The Golden Hours is a coming-of-age story following 16-year-old Raven, played by local actor Aislinn Wilson, who grapples with the aftermath of a life-changing accident. It's a journey of healing, self-acceptance, and the power of unexpected connections. It was entirely filmed in Santa Barbara with a local cast and crew. The film earned the Social Impact & Vision Award at this year’s Ojai Film Festival and recently signed a distribution deal.
We spoke with director Jorrit Van Der Kooi who shares more about his background and why he films in Santa Barbara.
When did you start making films?
I’ve been making films ever since my parents bought a Video 8 system back in the late 1980s. I was born and raised in the Netherlands, where I studied TV journalism and worked as a freelance director and producer for several Dutch national TV stations. When we moved to Santa Barbara 11 years ago, I shifted my focus from TV to film.
What was it like filming in Santa Barbara?
We live in a city with some of the most beautiful backdrops you can imagine, so it’s wonderful to shoot a movie here and film outdoors. The community is generally supportive when it comes to filming in public spaces and helping out locations. The owners of Intermezzo and Scarlett Begonia, for example, let us use their restaurants for filming, as did Caje Coffee.
Why was it important to find local actors to fill the roles?
We have a lot of talent locally, and there is usually no need to look elsewhere! I love scouting talent in theater plays or high school productions around town, and I'm impressed by the professionalism of our local actors. Some of our teenage cast members are true "theater kids," such as Annette McGuire (Lizzy) and Tristan Fleming (Levi) .
What are you excited to see at this year’s SBIFF?
I love to watch the films at the 10-10-10 screenings at the Arlington. These are student films from local student filmmakers, and it’s a great way to scout new talent and to see some of my actor friends in other films.
The Golden Hours is available to watch on streaming streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime.