American actor, Derek Magyar will be making his directorial debut later this year with the drama entitled Flying Lessons. The film is about a 25 year old woman named “Sophie Conway” played by Maggie Grace. ( You know her from Survivor, Taken and The Twilight Saga) who finds herself at a turning point in her life so she returns to her small home town. It’s a place where she hasn’t been to since high school and she is ready to face people from here past and a conflicted relationship with her mother, “Carolyn Conway” played by Christine Lahti. She also is trying to figure out her friendship with Alzheimer’s patient “Harry Pleasant” played by Hal Halbrook. The two share a special bond and in spite of the enormous age difference they find themselves facing some very similar struggles in the long run.
Flying Lessons was written by first time author Thomas Kuehl and also stars Carey Elwes (Glory, Robin Hood, Men In Tights), Jonathan Tucker (The Chainsaw Massacre, Six Feet Under) and Joanna Cassidy (Blade Runner, Who Framed Roger Rabbit).
Derek graduated from California Institute of The Arts in 2003 and has made numerous television appearances in shows such as JAG, Criminal Minds, Major Crimes and others. He is set to star opposite Luke Evans in the horror thriller No One Lives which is scheduled to open in 2013.
Flying Lessons is currently available in the U.S. On Video On Demand and has an official theatrical release date of December 7th. So far there is no release date set for audiences in the U.K.
Check out the trailer believe and tell us if this looks like the kind of film that you’ll be anxious to check out. Are you a fan of the first time efforts such as this one? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
