Brewster native Joe Cicchelli will premiere the psychological drama “In Headlights,” which he wrote and directed, Sunday, Nov. 3 at Carmel Cinema – the very same theater where the 19-year-old celebrated his birthday eight years ago.
“This film really started to form in my head in late 2020,” explained Cicchelli. “I grew up watching old 70’s and 80’s movies and spent my entire elementary, middle and high school years as an actor, so creating a project like this was inevitable.”
The overall idea of “In Headlights” came the Cicchelli during a rough time in his life.
“Covid had just hit my freshman year of high school and I was in a difficult long-distance relationship,” he explained. “The plot of this movie stems from many real events in my life and is deeply personal to me, my family and my friends in the area, where it was mostly filmed and based.”
The film is about a young man named Tommy and his troubles with a failing relationship. His best friend Jo is able to help along the way, but his own inner struggles cause him to head down a darker path.
Although the script had been written in 2020 and 2021, the shooting and production of the movie took place in March through May of 2023.
“This was my freshman year of college studying as a film student and being around so many creatives, actors and other filmmakers was a huge advantage to getting this made,” said Cicchelli. “My first assistant director and I put together auditions, casted the entire film and made a schedule, all in a short span to make sure this project was getting off the ground. We eventually found our lead camera and sound people and the rest is history.”
The filmmaker said anyone who has struggled with a relationship, friendship or even with themselves can relate to this movie.
“I know I personally have put a lot of myself into the lead character and hope that people can understand his, and by extension, my struggles in life,” said Cicchelli.
While the former Putnam resident previously directed many short films in high school and on his own free time, “In Headlights” is his first feature film.
“However, now that I have a taste for it, I’m already working on two more features I hope to release by 2025 and 2026 under my own production company, Garbage Day Productions,” he said.
While Cicchelli eventually moved to Bedford Hills, he still has family in the Brewster/Carmel area.
“I have always loved living in and visiting Brewster, because it will always be home to me,” he said. “So, being true to my roots, I had my birthday party in Carmel Cinemas eight years ago – and that’s why I feel it’s the perfect place for me to screen my first feature.”
Cicchelli is a film major and is working in preproduction for a new horror film he wrote and will direct, which is set to release in fall 2025.
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