Delaware-produced film tackles challenges teens face

“The Box in the Basement,” a Delaware-produced, award-winning feature film, was released to a packed audience at the Westtown Movie Theatre in Middletown for a private showing Nov. 20, followed by a Hollywood-style reception and continuing positive comments.

“This is a sci-fi film, with twists and turns, amazing acting, super storyline, and it tackles real-life challenges like bullying, teen-parent relationships, family issues, depression, potential teen suicide and emphasizing that everyone – especially teens – has the choice to create their future,” said Mike Fox, producer and director.

The film is a production of Crystal Fox Films and Splash Designworks in Milford, owned by Mike and Trisha Fox, and their 15-year-old daughter, Arianna “Ari.” It was shot entirely in Delaware using talent local and visiting, including seasoned actors and actresses, youth, a 9-year-old TEDx speaker on anti-bullying, and some who were experiencing their first time in a feature film.

The film has won more than 20 film festival awards, between the trailer and the actual film. The private movie premiere, a first for Delaware, played to a packed audience. The production brought actors, talent, cinematographers and more from as far away as Tennessee and Georgia.

The plot line revolves around the main character, Avery (played by Arianna Fox), whose life sucks. She's dealing with a myriad of teen-related issues. She’s lost her younger brother to cancer, is challenged with bullies at school, experiences family tensions and has a teacher on her case, suffers from a lack of true friends, self-identity and even thoughts of ending it all. However, the plot evolves into a sci-fi twist when Avery finds a mysterious box in the basement that her parents argue about, which has the power to transport her to her own future, beyond the cares of youth – but without the possibility of a return. A heavy realism of one making right choices that could impact not only her life, but those she loves, is central to the narrative. The ending of the film suggests a possible sequel.

Arianna’s career in her family’s productions, starting around age 5, allowed her to easily portray Avery’s emotional rollercoaster. “I’m overjoyed with the movie, the premiere and everyone participating in this entire project. It’s amazing to see the wide array of talent in the actors and actresses, and how the storyline and characters come together to create the emotionally impacting movie. And then to see almost the entire cast and crew at the premiere is simply epic,” said Arianna.

Arianna's talent is broad and deep. She's also a three-time Amazon best-selling author, a professional voiceover actor for names like Plato’s Closet, Old Navy, Taco Bell, Amazon, Boys & Girls Club and more, and is a keynote speaker for both youth and adults.

Mike Fox, the creator, director, and producer of the film, has already successfully directed and produced a family-friendly episodic pilot called “Wannabe A Star,” with creator Marquis Skinner, as they partner to continue to bring that to life in early 2022. He’s has more than 20 years’ experience as a creative professional, but within the last few years has plunged into filmmaking. He began by creating show reels for Arianna, later producing film shorts that won film festival awards, and he continues to produce commercials for their clients.

With little more than out-of-pocket expenses, his team filmed throughout Delaware, causing a buzz among other filmmakers. Donations of material and time – from a school bus and driver to production crew, staff and other supporters – came from all over to help the project.

Because “The Box in the Basement” is so relevant to the challenges youth face, Splash Designworks is in consultation on distribution, and looking for investors and partners to bring the movie to the Hollywood circuit and beyond.

To learn more, go to theboxinthebasement.com.

To view a trailer, go to YouTube.com.