โOk not to be okโ โย ironically, the lyrics toย Demi Lovatoโs latest singleย and soundtrack behind the trailer ofย MTVโsย newest film, โPink Skies Aheadโ completely reflect the attitude of this coming of age movie that surrounds a young woman dealing with an anxiety disorder.
Based on an essay from her 2017 book, โWhen You Find Out The World Is Against: And Other Funny Memories About Awful Momentsโ, writer/director Kelly Oxford says the idea to transcribe her essay into a script โhit herโ after noticing how drawn her readers were to it.
โI was like wow, if I can help readers I should try to get this on screen and help more people and get this story out,โ Oxford says of her directorial debut behind โPink Skies Aheadโ. โIt was really fun to do it, and I knew that I wanted to direct it myself because I had lived through it and it wouldโve felt really weird to pass it off to somebody else and watch their version of itโฆ. as the creator and writer, I was very excited to make it my first film.โ
That excitement was shared with Greg Silverman, former president of Warner Bros. Pictures turned CEO and founder ofย Stampede Ventures. Silverman, whose resume includes films such as, โA Star Is Bornโ, โCrazy Rich Asiansโ, and โThe Dark Nightโ just to name a few, coins Oxford as a โforceโ.
โAs soon as we started [Stampede Ventures] it was like ok well, who can we get behind thatโs gonnaโ make a difference and gonnaโ make something incredible, and Kelly was the first person that popped into our minds,โ Silverman says. โWe all are so proud that we were able to be a part of [Oxfordโs] first film.โ
While the film is set in a 90โs-centric vibe, it deals with an all too common occurrence that everybody can relate to today โ this was especially true for actress, and film lead, Jessica Barden.
โWinona was like myselfโฆ. I was very defiant, I have anxiety,โ Barden says of her character. โI just hope that people watch [Pink Skies ahead], and I wanted this to contribute to people understanding that there isnโt a certain type of person that is going to get anxietyโฆ.[or] depression.โ
โPink Skies Aheadโ follows 20-year-old Winona who struggles with accepting her anxiety disorder diagnosis while managing her life in adulthood as a recent college drop-out still living with her parents. The audience watches Winonaโs feeble attempt at ignoring both the physical signs and emotional manifestation of her anxiety, which often leads her into peculiar situations.
All too familiar with dealing with Winonaโs struggle within the film, Barden hopes her role can help those who may feel alone in their battle with anxiety and other issues with mental health. โIf you get to a place where you can be healthy and own [anxiety], you can do amazing things with it,โ says Barden with a smile.
While Lewis Pullman who plays the role of โBenโ and Winonaโs love interest expressed not completely connecting to his character, he did get the sense that the audience might.
โI think everyone connects to some character [in Pink Skies Ahead],โ Pullman says. โI think [Ben] is a good representation of a scape-goat of [having] this huge thing that needs to be dealt withโฆ [but looking for] some other alleyways that I can postpone this thing thatโs haunting me.โ
As a part ofย MTV Entertainment Studiosโ newest mental health initiativeย titled, โMental Health Is Healthโ; seriesโ and films shown on the station will display a diverse range of stories in hopes of de-stigmatizing mental health and promoting behavioral and cultural change.
According to MTVEโs president,ย Chris McCarthy, โthe power of storytellingโฆ.can frame the way we look at an issueโ, and films such Oxfordโs can create โa bigger conversation that leads to systematic change that becomes the norm.โ
Tune in to MTV on Saturday, May 8th at 9:00 ET/PT on MTV for the premiere of โPink Skies Aheadโ!