Director's Note

Growing up, my brothers and sisters were a crucial part of my filmmaking. We would spend summers creating westerns in the alleyway beside our house, or horror movies in our treehouse. They were not only my best friends, but my greatest collaborators. The essence of filmmaking for me has always been linked to those summers, and with Rocket Fuel, I was finally able to tell a story that pulls back the layers of complicated sibling dynamics. Our film tells the story of three kids on one hot summer day who are entering different stages of their lives. It’s clear that their life isn’t easy - but as difficult as things may seem, they know they’ll make it through if they stick together. We shot on the hottest day of the year during a pandemic, but our cast and crew brought so much heart to this set. Even after all these years, I can thank my siblings for inspiring this film into existence.