Many films and television productions will be inspired by the recent pandemic. The social repercussions mirror the medical ones for so many but especially for young people who faced this once-in-a-century scenario. For filmmakers, this offers a new wrinkle to stories explored but never in this same manner. Never Alone is a film about young love in the Covid-19 era. A musical drama is not the most expected manner for delivering this type of story during such a time but it’s done marvelously well here by the filmmakers and cast. Love can face challenges and survive, even in the most earth shattering of situations. Never Alone has already amassed enthusiastic accolades and wins at the Miami Indie Film Awards, Milan Gold Awards, Paris Film Awards, LA Indie Awards, and more.
The teen years are what formulates so much of our individual identity. The characters of Never Alone are students at a Santa Monica arts school. Highly creative and thus highly sensitive young people, this group of friends feel the weight and isolation of Covid during a time that should be explorative and exceedingly social. Early in the story, Gary Collins (Paul Bunch , known for Hit & Run starring Dax Shepard, Golden Globes and Daytime Emmy Award Nominee Kristen Bell, and Oscar Nominee Bradley Cooper) attempts suicide. The action then flashes back to early 2020 and we see how interactions and events lead up to this climactic moment. Before the lockdown, several of the music students collaborate on songs for a play and this serves as a catalyst to break down barriers of disconnect and insecurities. Friends are made and romances blossom. Unbeknownst to these youths, a pandemic looms and threatens to undo the advances they’ve made. Never Alone conducts itself with the audience in possession of the knowledge that these students will face an unprecedented experience; this unspoken element intensifies an attachment to each of the main characters.
Prominent in the cast is Marlik Willcot as Daryl Lars, Addison Bowman as Amy Shore, and young Filipina/Mexican actress Alex Felix as Brielle. Co-directors Paul Bunch and Albert Soratorio strike a balance in the tone of this film that teeters between depression and hope. These young musician characters in the film have aspired to this moment to solidify their artistic aspirations but could never have imagined the trials they’d undergo personally and creatively. Production Designer Alessandra Manias and Art Director Filippo Savoia exhibit the height of taste and restraint in their approach to displaying an environment for this story which presents subtle differences as the everyday conduct of life is altered during Covid. Mr. Savoia finds his association with Manias quite amenable and states, “Alessandra and I are both Italian and I sincerely that this fuels our creative decisions. For myself, it’s always about finding the perfect emotional tone, even if that means making a complete change at the last moment because it serves the scene and story better. I remember my team setting up a large light installation on a rooftop for this film. It was during one of the most important break-up scenes, overlooking the LA skyline and quite picturesque. Something about the way it worked just wasn’t quite correct so I had my team strike the lights. We kept the installation poles and added light-textured curtains that made these amazing dances with the wind on the building top. We used string lights on the floor in a curled pattern instead, to make some amazing drone shots. That’s the rule of filmmaking, even if you’ve put a lot of hard work into something you have to be willing to create in-the-moment if it’s better.” Mr. Savoia’s words support the premise of Never Alone, one must be willing to accept that things don’t always work out as planned so you must search yourself for the solution to an optimal outcome.
Writer: Jeffery Kallaher