With Stay In The Car gaining attention on the festival circuit, writer Amanda Ross and lead actress Lara Hunter bring a deeply personal story to the screen. Inspired by Ross’s own experiences, the short film explores survival, resilience, and the quiet moments that shape a life. What makes the project even more unique is the collaboration between mother and daughter, with Hunter portraying a character rooted in her mother’s past.
In this conversation, the two reflect on storytelling, trust, and what it meant to share such an intimate journey together.
Amanda, what first inspired you to write Stay In The Car?
This story comes from a much larger piece of my life that I’ve carried with me for a long time. I’ve always felt a quiet pull to share it in some way that might serve others. The idea to focus on this one moment came when I realized a single scene from that larger story could stand on its own. When I imagined Lara portraying a younger version of me, the story suddenly felt possible as a film.
Lara, what was your first reaction when you read the script?
When I first read the script, I was incredibly proud of my mom. I’ve read countless scripts and I see how hard it is for writers to make writing sound realistic and natural, and my mom as an amateur completely aced it. Every actor a few times in their career reads a script that immediately lands on them and gets them genuinely excited, my mom’s script was one of those rare experiences for me.
Amanda, what was it like watching your daughter step into a character inspired by your younger self?
It was surreal at times. As a writer and as a mother, you feel a certain instinct to protect your child, yet here she was stepping into a moment from my own childhood that wasn’t easy. At the same time, I was incredibly proud of how thoughtfully she approached the role. She brought a sensitivity and maturity to Salem that meant a lot to me.
Lara, did you talk with your mom about the real events that inspired the story?
We had tons of conversations about her life. Ever since I was little, I’ve always been curious about what life was like before I was conscious of what was happening. I asked her about her life, her family, what it was like to have me, what I was like when I was baby… I wanted to know all of it. When I first heard about the relationship that she had with her mom, I was asking questions nonstop. I couldn’t understand how a little girl, treated so badly by the person who was supposed to love her the most, could grow up to become the best mom anyone could ask for.
Amanda, the film explores the tension between love and neglect. How did you approach writing that complexity?
For me, the story is really about the absence of the love and care that should have been there. I wanted to portray what it feels like when a child begins to realize they are alone in a situation that isn’t of their choosing. Rather than explaining everything, I tried to let the moment speak for itself and allow the audience to sit in that realization with Salem.
Lara, much of the film unfolds in silence. How did you approach conveying emotion with so few words?
I came into the filming process pretty nervous about conveying Salem’s emotions with very few words, however I quickly realized that that’s the most human way we go through our emotions. There’s few people in this world that are able to fully understand and communicate their emotions and experiences in perfect words. To me, Salem is a very relatable example of a person that holds such big emotions closely to their heart.
Amanda, did collaborating with Lara change the way you see the story?
In some ways it didn’t change the story for me because Lara was the catalyst for the film in the first place. The script was written with her in mind, so I entered the process already imagining her in that role. If anything, collaborating with her reaffirmed that the story was ready to be shared.
Lara, what was the most emotionally demanding part of the role?
The most emotionally demanding part of the role was allowing myself to fully step into Salem’s pain and vulnerability. There were scenes where I had to get to deep feelings of fear, loneliness, and heartbreak emotions and it was very demanding to bring a high level of honesty to the screen while honoring the real-life experiences that inspired the story.
Amanda, what do you hope audiences take away from the film?
More than anything, I hope people who may have experienced something similar feel less alone. Moments like this can be incredibly isolating, especially for a child. If someone watches the film and feels seen or realizes that their life can be more than the circumstances they were born into, then the story has served its purpose.
Lara, what has this experience meant to you personally?
This experience means more and more to me every day. Before my mom wrote the script, we had many conversations about how, in today’s film industry, if you want to be part of something, you just have to make it yourself. That idea always felt intimidating to me, but for my mom, she saw an opportunity. Being able to make this film with her and share a filmmaking experience that means so much to me was incredibly important. As a young adult these past couple of years, I’ve constantly wanted to spend time with my mom, so this project was a really special time for us.
Amanda, how has the festival response been so far?
It’s been incredibly encouraging. When you tell such a personal story, you never know how it will land with audiences. Seeing people connect with the film and engage with the themes of survival and resilience has been very meaningful for all of us involved.
Finally, what did each of you learn from working together on this film?
Lara: I learned that my mom and I work extremely well together. We collaborated very easily on set and getting advice from her was very open and easy for me. I learned that doing something I love with someone I love is more fulfilling than I ever could have imagined.
Amanda: I learned that Lara is not only incredibly talented but also deeply thoughtful about the work she does. Watching her navigate such an emotional role with professionalism and care made me very proud. I also learned that collaborating creatively with your child can be a very special experience.
‘Stay In The Car’ will screen on March 28th at 12pm at the iconic American Legion Hall, Post 43, on Highland Avenue in Los Angeles, and at the Beverly Hills Film Festival on April 17th at 5pm at the world famous TCL Chinese 6 on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
