5 minute read
INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
WITH KATE LARSON
By Kathy Fox
PHOTOS BY KATHY FOX AND PROVIDED BY KATE LARSON
The holidays are a time when families gather and enjoy each other’s company while celebrating the season. Watching family movies after a satisfying meal is a fantastic way to make memories and spend time with each other. Family movies often carry themes of love, togetherness, and unity, which align well with the spirit of the holiday season. They tend to also emphasize values such as kindness, generosity, and understanding while providing a wholesome entertaining experience, that can be enjoyed by the entire family.
Recently, Into The Spotlight, a teen musical for the entire family was released and offers viewers a chance to share laughter while creating an uplifting atmosphere perfect for this time of year. The film stars Franklin resident Kate Larson, who also wrote the script, and was filmed in parts of Williamson County, including Franklin and Spring Hill locations.
Into the Spotlight follows the journey of a high school student with a musical upbringing alongside her rockstar father, yet she's always chosen the sidelines over the spotlight. When her best friend is unable to perform at their high school talent show, she steps in as a last-minute replacement. As a stroke of luck, she utilizes a vintage, radiant microphone, unknowingly enchanted. Her outstanding performance goes viral, propelling her into overnight stardom. Navigating the challenges of fame and the loss of self, it's through the support of family and friends she rediscovers what truly holds significance.
Director Lisa Arnold said, “Into The Spotlight brings back co-viewing for the entire family and sends an uplifting message to tweens and teens to follow their heart when chasing their dreams. You will love the story and the music!”
“The capabilities of AI created uncertainty for a lot of us in the entertainment industry,” added Shaked Berenson, Entertainment Squad CEO. “Seeing a young audience embrace a film like Into the Spotlight, which was written by a 15-yearold, proves the irreplaceable power of an authentic voice. It’s truly inspiring.”
It all began when Larson was praying about ideas for a short film. While she was cleaning her room, she saw a microphone that was signed by Gloria Estefan and Larson had a little girl moment and thought, “I would love to sing into that microphone, and it gives me the power to sing!” Immediately she knew that was the story and started writing the script. Within two weeks it was finished and after edits, they were filming about six months later.
Larson shared, “At 15 I saw the world shutting down and my friends losing hope so, I wrote Into the Spotlight. From struggling with dyslexia as a younger child to creating a story to inspire my generation, it has been truly magical. Into the Spotlight has changed my life and I know girls everywhere need this story about overcoming insecurity, friendship, love, empowerment, and staying true to who you were meant to be.”
Executive producers Brian and Cakki Warren, also Larson’s parents, said, “Family and Young Adult content is needed today more than ever and that is why we are all-in to make a difference through this medium. Into The Spotlight will entertain you, encourage you, and leave you singing a song!”
When things are meant to be in life, there is no stopping it. Cakki Warren shared a film’s God thing moment to prove it. “We hadn't found the lake and dock for the house [scenes] yet and a friend that lived in Franklin put it out on Facebook for us explaining what we were looking for. Mary Beth Johnson, a Spring Hill resident, reached out and said her dock might work. I called her and began telling her about the movie. She said, ‘Stop! You are meant to film here. It's a total God thing. My husband Jeremy just wrote your flagship song.’ The director went to look at the house and ended up using the house, dock, pool, and backyard for the film.”
Larson concluded, “My parents, from the time I was born, have prayed over me and have believed in me. From the moment I had the idea my mom and dad were saying how proud of me they were and let's make this happen. That's what we wanted to try to represent in the film. It's just family. Not a lot of people get to create a movie together and it's been a huge opportunity that I would like to thank them for!”
The movie also stars Leigh-Allyn Baker (Good Luck Charlie), Karen Abercrombie (War Room), Kevin Sizemore (The Walking Dead: Flight 462, NCIS), comedienne Victoria Jackson (Saturday Night Live), comedian Jeff Allen, gospel recording artist Anthony Evans, and Raphael Ruggero (Lifemark). The movie was directed by Lisa Arnold (One Nation Under God) and produced by Cakki and Brian Warren of Revive Productions.
REVIVE Productions produces family entertainment that pushes away darkness with the light of truth through creative storytelling. Into The Spotlight is now streaming on Apple/iTunes, VUDU (Fandango), Google Play, and YouTube. For Video on Demand, you can find it on Charter/Spectrum, Time Warner, Xfinity, DirectTV, and Frontier.
