and the sometimes brutal reality that can possibly prevent you from obtaining said dreams gets powerfully presented here in a dark, raw, and depressing, yet still gripping, moving, and ultimately heartwarming manner in this adolescent coming-of-age drama set in the bleak and oppressive Deep South. Bret Harrison gives an excellent and sympathetic performance as Green Graves, a hardcore horror buff stuck in a backwards small hick town with a gift for homemade make-up f/x and aspirations towards going to Hollywood to make it big in the motion picture business. Things perk up when the hearty Mr. Tightwiler (nicely played by Bob Penny) hires Green to design his Halloween spook house and Green falls for foxy'n'funky Goth chick video rental outlet clerk Angevin Duvet (a winningly spunky and personable portrayal by the lovely Laura Prepon). However, both Green's monstrous abusive and alcoholic stepfather Earl Knight (a superbly hateful turn by Kevin Gage) and Angevin's strict religious fanatic mother (an amusingly batty Shannon Eubanks) stand in his way. Writer/director Robert Hall's debut feature impresses thanks to its admirable refusal to depict the characters in broad strokes of black and white (for example, the initially unlikable Mrs. Duvet in the long run proves to be a sad and fairly pitiable character), a pungent and utterly convincing evocation of the small country town setting, and a shattering conclusion that mixes heartbreaking tragedy and hard-won triumph in a satisfying and evenly balanced way. Moreover, the central message about staying true to yourself and relentlessly pursuing your lifelong ambitions with unwavering passion and tenacity is articulated with great warmth, clarity, and, most surprisingly, even a good deal of unexpected raunchy'n'rowdy humor. The uniformly sterling acting from the first-rate cast qualifies as another significant asset, with Ashley Laurence in particular a definite stand-out as Green's worn-out, but loving and supportive mother Jenny. Brandon Trost's polished cinematography, Jason Hall's melodic score, and a handful of cool and tuneful country-rock songs by Kevin Kinney all further enhance the exceptional quality of this remarkably poignant sleeper.

djconnell3 I had the pleasure of seeing this film twice at the Philadelphia Film Festival where it had the highest attendance of the nearly 300 films featured. It sold out both showings and earned a third showing as one of 15 films selected as the Festival Favorites. Audience comments at the Q & A sessions following the showings were extremely positive. LB was recently featured at the Trenton, NJ festival where it won an award, and can be seen at the upcoming Brooklyn Film Fest & the Boston International Film Fest in June.I strongly encourage you to get out and see this film! It is a well written, compelling story that draws you in. The juxtaposition of light-hearted, comical scenes with some downright disturbing scenes kept the audience on the edge. Throw in some spectacular performances by the actors ( my favorite - Kevin Gage as the drunken stepfather) and you have a winner!This is a solid offering from writer/director Robert Hall and it is WELL worth your time to check it out!

sozment1 I had the honor of seeing Lightning Bug a couple of months ago. It is a movie that has it all. It is beautifully written and directed by the very talented, Mr. Robert Hall. It is wonderfully acted by such stars as Bret Harrison, Laura Prepon and Hal Sparks, to just name a few.A must see for any person who has ever had a dream and strived to achieve that dream. Green (Bret Harrison) has a dream. To leave this small rural town and make it big in Hollywood. Designing and building monsters for television/movies. This story is about his hard work, dedication and loyalty to his dream, regardless of the "monsters" in that small town trying to stop him. Will he make it? Will he and his newfound love, Angevin, leave the town and all the monsters behind?Excellent movie!