The Reel Q Festival screened the Pittsburgh premiere of “The Rehabilitation of the Hill,” written and directed by Demetrius Wren.
“Rehabilitation of the Hill” follows two quirky, headstrong women from opposing backgrounds, Kelly (Christina Wren, “Man of Steel” and “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice”) and Gwen (Kelsey Packwood), as they battle over their vision for an urban neighborhood (the Hill) in Pittsburgh while begrudgingly falling in love.
The screenwriter and director Demetrius Wren directed the first season of the hit children’s show, “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” and co-owns a production company, Two Kids with a Camera, with his wife, actress Christina Wren who stars in the movie.
Demetrius Wren said, “I was first introduced to Pittsburgh through my wife when we came to visit and film scenes for her film, ‘Saudade?’ What I immediately loved about the city is that it could showcase so many environments, scenes and experiences– from a bustling downtown to suburban neighborhoods, farmland, university settings, innovation and tradition and so on. It was the perfect backlot for any film.”
He spoke highly of the level of talent he found here. “Folks who may have ‘day jobs’ would show up and be just as talented as the actors and crew that you might find in New York or Los Angeles.”
Wren’s next project is a fantasy screenplay written specifically for Pittsburgh’s Northside. Wren, who was born in Phoenix, Arizona and grew up in Augusta, Georgia, has become a fan of the Steel City. He said, “I love it here.”