Embracing the transformative power of storytelling, Just Like You Films is thrilled to share Rise and Shine, our inaugural feature narrative. In partnership with Voyage Media and Low Road Films, we have officially entered the film festival circuit and distribution phase—an exciting next step for this deeply meaningful project.
To ensure authenticity and depth, we engaged with experts and advocates in the cerebral palsy community, including respected voices at United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). We are honored to feature Ana Sharp, a talented young actress with cerebral palsy, in the role of Terri.
Rise and Shine follows Terri, a neurodiverse teenager with cerebral palsy, as she embarks on a quest to experience high school for the first time during her senior year. Determined to have a “typical” teenage life, Terri’s journey is anything but ordinary. She views the world through a lens of magical realism, where everyday moments take on an enchanting glow, and optimism shines even in the darkest times.
At her side is Janice, her fiercely supportive mother, who has dedicated her life to protecting Terri. But as Terri pushes for more independence, Janice must learn to let go, all while rediscovering her own identity as she falls in love with a local man. Together, mother and daughter face the challenges of life head-on, never losing their shared sense of hope.
Rise and Shine is a powerful and heartwarming coming-of-age story about the unbreakable bond between mother and daughter, the emotional struggle of letting go, and the fierce determination to carve out one’s path. It’s a celebration of resilience, love, and the universal quest for independence—whether you’re a teenager finding your way or a mother rediscovering herself.