More About the Film
TITLE – BORN & RAISED
LOGLINE – A young man, in the blue-collar south, finds his way with the help of his well-traveled, outlaw of a grandfather and the multicultural community of family and friends that surround them.
SYNOPSIS
Set in working-class Florida, we meet BUBBS WILSON (25), a product of his southern, small town surroundings. He works at the local Marina, helping wealthy boaters enjoy a life he cannot attain. His world is inhabited by his mother, MARY, his African-American best friend, KENNY, and his outlaw, “modern-day pirate” of a grandfather, on Mary’s side, FRANK. Whenever Frank sails to town on his “live aboard” sailboat, Bubbs must secretly visit him, due to Frank and Mary’s twenty year estrangement.
Our story begins when Bubbs’s longtime girlfriend dumps him, citing his inability to take action in his life. This spurs Bubbs to consider leaving this small town for the first time. Kenny and his attractive, independent sister, COREY, make it their mission to cheer Bubbs up by taking him out for drinks. By night’s end, Bubbs will make a romantic connection with Corey, further confusing his thoughts and plans.
Bubbs enlists Frank’s help and, through many beer-fueled conversations about life and love, Bubbs proceeds to make Corey his girlfriend, deal with the obvious fallout from Kenny and calm Mary’s motherly worries. Surprised Corey isn’t enough to extinguish his dreams of leaving - he reveals his thoughts of “getting out” with her and, unfortunately, discovers she doesn’t feel the same way.
Uncovering a history of abuse between Corey and her ex-boyfriend, Bubbs fights him – surprisingly, angering Corey. Coupled with a miscommunication, involving Bubbs’s ex, the two split. Bubbs finds no sympathy from Kenny, who sides with his sister. With these relationships shattered, Bubbs discusses leaving with Frank. Mary gets word and confronts her father, railing him for a lifetime of wrongs committed. The next day, Bubbs finds Frank, and his boat, gone – having left in the middle of the night.
Ultimately, Bubbs must reconcile the numerous relationships with the family and friends he cares most about and come face-to-face with the decision to either - stay for love, leave for adventure, or find a way to combine the two, capitalizing on the best of both worlds.
Born & Raised is a rough, tough, coming-of-age drama, with a lot of heart and a ton of laughs. It deals with family, friends, love, forgiveness, small towns and the want for something more.
