A new kids adventure with an ‘old school’ feel is soon to be released. Earth to Echo is an innocent and yet adventurous story of a group of diverse and smart kids who go on looking for an adventure and experience far more than they could have ever imagined. We spoke to the cast and filmmakers of this inspiring sci-fi adventure and they describe this film as not only original and new, but as “a movie that doesn’t talk down to kids or down to adults.”

What many may agree on is that family and friendship films, like those from the 1980s, are no longer being made. Writer Henry Gayden talks about telling the story of this friendship quest, a spirit similar to films like The Goonies and E.T. “Andrew just gave us a chance to actually tell a story, which is rare these days in live action from a kids perspective and we just wanted to honor that… The thing that I love about those movies is that they don’t pander; they don’t condescend. They look at you right in the eye as a child and treat you like an adult.” Producer Andrew Panay supports Gayden’s comment, “As an adult heartbreak stinks, saying goodbye is awful, you know getting in an argument with a friend’s terrible. And then when you’re twelve, heartbreak stinks, having a girl say she doesn’t like you is terrible, having a friend making fun of you is the worst. The difference now is that maybe as an adult you can process it a little better... What we love is that we wanted to bring that back a little bit because it is lacking in the marketplace.” Panay concluded, “We wanted to inspire kids and parents”.

While they have managed to do just that. The selected cast also inspired the filmmakers. Director Dave Green expressed the amazing thrill of working with such vibrant and talented actors. “The challenge of Echo is how do we pack up all of those robotics in something that’s that tiny… There were certain emotions that we could only do in CG. But I have to say it was really our actors who made it come to life….” Keep in mind the story being told is mostly through the lens of a kid. While it sounds challenging, especially for a young cast, the filmmakers are more than pleased with the performances and the outcome. “I think the advantage was, it really challenged us to tell the story from the kids point of view and create a kind of intimacy with those characters that you wouldn’t really have otherwise. I think the format of the movie makes you feel like ‘I really had an experience with those kids’”, said Green.

Munch (Reese Hartwig), Tuck (Brian “Astro” Bradley), and Alex (Teo Halm ) are a group of friends who plan their last night together, as their neighborhood is being destroyed by a “highway construction project”. Little do they know they will find themselves involved and become heroes of an extraterrestrial occurrence. They decide to cross certain measures for the sake of doing the right thing. Because we live in a modern society where technology plays a huge role, it’s incorporated in saving Echo. Without giving much away, actor Teo Halm mentions some of the technology used in the film, “Two or three of the scenes were actually shot on the iPhone. I think that’s probably like the first time iPhone footage has premiered on a full sized movie screen… He [Dave Green] definitely understood the aspect of modern day technology”. Ella Wahlested, who plays Emma, a girl who joins the trio’s adventure later in the film gives us her take on the movie. “It’s a very family friendly movie. I think anyone can see it, honestly… with Echo being so cute and cuddly you just want to like hug him, but it’s also nostalgic to the older adults bringing back the 80s movie genre. I think it’s really appealing to all ages, which is really unique. And it involves technology, which is so evident in our lives today. I mean YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, it plays a huge role in our society!”

With technology, kids, and an alien, an exciting adventure is to be expected. Alex, Tuck, Munch, and Emma may be young, but that does not stop them on making a difference. Andrew Panay explains his motivations on making this film unique and smart for kids. “We really don’t want to treat kids like they don’t get it. I mean the reality is there are big stakes in life. Kids get it. Kids understand it. They’re in on it and with today’s world and the Internet and everything and what they’re seeing on television it’s like, you gotta give them a big feature film… No ones dying and no ones getting killed. It’s got a really positive message… In this case, it’s just good old fashion fun… The truth is kids have this wild imagination and you have to fill that void for them. What we’re doing is just fulfilling that childhood fun and giving an obstacle for these kids so we can give a message, which is like, look you can do anything, you can accomplish anything.”

No dream is too big or too small. For kids eager to see themselves on the big screen, Reese Hartwig has a piece of advice. “A thing to recognize, as dumb as it sounds, school is actually completely important, like legally it’s important. If you don’t have good grades they will not let you be an actor. That’s a serious thing! You cannot get a work permit because you’re under eighteen; you have to be having good grades to have a work permit to do acting. So if you’re not having good grades, you can’t be an actor.”

This fascinating new ‘found footage genre’ does not limit itself to one specific audience. While kids of all ages will enjoy it, parents, teens, and adolescents will be taken on an adventure “as big as the universe”.

Earth to Echo opens in theaters July 2^nd