Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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 returns to UCSB for a conversation with moderator Ross Melnick, sharing insights into the making and inspiration behind her heartfelt coming‑of‑age drama. Recorded on 11/21/2024. [5/2025] [Show ID: 40543]
Donate to UCTV to support informative & inspiring programming:
uctv.tv/donate
More videos from: Carsey-Wolf Center
(uctv.tv/carsey-wolf)
Explore More Humanities on UCTV
(uctv.tv/humanities)
The humanities encourage us to think creatively and explore questions about our world. UCTV explores human culture through literature, history, ethics, philosophy, cinema and religion so we can better understand the human experience.
UCTV is the broadcast and online media platform of the University of California, featuring programming from its ten campuses, three national labs and affiliated research institutions. UCTV explores a broad spectrum of subjects for a general audience, including science, health and medicine, public affairs, humanities, arts and music, business, education, and agriculture. Launched in January 2000, UCTV embraces the core missions of the University of California -- teaching, research, and public service – by providing quality, in-depth television far beyond the campus borders to inquisitive viewers around the world.
(https://www.uctv.tv)
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 returns to UCSB for a conversation with moderator Ross Melnick, sharing insights into the making and inspiration behind her heartfelt coming‑of‑age drama. Recorded on 11/21/2024. [5/2025] [Show ID: 40543]
Donate to UCTV to support informative & inspiring programming:
uctv.tv/donate
More videos from: Carsey-Wolf Center
(uctv.tv/carsey-wolf)
Explore More Humanities on UCTV
(uctv.tv/humanities)
The humanities encourage us to think creatively and explore questions about our world. UCTV explores human culture through literature, history, ethics, philosophy, cinema and religion so we can better understand the human experience.
UCTV is the broadcast and online media platform of the University of California, featuring programming from its ten campuses, three national labs and affiliated research institutions. UCTV explores a broad spectrum of subjects for a general audience, including science, health and medicine, public affairs, humanities, arts and music, business, education, and agriculture. Launched in January 2000, UCTV embraces the core missions of the University of California -- teaching, research, and public service – by providing quality, in-depth television far beyond the campus borders to inquisitive viewers around the world.
(https://www.uctv.tv)
