Inspired by true events from screenwriting professor Cindy McCreery’s life, “I’ll Be There” narrates the story of Grace, the youngest in her blended family, returning to Los Angeles to care for her older brother AJ after his cancer diagnosis. The film also explores how Michael Jackson’s death reignited childhood memories, inspiring Grace and AJ’s reconnection. Ahead of the film’s Nov. 15 streaming release, The Daily Texan sat down with screenwriter and radio-television-film department chair Cindy McCreery and director and RTF professor Andrew Shea to discuss the film’s themes, standout moments and advice for aspiring student filmmakers. 

The Daily Texan: In the trailer, there’s a scene where the hospital janitor answers “Where there is love,” when Grace asks how he knows things will be ok. Why did you guys highlight that line? 

Cindy McCreery: He quotes the Michael Jackson song. 

Andrew Shea: The song is, “I’ll be there.” It’s from the Jackson Five. (The janitor) is channeling the spirit of Michael Jackson in the film. The film is about family and forgiveness and reconciliation, so that quote of the janitors is very much thematically resonant with what we’re trying to say with the story. 

DT: What do you hope viewers feel when they finish watching the film?

CM: I hope people feel happy or inspired to check in with people they love. We all have complicated families or relationships and we have our chosen families and our (non-chosen) families and (we hope people) think about what’s important. We’ve had a lot of people tell us, ‘I called my sibling after watching this,’ or they’ve talked about being a caregiver or being a cancer survivor. That’s always been inspiring to Andrew and I — that people were touched enough by the film to feel seen, or feel inspired to reconnect with someone or feel like, ‘I could connect to that emotionally because I went through something similar.’ 

AS: We want people to laugh. There are moments of humor. As Cindy said we hope people are inspired to reach out to their own loved ones and to recognize the importance of family and the fragility of it all. 

DT: Do you have any advice for students wanting to create a film like “I’ll Be There?” 

CM: From the writing point of view, write and tell your own stories and (draw) inspiration from real life… The best stories are going to be the most emotional if you draw from what you’ve experienced.

AS:  I always encourage my students to just make work. When they graduate, they’re working full-time jobs, (but) find the time somewhere to keep making short films. Shoot on an iPhone, do whatever you can just to keep working and creating stories.