For actress Lara Hunter, storytelling has always been a central part of her life. Having begun acting classes at the age of four, she grew up immersed in performance, eventually attending the Denver School of the Arts as a theatre major before continuing her studies in English at UC Berkeley.
Now stepping into one of her most personal projects yet, Hunter stars in the short film Stay In The Car, a story written by her mother, Amanda Ross.
Directed by Calvin Ghaznavi, the film captures one pivotal night in the life of a teenage girl waiting inside her mother’s car. Set beneath the glow of streetlights and the distant hum of sirens, the film quietly builds toward a life-changing decision.
For Hunter, portraying the film’s protagonist Salem came with a unique emotional responsibility. The character is based on Ross’s own childhood experiences, which meant Hunter was not only playing a role but also embodying a deeply personal chapter of her mother’s life.
Reading the script for the first time immediately left an impression on the young actress. What stood out most, she recalls, was the authenticity of the story. Unlike many scripts she encounters, the emotional dynamics of Stay In The Car felt genuine and grounded in real human experience.
Preparing for the role involved many conversations with her mother about the past. Through those discussions, Hunter gained a deeper understanding of the circumstances Ross endured growing up and the resilience required to move beyond them. The role also challenged Hunter in unexpected ways. Much of the film’s emotional impact is conveyed not through dialogue but through silence and subtle expressions. For Hunter, that restraint became a powerful storytelling tool.
“The role showed me the power of silence,” she explains. “Some of the most genuine experiences don’t need words.”
One of the most difficult scenes to film was the moment when Salem’s mother drives away, leaving her behind at a gas station late at night. Filming the scene in the cold darkness added to the emotional intensity, and for a brief moment Hunter says she felt the same isolation her character experienced.
Watch the Trailer here: Stay in the Car Trailer on Vimeo
Another particularly meaningful moment came during the scene in which Salem finally steps out of the car. In that instant, Hunter describes seeing not just the actress opposite her but imagining the younger version of her own mother facing that decision.
Despite the emotional weight of the project, Hunter says the experience ultimately deepened her understanding of storytelling and its impact. The opportunity to bring her mother’s words to life on screen remains one of the proudest moments of her career.
Looking ahead, Hunter hopes to continue pursuing roles that reflect real human experiences and emotional complexity. Influenced by filmmakers such as Greta Gerwig and inspired by performances that embrace vulnerability and authenticity, she is drawn to stories that explore the layered nature of human emotion.
As Stay In The Car continues its festival journey with the upcoming Beverly Hills Film Festival, Lara Hunter views the project as both a personal milestone and a powerful reminder of the role storytelling can play in honoring real experiences.
Stay In The Car will screen during The Beverly Hills Film Festival on April 17th at 5pm at the world famous TCL Chinese 6 in Hollywood. Tickets are available here.
