The Starfish
coming soon
Director's Vision
My name is John DiGiacomo and this summer I will be shooting my first full length feature film. I'm putting everything I have into this project (heart, soul, time, money, physical health).
The Story
The film follows a young man named Ray, who is the host (as usual) for this summer hangout at his family's lakeside cottage in New Hampshire. Despite heading into his senior year of college, Ray still hasn't had a first kiss. But after discovering a starfish, and with the encouragement of his boys, he decides to make a move on his longtime crush.
The Starfish is a story rooted in personal experience—inspired by, dedicated to, and made with the love of my closest friends. It is a coming-of-age film that is part psychological drama and part hangout movie—with a touch of magical realism.
Ultimately, my promise is to make something that is true to life and unique. A movie with...
- No filters on the way our characters speak...
- Freedom for the cast to live the performances...
- and an ending you won't forget.
Visual Style
Hanging out on the lake by day and talking around the campfire by night, this film will follow in the tradition of other coming-of-age stories which explore character relationships over the course of one long summer day.
Unlike other coming-of-age films, these characters will be older (heading into senior year of college), exploring how the characters still live in the past of high school, are trying to break free from it, or embracing it like never before.
Shooting an observational documentary style with loose handheld camerawork and 16mm film emulation, we want the film to feel like memories you'd find in your phone's camera roll. Imperfect and intimate.
Our main references include the raw visual style of Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001), the fun and crude banter of Superbad (2007), and the intense rivalry and nostalgia of My Brilliant Friend (2018-2024).
Behind the Scenes
Production Meeting
On The Boat
On Location
The Crew
Coming soon...
The Cast
Coming soon...