Getting the prom scene just right was a collaborative effort.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS PROTOS
The scene could be any prom in America: Decorative lights cast a glow in a school gym, pop music plays, and young people in gowns and tuxedos mingle on the dance floor. But this isn’t just any prom—it’s a setting in Under the Lights.
People with epilepsy from across the country were invited by writer and director Miles Levin to be a part of the film. For the many who gathered on the California set, it was not only a dream opportunity, but a second chance to attend a prom—this time feeling like everyone else there.
During filming, we spoke with three of the prom-goers about the experience. “It feels great to be here,” says Aubrie Hill, who began having seizures as a child in Alabama and has undergone eight surgeries. Because of her epilepsy, Hill says kids at middle school called her cruel names (like “no brain”). At the film’s prom, she quickly bonded with others in attendance. “I know I’m not being judged for who I am,” she shares. “I know that I’m safe.”
Hill, who now lives in California, has also faced challenges in adulthood, such as discrimination in the workplace. She was fired from a job after having seizures. Hill is looking forward to the film’s impact in educating the public. “People need to understand that epilepsy is not something we can really control, and to have compassion.”
Grace Johnson, who was diagnosed as a teenager, traveled with her mom to the movie set from the East Coast. In high school, she faced teachers who were skeptical that she even had the condition. She was also subjected to harassment from strangers on social media.
Johnson recalls the impression the YouTube short Under the Lights made on her. “It said ‘I see you.’” And she hopes this bigger project will help others with epilepsy feel seen and less alone. “I think this film can reach anyone who’s feeling stigmatized in any way.”
Jordan Drenkhahn, from Massachusetts, was also on set. She went to her high school prom but didn’t have a positive experience. She had friends at the time who she says were toxic. “You want to fit in so badly, that you become someone you’re not,” she admits. The film’s prom, by contrast, was an inclusive and positive atmosphere.
“This film means everything,” says Drenkhahn. “There are no words for it. It’s just beautiful.”
THE EDITORIAL BOARD FOR THIS ISSUE OF EPILEPSYADVOCATE
The editorial board for EpilepsyAdvocate is comprised of people living with epilepsy and their caregivers.
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