Back in the ‘70s, the only way a fan could make their own film would be with a small 8mm camera on rolls of film that ran for mere minutes. 5-25-77 tells the true story of one such fan, Patrick Read Johnson. Written and directed by Johnson, the movie is about passion for films and how one film, Star Wars, is about to change his life. Check out the trailer below ahead of the film’s digital release on May 1st.

Synopsis:

Meet Pat; he’s an outsider, a geek with an obsession for film. When he’s not watching them, he’s making them, using anything and everything in his house, including his siblings… and when he’s not making films, he’s waxing lyrical to anyone and everyone about his theories and favourites – whether they like it or not.

Bullied at school and the butt of his friends’ jokes, he dreams of making it big in film and aspires to the heights of his ultimate hero… special effects whiz Douglas Trumbull. When his Mum engineers a meeting in Hollywood with Herb Lightman (Austin Pendleton – My Cousin Vinny, Finding Nemo), his whole world takes a major leap into the unknown. Not only does he find himself in a room with some of the all-time greats ¬– including a young Steven Spielberg – but he also becomes the very first outsider to see Star Wars.

This beautiful tale of growing up in rural Illinois, falling in love and becoming the first fan of the film that changed the face of cinema forever perfectly captures the magic of filmmaking. It is an ode to the films that inspired ingenuity and encouraged freaks, geeks and creative spirits to dream big.

5-25-77 is released digitally by 101 Films on May 1st.