…inspired by the untold tales of fearless women who helped shape our nation and our future.
The Story
Logline
An ex-CIA spy with a sly wit infiltrates the lives of two gay men who move in next door. As secrets unfold, the layers of truth lead to an unexpected friendship and life-altering choices.
Synopsis
Lillian Wallingford Blanton, a confident and independent Southern matriarch, possesses a take-no-prisoners wit that leaves others laughing or furious, and often craving more.
Her secret life as a CIA spy is hard to leave behind. Lillian shrewdly takes inventory of everything and uses off-color witty malaprops to keep others off-guard. It’s a fall afternoon when Lillian spies two men moving into her Arlington neighborhood just outside Washington, D.C.
Jason has difficulty living openly as gay, and upon meeting Lillian, attempts to portray Aaron as a roommate. Over time, Lillian cultivates an unlikely friendship with Jason and he is drawn into the mystery of who she is. Aaron, on the other hand, is not so sure – he distrusts her.
Jason is an unlikely but worthy target of Lillian’s frequent cross-examinations. Each encounter is a calculated test to determine if he can fulfill the role she ultimately intends for him: to serve as her health care agent and executor of her estate. It’s a race against time as she faces her own mortality.
Why This Film?
This is a story relevant today as we see families and communities divided by perceived differences and fear. In today’s challenging environment, it is essential that we advocate, expand and uplift our shared humanity through our actions. People intuitively want that human connection to each other, and films provide a way in.
In Lillian, Next Door, each character navigates family, relationships, the lies they live, and the deeply personal struggles many of us have when we are not true to ourselves. What makes us seek out those that might understand? Survival mechanisms perhaps, but it’s finding those who truly allow you to be you. These intergenerational friends challenge stereotypes. The seeming differences in their lives of secrets and lies actually provides shared experiences. In their common ground, they find the possibility for redemption, self-acceptance and the recognition that love is hard. But it’s still love.
The Filmmakers
Meet the award-winning team behind Lillian, Next Door
Janice Engel
Director
James Egan
Producer
Tim Atkin
Writer
Thom Fitzgerald
Producer
Neal Ludevig
Co-Producer
“Oh gosh. I read your script in one breathless go, and loved it!!!”
“I can’t imagine reading anything more beautiful and touching. I can see the story touching everyone in a very personal way. Can’t wait to see this script come to life on screen.”
Get Involved
Become a Lillian, Next Door Insider
Join our email list to stay informed of progress on our journey to the red carpet! Interested in support in a greater capacity? Your tax-deductible donation will help make this film, and you’ll be listed in the closing credits! Below is a summary of donation opportunities.
Please note: after we receive your donation, we will confirm with you if, and how, you would like your name to appear in closing credits and/or the website.
Tax-Deductible Donations
Lillian, Next Door is a fiscally sponsored project of Film Independent, a non-profit independent media arts organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of making Lillian, Next Door must be made to Film Independent and are 100% tax-deductible as permitted by law.
Press Coverage
‘Severance’ Star and Four-Time Oscar Nominee Jane Alexander to Lead Comedy-Drama ‘Lillian, Next Door,’ WME Independent Boards Sales
Production scheduled for Canada on ‘Lillian, Next Door’ with multiple Oscar nominee Jane Alexander
Jane Alexander to Play Female Spy in New Indie Dramedy LILLIAN, NEXT DOOR
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Where Is the All the President’s Men Cast Now? What Happened to the Stars, 50 Years Later
Thank You Supporters
In addition to generous investors, Lillian, Next Door is a fiscally sponsored project of FiLM iNDEPENDENT, a non-profit media arts organization and producers of the acclaimed Spirit Awards. These are the generous donors who are supporting the making of Lillian, Next Door via their tax-deductible contributions.
