Actor and filmmaker Peter Facinelli (“Twilight” fame) chatted about his new film “On Fire,” which will be released on September 29 via Cineverse.
Facinell stars in the movie alongside Asher Angel, Fiona Dourif, Lance Henriksen, Ashlei Foushee, and Glenn Morshower.
It was directed by Facinelli and Nick Lyon, and the screenplay was co-penned by Ron Peer and Lyon. “Asher is great, he is such a good actor,” Facinelli said. “Everyone in the cast was incredible, they were really wonderful, supportive, and they were there for each other.”
Inspired by true and harrowing events, “On Fire” tells the story of an ordinary man (Peter Facinelli) that finds his world suddenly torn apart as devastating wildfires rip through the surrounding countryside.
With precious moments ticking by, he must flee with his son (Asher Angel) and pregnant wife (Fiona Dourif) if they have any hope of surviving the rapid forces of mother nature.
“This movie was a fantastic experience,” Facinelli said. “I loved the script, it really drew me to this project. On the outside, it’s a throwback to this family’s survival but underneath that umbrella there are so many takeaways, where it feels like a more intimate version of a film. You are following this one family and you become a part of their family.”
“As far as themes, we worked really hard to put takeaways in there for people under this family survival suspense film,” he acknowledged.
“You have themes of celebration, especially recognizing the work of firefighters and 911 operators; they don’t get the credit that they deserve. They are the lifeline to the people on the phone that are trying to survive,” he elaborated.
“We want to give people hope with this film, as well as rebirth and regrowth,” he added.
The digital age
On being an actor, director, and filmmaker in the digital age, Facinelli said, “I don’t really look where we end up, I look where the artwork is, and they people can watch it on different mediums such as their laptops.”
“Our movie is going to 1,000 screens, which is a theatrical release and that is wonderful. Eventually, it will end up in a platform where people can watch it at home,” he said.
“I hope people go to the theaters to watch this film on the big screen. It’s a big film with lots of sound designs and effects that fit well with the bigger screen,” he added.
Regarding the title of the current chapter of his life, he said, “The party has just started.”
Favorite mottos to live by
On his favorite mottos to live by, he shared, “Don’t sweat the small things and take it day by day.” “All you can do is live in the present moment, especially when life seems stressful,” he said.
To learn more about actor, director, and filmmaker Peter Facinelli, follow him on Instagram.
