Lauren Henderson - Dukeland

A family saga about grief, mental illness, and transformation.

When I first read the script for DUKELAND, I knew I had to be apart of it in some small way.

After the passing of my grandmother earlier that year, and the brief glimpse into real grief for the first time in my life, Matthew Stanosolovich's story stuck with me in such a visceral way that I cried after reading the script for the first time. He was able to capture that feeling of loss in such a poetic yet modern way, exploring how three different siblings each cope with the loss of their father.

We have Leslie, who leans into the life of solitude by building a bomb with a frenemy. We have Joey, who tries desperately to connect with someone that brings out the worst in him. And we have Vyra, who finds a friend in someone desperately seeking internet notoriety. Each of these stories weaves into a beautiful menagerie of chosen families, self-reliance, and ultimately, how to move on.

DUKELAND was also the first film I created in the beautiful state of New Mexico, and what would ultimately inspire me to eventually make the journey back West to grow roots here. Being inspired by the scenery, and the energy that was curated on set by all of us sharing one giant house together, gave me a sense of community that I had never experienced before in my life.

Check out our film below. Just a heads up, this film is for adults only: