LOS ANGELES — Production is set to begin this month on 'Father Son Time', a character-driven drama starring Landon Ashworth ('Go On'), Colin O’Brien ('The Monkey') and Jess Weixler ('Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story').
The film follows Clay, an autistic father, who takes his son on a spring-break road trip without revealing that the journey’s real purpose is to reconnect with the wife and mother who left them fifteen years earlier.
Ashworth, a well-known voice in the autism community with more than two million social media followers, has appeared in 'Go On', 'Land of the Lost' and series including 'Space Force', 'MacGruber', 'NCIS' and 'The Resident'. O’Brien is known for roles in 'The Monkey', 'Wonka', 'Mr. Harrigan’s Phone' and Apple TV+’s 'Dear Edward'. Weixler’s credits include 'It Chapter Two', 'Ava' opposite Jessica Chastain, and the indie films 'Teeth' and 'The Death of Dick Long'.
The film is written and directed by Los Angeles-based filmmaker Josh Long, who has spent nearly two decades in the industry as a writer and first assistant director. Long previously wrote the thriller 'Some Other Woman', co-wrote the comedy feature 'Man Camp' and has directed numerous short films and commercial projects.
“The struggle of trying to be the right kind of dad is something I think about every day,” Long said. “I wanted to explore a story about a neurodivergent parent raising a neurotypical child, the unique challenges that come with that dynamic, and the kinds of characters shaped by those experiences.”
Award-winning cinematographer Antonio Cisneros will serve as director of photography. He recently shot 'Cookie Queens', a documentary executive produced by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that premiered at Sundance in January; past credits include Disney+’s 'Mickey: The Story of a Mouse' and the features 'Mid-Century' and 'Private Property'.
The film is co-produced by Long, Peter Borrud of Reverant Films and Alyssa Radmand Devine of PigRat Productions, and is partnering with Joey Travolta’s Inclusion Films, a program dedicated to providing training and career opportunities in filmmaking for individuals with developmental disabilities. 'Father Son Time' is a fiscally sponsored project of Film Independent, the nonprofit behind the Independent Spirit Awards. Production is scheduled to begin this month in Los Angeles.
