I had always loved bands like The Cure and Siouxie and the Banshees. Music has been a constant inspiration in my writing, and when I dug out my old Goth records, they just sounded so RIGHT. I became fascinated with the dark beauty of the Goth aesthetic. Such true outsiders. Romantics. Dreamers. Tim and I began to co-write the story of two misfits who escaped the pain of their own existence by emulating their idols and losing themselves in their magical universe.

At this point I put my avalanche of inspiration aside in order to go off and shoot EDGE OF SEVENTEEN. I was originally set to direct EDGE, and after casting and rehearsing the film in NYC, returned to my hometown of Sandusky, Ohio to film it.

It was one thing to recall on paper the difficult memories of coming out in a smalltown environment, but actually going back home to make the film made me truly remember just how painful it was to be different. Many Ohioans did not take kindly to this colorful collection of New Yorkers, many of whom had originated from the Midwest themselves.