The Lightning Code Interview with producer, Joel Edwards

Ashleigh C. Interviews Joel Edwards about The Lightning Code. Edwards is six-time Emmy Award-winning executive producer, the founder of Evolve Studios. Joel has worked with some of the most iconic companies in entertainment, including Disney, Netflix, ESPN and National Geographic Today, he's here to talk about his brand-new sci-fi adventure film, The Lightning Code which is available now in select theaters.

The story of The Lightning Code follows teen inventor Miles Fletcher (Andrew Reid), who finally cracks his late mother’s code, an invention based on Nikola Tesla’s dream of limitless energy.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:10):
Sci fi fans, get ready to plug in. Welcome to
Kids' First Coming Attractions, where we dive deep into the
magic of filmmaking. Today, we are buzzing with excitement to
chat with Joel Edwards, the mastermind behind the brand new
sci fi adventure The Lightning Code. Let's crack the code
and uncover what ignited this incredible story. Mister Edwards, Welcome

(00:34):
to the show.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
Thank you, glad to be here.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
So, The Lightning Code is an incredible film. It's such
a thrilling story about innovation and especially with the rise
of AI and technology. It's such a great film for
this time. So really, what inspired you to tell this
story and what do you hope families take away from it?

Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yeah, I think that it's really relevant. You know, the
story is very timely and as society is struggling with
AI and technology, we're struggling with climate concerns, We're struggling
with the idea of institutional corporations controlling everything. We're struggling

(01:15):
with the idea of anyone's individual talents and passions still matter.
Or is it just too big out there in the world,
or is there just too much infrastructure, too much institution?
Does individual innovations still matter. We felt like this story
really touched on all of those themes. This film tackles

(01:38):
what's old and what's new in the form of a
energy crisis, and you have a young inventor who's trying
to fulfill his mom's life work. He's disconnected with his mom.
She disappeared. He doesn't know is she gone and will
she come back. He's trying to, out of loyalty and
love for his mother and his family, kind of finish

(01:59):
her work, and yet still being young. It's a hero's
journey of being brilliant, of having vision and passion, wanting
to see change, and then working hard and hustling to
try to see that through and then realizing, hey, I
can't do it all on my own. It's one thing
to be bold and courageous yourself.

Speaker 1 (02:19):
What do you really think his journey will teach us
young professionals about perseverance and really, how did your own
experience as a self taught filmmaker influence his character as well.

Speaker 2 (02:31):
Miles is trying to wrestle with ingenuity versus industry, right,
and so as we all grow up, we enter a
world that is predefined. There are the big corporations, there
are the government entities, there are the powers that be right.

Speaker 1 (02:47):
Like you said, I mean this movie, the way that
you're describing it is just there's no way that the
budget was that low. It was absolutely incredible. You had
an incredible team, and so I ask my question for
you is is how do you hope audiences, especially younger audiences,
will take away from watching The Lightning Code.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
Life is hard, life is challenging. There are some big challenges,
and so that's ultimately what we're hoping for is it
will inspire kids to say, hey, you can make a
difference if you can learn to work together with others,
if you can be courageous, if you can, at the
end of the day hold intention all the different things
that life is gonna throw at you and ultimately do

(03:30):
what's right that you can make a difference.

Speaker 1 (03:33):
All right, movie buffs. That's the final scene for today,
But the show goes on. Our super savvy Kids First
Film critics team is always scouting out the next big thing.
So hit that subscribe button and join us for more honest,
kid approved reviews. I'm Ashley Clyde bringing you the real
deal from Kids First. Catch you next time.