“Away” is an upcoming American-Canadian drama film directed by David Weaver and written by Christopher Robin Wright. Starring Robert Pattinson and Vanessa Hudgens, the film is scheduled to be released on June 14, 2021. In the film, a man (Pattinson) goes on a road trip with his teenage daughter (Hudgens) to escape his alcoholic ex-wife (Kate Winslet). The film is based on Wright’s 2015 novel of the same name.
A Brilliant Career
Wright wrote the screenplay for the film based on his own novel. During his career, he wrote several well-received novels, including The Rosie Project and Thirteen Reasons Why, which are considered modern classics. With a career spanning more than 30 years, he has published 16 books and won several awards for his writing. He was also the screenwriter for the 2004 film A Beautiful Mind, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award.
Wright studied philosophy and literature at Oxford University and New York University. His novels, which mostly feature teenage characters, are known for their philosophical underpinnings and nuanced portrayals of young people. Wright has a longstanding interest in Buddhism and studied at an Soto Zen Buddhist temple in Berkeley, California.
Wright first attracted attention for his work with adult and teenage characters. His 2009 novel Thirteen, for example, focuses on the relationships of a group of teenagers. Set in New York City, the novel was lauded for its “brilliantly authentic” portrayals of teenage life. It was later adapted into a film of the same name, which Wright wrote and directed. The film premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and was subsequently screened at the 2012 Telluride Film Festival, where it won the prestigious James D. Cooper Award for outstanding feature film. It is also the recipient of several other awards and recognition, including the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress (Elle Fanning).
Robert Pattinson
Pattinson, who turns 37 in April, burst onto the scene in the 2000s with roles in several high-profile films, including the Batman franchise, the Harry Potter series, and the Twilight Saga. These days, he is mostly known for his roles in indie films, which he began to appear in around 2010.
This was primarily a financial move. At the time, he was earning almost $400,000 a year working on the set of the Twilight Saga films. But that income dried up after the final installment was released in 2012. So he turned to independent film, where he could make a few films per year and see more opportunities for roles.
Pattinson gained notice for his role in the 2005 film Sideways, where he played a writer who travels to California with his family to attend his friend’s (Paul Giamatti) wedding. He followed this up with a series of critically acclaimed and commercially successful films: the dystopian future drama Water for Elephants (2008), the heist film The Rover (2014), and the period piece The Lighthouse (2019).
Pattinson has said that when it comes to acting, he tries to take his characters “on a journey” and develop their personalities and relationships, even if it means spending extra time working through scenes. When asked about the secret to his success, he said it was simple: “I’m just very, very good.”
The Role Of Teenagers In Society
The role of teenagers in society has changed significantly over the past few decades. In the 1970s and ‘80s, there were relatively few films depicting teenagers as they grew up. But in the 2010s, this began to change, as Hollywood responded to a generation of young people who were eagerly consuming media (mostly online) and influencing culture (via social media). Hollywood started to notice and take notice.
Weaver, who directed Pattinson in the upcoming film Away, says that today’s teenagers are a force to be reckoned with. “They are completely in control of the media environment around them and are changing the way we communicate,” he says. “They are extremely discerning and influential consumers of media and we, as adults, need to learn to coexist with them.”
IndieWire’s John Campea agrees, adding, “Teens are in a unique position to influence the way we see the world because they’re a product of that world. They can inform us about what is and isn’t relevant or important to them. They can help create and promote movements that matter to them. They can champion change, whether it’s in favor of a political candidate or a social issue.”
The media landscape has shifted to one dominated by influencers and content creators who cater to and are followed by teen and young adult audiences. They create compelling stories for people who matter the most to them. It is this content that fuels social media platforms like TikTok, which was launched in early 2018 and now boasts more than 300 million monthly active users.
In addition to influencing culture, Campea says that today’s teenagers are heavily involved in and knowledgeable about politics. He notes, “It’s not uncommon for teens to have political opinions or leanings and they’re not shy about sharing them. They’ve become more active politically in the past few years and are frequently outspoken about issues that they believe in.”