The indie feature film Two Lives in Pittsburgh, which has won several awards at various film festivals, has announced that acclaimed director Stephen Chbosky has joined the project as an executive producer. Chbosky, who is a Pittsburgh native and a celebrated writer and director of films such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Wonder, and Dear Evan Hansen, says that he was impressed by the film’s message of empathy and understanding.
Two Lives in Pittsburgh is a drama that follows a traditional blue-collar guy who struggles to accept his child’s exploration of gender while dealing with his mother’s illness. The film aims to spark a compassionate and unifying dialogue during polarization and culture wars. The film’s writer and director, Brian Silverman, says that having Chbosky on board is a tremendous honor and a validation of the project’s significance.
The film also showcases the authenticity and diversity of Pittsburgh and its people. Silverman, who grew up in Pittsburgh, cast several local actors who used authentic Pittsburgh accents for their roles. The film was shot entirely in and around Pittsburgh, and almost all of the production budget was spent with local businesses and vendors. The film’s soundtrack features Pittsburgh artists like Evan Mulgrave, Shamar, and Bjordan. The filmmakers even chose the color palette to reflect Pittsburgh’s aesthetic.
“…a traditional blue-collar guy who struggles to accept his child’s exploration of gender…”
The film has already won the Audience Award for Narrative Feature at the Dances With Films Festival, the Best Narrative Feature at the Indie Spirit Film Festival, and the Best LGBTQ+ Feature at the IndieFEST Film Awards1. It has also been selected as one of the Centerpiece Selections for the OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival and a First Five Film for aGLIFF2. It will be screening over the summer at several other film festivals, including the Three Rivers Film Festival3, the largest annual film festival in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
The film seeks distribution and hopes to reach a wider audience with Chbosky’s involvement. Chbosky recently wrapped production on the Vince Vaughn comedy “Nonnas” and has a long and successful career in the entertainment industry. Chbosky says he was drawn to Two Lives in Pittsburgh because of its timely and relevant story. He says: “Finally, a movie that tries to bring two sides together. This film is a piece of good for the world right now.”
Gaining recognition across the country, the film recently won the Audience Award for Narrative Feature at the Dances With Films and Best Narrative Feature at Indie Spirit. It has been chosen as one of four Centerpiece Selections for the OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival, and is a First Five Film for aGLIFF. It will be screening over the summer at:
- The Valley Film Festival, August 2-6, North Hollywood, CA
- OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival, August 10-17, Durham, NC
- Cinequest Film & VR Festival, August 15-30, San Jose, CA
- Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival, August 18-24, Williamsville, NY
- aGLIFF/Prism Film Festival, August 23-27, Austin, TX
