UNDER THE GLOW

My name is Ben Tinsley, and I am a Director at Chapman University. I'm raising funds for an independent film I'm shooting this spring! This film holds deep personal significance for me because it explores not only the pain of losing someone but also the struggle of losing one’s sense of identity when dealing with such grief. It delves into the uncertainty of second-guessing oneself and the challenge of forging a path forward without the guidance or support of others. At its core, this story is about the journey of rediscovering who you are and reclaiming your identity, even when a defining part of it is lost. These themes resonate with me on a personal level as I navigate my own transition into adulthood—moving away from home and shaping my own future. While I may not have a mysterious green dot in the sky to guide me, I hope this film serves as a beacon for those who share similar experiences, reminding them that, even in life’s most challenging moments, they are not alone.

Story Summary:

Under the Glow is a melancholic, atmospheric story about love, loss, and the search for meaning in the unknown. When his girlfriend, Sam, leaves for school, Liam drifts through life, unable to shake the weight of her absence. But everything changes the night he notices a mysterious green light in the sky. As he watches it, night after night, the pain of heartbreak is slowly replaced by something else: wonder, obsession, and a quiet longing for something beyond the life he knows. The film’s painterly, dreamlike style mirrors Liam’s emotional descent. Soft oranges and deep blues paint his world in nostalgia, while the distant hum of streetlights and crashing waves amplify his solitude. Every lingering frame pulls the audience deeper into his quiet yearning. His

best friend, Kaleb, tries to ground him in reality, but Liam is already slipping away. When Kaleb presents a rational explanation—a weather balloon—Liam is devastated, feeling as if he’s lost the last thing that made him feel alive. But just as he begins to accept that it was all in

his head, the truth is revealed in an astonishing moment: the light was real, and it was waiting for him. In the film’s breathtaking climax, a stunned crowd, including Sam and Kaleb, watches as Liam is

lifted into the sky by an otherworldly force, vanishing into a brilliant beam of light. His departure leaves those who doubted him in awe, forcing them to confront the realization that they never truly understood what Liam was experiencing—and now, they never will.