Last spring, the Spy caught word of a new local project that had been inspired by the lethal drug overdose of Easton native Matt Schilling a few years ago. Friends of Matt had reunited after the tragedy and, as they struggled with the senselessness of their friend’s death, one of them, Talley Wilford, wanted to take that collective grief and make something positive out of it. In this case, a film.
Ambitious as it sounded back then, Wilford, and a team of devoted believers, started fundraising for production costs through special fundraisers, media appeals, and a Kickstarter campaign. Remarkably, within two months, nearly $50,000 was raised which allowed filming to begin.
TalleyWags productions wrapped up shooting in late June of “Flashlight Tag.” It tells the story of three young men who transcend from boyhood into adulthood in a small town, and how their friendship permanently impacted by substance abuse.
In their Spy interview, members of that team talk about the project and their connection with the story. Starting with philanthropist Valaire Albee, founder of Mariah’s Mission, and mother of a child lost to addiction, followed by St. Michaels artist Jen Wagner who serves as producer; her son Seth, who plays one of the leads, and finally, Talley describing the complexity of writing and directing something so connected to his own life.
This video is approximately nine minutes in length. For more information on how to support this project, please contact Jen Wagner at [email protected]
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