Leaving behind the woods of Georgia and entering the rural mountains of La Grande, Oregon, Chandler Riggs, most known for his role as Carl Grimes in “The Walking Dead,” stars in H. Nelson Tracey’s dramedy “Breakup Season,” which had its premiere in Texas at the Waco Independent Film Festival this past weekend. Tracey’s film performed exceptionally well at the festival, winning awards for Best Feature Film and Best Performance in a Feature. Although this was the Riggs and Tracey’s first time in Waco, they said it wouldn’t be their last.
With only 15 days to film, Nelson and his crew took over Eastern Oregon to create a breakup movie during Christmastime. Riggs’ character Ben Russell brings his girlfriend Cassie, played by Samantha Isler, to his family home in rural Oregon. After an intense dinner with his family and other issues arising, Cassie decides to breakup with Ben. To Cassie’s demise, a snowstorm rolls in overnight causing road closures and Cassie to be stuck with her ex during the remainder of the holidays.
“That early 20s window is really under-appreciated,” Tracey said. “For me, and for my good friends, some of the most challenging and big coming-of-age in our life was dealing with the fallout of relationships. A few of my friends have had their first relationships last, but majority of them haven’t, myself included.”
Tracey said he made this feature for his 23-year-old self because almost every romantic comedy is either for high schoolers or 30-somethings wanting to get married. “Breakup Season” was also born from a love of film festivals, something the cast and director share.
“We’re all just here trying to make cool movies that we all love,” Riggs said. “So, it’s an awesome, fun environment that I love always coming back to. I hope that I can continue going for forever.”
Not only are film festivals important to moviemakers and actors, but to the public as well. According to Riggs and Tracey, these events provide a shared experience between filmmakers and audiences that cannot be replicated at home while streaming from your couch.
“It’s already a really tall order these days to get people to just sit in a movie theater and not check their phone for two hours,” Tracey said. “I’m a believer in the shared experience, and it’s gonna play so much better and more differently in the movie theater.”
Riggs understands the meticulous details that go into making a film because after leaving “The Walking Dead” six years ago, he has been dabbling in directing and even co-founded a production company, Smooth Blend Films. The company creates mostly short films, but Riggs said he hopes one day he can create a feature like “Breakup Season.” But for now, Riggs is continuing his acting career, which was recognized at Waco Indie when he won the Best Performance award.
“It’s always an honor to get mentioned,” Riggs said. “Most of us actors don’t do this for any sort of recognition, we just do it because we love acting and we love being people that aren’t ourselves. So, it’s really cool and I’m very honored and humbled and happy to be here.”
Tracey said he was also honored to be accepted into the Waco Independent Film Festival because only eight percent of features make it into the program.
“They send an email out to the filmmakers when we got accepted and it felt like a big hug. ‘We’re so happy to have your film’ and just a lot of great marketing materials that show they really care about the filmmakers,” Tracey said. “So, that’s a testament to them, not just being like, ‘Oh, we’re gonna show your movie at this thing.’ But no, ‘We want to make it an event and bring your lead actor,’ and I’m appreciative of that.”
Waco Indie made such a profound impact on Tracey that he said he is seriously talking to festival directors Louis Hunter and Samuel Thomas about returning to Waco to film. But for now, “Breakup Season” will continue its festival circuit and the producers are currently working to secure a limited theatrical run followed by a Video on Demand release for December 2024. To see their festival schedule visit their website or follow them on Instagram @breakupseasonmovie.
