Noam Ash's Breakthrough Film 'Bookends' a Love Letter to His Grandparents
Noam Ash's journey from living with his grandparents after a painful breakup to writing a romantic comedy about it is nothing short of remarkable. The film, "Bookends," directed by Mike Doyle, tells the story of Nate, an aspiring novelist who finds love and acceptance with his grandparents' doctor when he moves in with them after discovering his boyfriend's infidelity.
Ash drew from his own experiences when writing the screenplay, which was a way for him to process his emotions during a difficult time. At 27, Ash found himself homeless and living with his grandparents, an arrangement that would prove to be both a blessing and a challenge. The experience had a profound impact on him, but he was mortified by the whole ordeal, fearing that others would find out about his living situation.
It wasn't until his manager suggested writing something about it that Ash began to see the story as a love letter to his grandparents. With their passing before the film's release, Ash felt a deep sense of comfort and validation in knowing that they had known about the screenplay and its themes.
The casting of Charlie Barnett as Nate's love interest was also crucial to Ash and Doyle's vision for an authentic portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters. As openly gay actors themselves, Ash and Barnett made sure to bring nuance and depth to their performances, showcasing the complexities of Jewish identity and family dynamics.
While the film's release coincided with a surge in anti-LGBTQ+ attacks, Ash initially worried about finding distribution due to the increasing polarized atmosphere. However, the success of "Heated Rivalry," a steamy and gay-friendly TV series, gave him confidence that mainstream audiences would also appreciate his work.
"Bookends" premieres on February 9th at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, offering Ash another opportunity to share his story with a wider audience. As he embarks on this new chapter in his career, it's clear that "Bookends" is more than just a film – it's a testament to the power of love, acceptance, and the human spirit.
Noam Ash's journey from living with his grandparents after a painful breakup to writing a romantic comedy about it is nothing short of remarkable. The film, "Bookends," directed by Mike Doyle, tells the story of Nate, an aspiring novelist who finds love and acceptance with his grandparents' doctor when he moves in with them after discovering his boyfriend's infidelity.
Ash drew from his own experiences when writing the screenplay, which was a way for him to process his emotions during a difficult time. At 27, Ash found himself homeless and living with his grandparents, an arrangement that would prove to be both a blessing and a challenge. The experience had a profound impact on him, but he was mortified by the whole ordeal, fearing that others would find out about his living situation.
It wasn't until his manager suggested writing something about it that Ash began to see the story as a love letter to his grandparents. With their passing before the film's release, Ash felt a deep sense of comfort and validation in knowing that they had known about the screenplay and its themes.
The casting of Charlie Barnett as Nate's love interest was also crucial to Ash and Doyle's vision for an authentic portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters. As openly gay actors themselves, Ash and Barnett made sure to bring nuance and depth to their performances, showcasing the complexities of Jewish identity and family dynamics.
While the film's release coincided with a surge in anti-LGBTQ+ attacks, Ash initially worried about finding distribution due to the increasing polarized atmosphere. However, the success of "Heated Rivalry," a steamy and gay-friendly TV series, gave him confidence that mainstream audiences would also appreciate his work.
"Bookends" premieres on February 9th at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, offering Ash another opportunity to share his story with a wider audience. As he embarks on this new chapter in his career, it's clear that "Bookends" is more than just a film – it's a testament to the power of love, acceptance, and the human spirit.
. His journey from being homeless and living with his grandparents to creating this beautiful, love-filled story is so inspiring 
! The way he turned a difficult experience into something that celebrates acceptance and love is truly remarkable 
. And can we talk about the casting of Charlie Barnett? Perfect choice for Nate's role 
. I'm super hyped for "Bookends" premiere on Feb 9th - it's going to be such an amazing story to share 
, noam ash's story is so relatable, i can only imagine how hard it must've been for him to write something about his experiences with his grandparents 
. i love how he saw the whole thing as a way to honor them after they passed away 
like i had to know more about him and his film bookends... so from what i gather he wrote the screenplay as a way to process his emotions during that tough time in his life, but then it turned into a love letter to his grandparents which is honestly beautiful 
The casting of Charlie Barnett was pure magic 
I'm beyond excited for the film's premiere on Feb 9th at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 
Can't wait to see how his story resonates with more people, especially in these uncertain times 
just kidding kinda. But seriously, I think what drew me to this story is that Ash had some major insecurities about sharing his personal life, but his manager talked him into it and now look at him go! The film's message of love and acceptance is super relatable, especially during these weird times we're living in 
. And yay for a gay lead actor, it's about time we see more authentic representations on screen 
but I'm glad he did 'cause it's actually really beautiful 
I think what really resonates with me about Noam Ash's story is how he turned something so vulnerable into a beautiful work of art 
. Writing about his experiences living with his grandparents after a tough breakup could've been a super personal struggle, but instead, it became a love letter to them 
.
The way he turned his personal struggles into a romantic comedy about finding love and acceptance with his grandparents is pure genius 
. And can we talk about how awesome it is that he got to cast Charlie Barnett as Nate's love interest? I've seen their chemistry on socials, they're goals 
. I'm also glad that Ash and Doyle made sure to bring authenticity to the film, especially with their own experiences as openly gay actors 
. i mean dont get me wrong i love a good grandma drama as much as the next person but come on its not like its gonna change the world or anything 
. and whats up with all the fuss about noam ash being openly gay? can we just celebrate his success without turning it into some sort of political statement 
?
. With its diverse cast & LGBTQ+ themes, this film is a step towards breaking down barriers and fostering more understanding 
.
... family is everything, right? And I'm so glad Ash got to share this story with a wider audience now that they're no longer with us