LILLIAN’S WARDROBE MADE POSSIBLE BY
ANNA M. HOGAN
JASON’S WARDROBE MADE POSSIBLE BY
TERRY BICKHAM
AARON’S WARDROBE MADE POSSIBLE BY
JEFF & BRENDA KANG
SUPPORTING CAST WARDROBE MADE POSSIBLE BY
TRACY SCHMALER & TOM ATKIN
FILM CREW MEALS MADE POSSIBLE BY
REBECCA McHALE
CRAFT SERVICES MADE POSSIBLE BY
JONATHAN ADKINS & BEN ROBERTS
TRANSPORTATION MADE POSSIBLE BY
BRION COOK
LOCATION CASTING MADE POSSIBLE BY
LISA FESTA & CHRISTINE FESTA
SET DECORATION MADE POSSIBLE BY
ROBERT McDONALD & DAVID INSINGA
Additional Supporters
FILM CHAMPIONS
LEE & CORINNE BLAKEMORE • KAREN & GARY BROWN, MEMBERS INC. • ANNE DONOHUE • DIANA & PIOTR KAPISZEWSKI • JANE SCHULTZ • MARK SENTNER AND MOSAIC EXPRESS • SUZANNE & KEEGAN STROUP
FILM PARTNERS
JANET BETH ABRAMS • TERRY ATKIN ROWE • JAMES E. BALLOWE, JR. • ROBERT CAVE • MEGAN GOLDEN & PETER NEIMAN • MICHAEL LUSTIG • JILL & JEFF PURDY
FILM BFFs
KATHY ADAMS • REBECCA BAILEY • DIANE BAKER & FRANCIS COLLINS • BERNIE BOGDAN • LYN BRADFORD • EMILY & RICHARD CRESPIN • RENNY & PAT DiPENTIMA • CHARLENE DOWNEY & ANNA CRUZ • THE EDDY FAMILY • PATTI GROSS • GAZELLE HASHEMIAN & SASSAN KIMIAVI • BOB & KRIS HILBORN • PATRICE & TOM HUTTON • PETER IOVINO • ANNIE & DAVE KEFFER • LILY LADD & JAMES WILSON • MINDY & DAVID LANDAU • TED & TRICIA LEGASEY • ANDREA MARCILLE & NICK MYNUK • LISA MAYR & FRANCISCO MEJIA • ROBERT McDONALD & DAVID INSINGA • TAMARA & BOB McKENNA • ELLYN & JOHN METCALF • RANDY MITCHMORE & MICHAEL HORNER • ERICA MOHR & PETE MEYER • JULIE NEAR & JASON BASS • MARLA & PAUL NEDZBALA • KAREN PEDERSEN • MARK J. RAABE • DUSTIN RUFFATTO & SCOTT MOSTER • THERESA URBAN • CARLISLE VANDERVOORT • NITIN VERMA & KURT BERSANI • KATHY & ED VIEIRA • JAY YOKLEY
FILM SUPER FANS
BERNIE BOGDAN • JIM BRYCE • ANTON & LAURA BUTIE • ART & PAGE COLEMAN • MARY ELLEN CONDON • JOHN DANKOWSKI • MARGIE & STUART DAVIS • CHRIS DAY & CANDACE WALTERS • KAY & JEFF DEFFINBAUGH • ALLEN & JENNIFER DEITZ • HANS DREYER • STEVE ELLIS • SCOT EVANS & HOLLY PEPPE • MARVIN & GAIL FERTEL • KEVIN GRAVES • DANNY & JENNIFER GUENTHER • KITTY HIGGINS • SHARON KIELY & MICHAEL DEVITA • STUART KOPPERMAN & CHRISTOPHER GRIEDER • MARCIE & STUART KRAMER • MICKEY LEVITAN • ERICA LEWIS & DAVE WYNN • SHELLEY & MARK MICALI • DENNIS MILLER & TIM ELVERMAN • RUTH ANN NELSON • EILEEN & DAVID PICKEI • HILLARY & PETER SCHULTZ • ALEXANDER SUN & SCOTT SHAY • JENNY & TIM TOMLINSON • TIM WEINHEIMER & BRET LEHNHOF • SUSAN ZAMPERINI
ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTERS
FRANCESCA ASTER • CLAUDIA GLENN BARASCH & SHELDON HIRSHON • DIANE BARBER & KAREN NIEMEIER • KIM & PAUL BREWER • MANSON & HERMINIA BROWN • LISA & TRACY BURNETT • CHRISTINA & QUILLAN BYAM • CAROLYN CAMPBELL • STEVE CHIVERS • ED DEMUZZIO • DAVE & CARA DeSMIDT • AMY DONAHUE • ANNE FLAMMANG • DESIREE GESSLER • DEB & MIKE GRANER • DAVE HADDOX & MARSHA McALLISTER • SUSAN HAYMER • NC HEIKIN • LAURA & JON HELLER • SHERYN & CHRIS HENDRICKS • McCAIN HIGHFILL & NATHAN PORTLOCK • LAYNE JACKSON • ERIC C. JONES • JOAN KARPELES • BETHANY & ERICH KLEIN • JOHN & KAREN KNOX • GENA KOMRADA • DANDELION LIN • REESE MADSEN • RITA MULLIN • STEVE & DAWNA PEARSON • JOE READYHOUGH • KEVIN REHAC & ANDY RAVENNA • KATHY ROCKLIN • PETER ROSENSTEIN • RYAN ROSLONEK • KATHY & JON RUSSELL • TANYA & DOUG SCHNEIDER • OPEN SKY MUSIC FOUNDATION, INC. • JAMIE & SUSAN SMITH • MARY SPENCE • GARY SPENIK • ANITA J. STOLAROW • JOANNA STONE • JUDITH TEITELMAN & AARON PALEY • SHANNON WEADER