Twitter sensation-turned-New York Times best-selling author Kelly Oxford is stepping behind the camera. She’ll write and direct “Pink Skies Ahead,” the first feature film produced and financed by indie media company Stampede. A press release announced the news.
Slated to go into production this June, the pic is based on “No Real Danger,” an essay from Oxford’s second book, “When You Find Out the World is Against You.” Jessica Barden (“The End of the F***ing World,” “The Lobster”) stars as a “wild young woman whose life unravels after dropping out of college, moving in with her parents, and being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.”
“Part of our mission here at Stampede is to support the best new voices in film and television. That’s why today is such a special day here as we announce that we are producing and financing the first feature film on our slate with ‘Pink Skies Ahead.’ We are so proud to support Kelly’s directorial debut from her exceptional screenplay with the incomparable Jessica Barden,” said founder Greg Silverman.
Oxford added, “This story is so important to me. The overwhelming response to my essay made me want to bring it to life. Jessica Barden is a force to be reckoned with, and I’m thrilled to have the support of Stampede behind me and this project.”
Currently serving as a writer on “Busy Tonight,” Oxford released her first book, “Everything Is Perfect When You’re a Liar,” in 2013.
When asked to give advice to women who’d like to be doing what she is, Oxford said, “Just to work, every day, and if you’re not so good at something, you can get better at it. You can always get better at it. And you can do that just by doing the actual work rather than daydreaming about the fantasy life,” she emphasized. “You really have to just do it.”