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Podcast: Humanities (Audio)
Episode: The Moon and Back with Leah Bleich
Description: The Moon and Back marks the feature‑length directorial debut of UCSB Film & Media Studies alumnus Leah Bleich. The film follows high‑school senior Lydia Gilbert (Isabel May) as she grapples with her father’s death and mounting family challenges. When she discovers a space‑opera screenplay her dad left behind, Lydia assembles a low‑budget crew—armed only with a VHS camera—to bring his story to life. Shot in just nine days on a $50,000 budget through the Six Feet Apart Experiment, the project won “Best Women’s Film” at the 2022 San Diego International Film Festival and screened at numerous festivals. Bleich r...