In Daydream, set to begin filming in Bristol on Monday, June 8, a coastal, small town boy sets out to publish a novel based on his childhood best friend, but faces a moral dilemma when deciding whether to publish a comforting, fabricated version of their story or reveal the unsettling truth.

Unlike last summer’s filming of Remain, M. Night Shyamalan’s supernatural thriller that for two nights turned the Town Common into a surreal carnival/concert venue with hundreds of extras, Daydream will feel a lot more “Bristol.”

Called “a character-driven coming-of-age drama that captures the nostalgia of East Coast summers through themes of friendship, family, love, and ultimately, the beauty of grief,” locations will include Mount Hope Farm, Blithewold, Bristol Bagel Works, the baseball diamond adjacent to the town beach, a rocky beach off Poppasquash Road, Bristol Marine, and the North Burial Ground.

Daydream is the creation of actor-turned-filmmaker Gwenn Hope. Operating on an ultra-low budget, the production is tapping the talents of local artists, crew members, and supporters throughout the New England film community. They characterize their approach as grassroots: making the film with the community, for the community.
The production was recently granted Rhode Island’s film tax credit through the Rhode Island Film & Television Office, and has also received support from Women in Film & Television New England, with several current and former board members joining the team or offering guidance throughout the development and production process. The collaboration reflects the organization’s ongoing mission to uplift emerging voices and support women-led filmmaking throughout the region.

“After living in Los Angeles for seven years, coming back home reminded me why I fell in love with storytelling in the first place,” says Hope. “What started as a way to showcase myself as an actor evolved into something much bigger. I found myself becoming a writer, director, and producer because I wanted to create meaningful art on my own terms. Independent films like these deserve to see the light of day, and I’m incredibly excited to be part of the movement happening in independent cinema right now.”

Daydream began as a short film, screening at several festivals last year including the Los Angeles Shorts International Film Festival, the Rhode Island International Film Festival, and the Block Island Film Festival.
Before arriving in theaters or on streaming platforms, the team hopes to bring the film directly to local audiences first, hosting screening events that celebrate the people and places that helped bring the project to life.