The Global Search for Education: Directors Ethan and Luke Montgomery Tell Us What It's Like to Be Identical Twins

Posted By C. M. Rubin on Dec 16, 2022

This month audiences can stream Amelia (the Twin) on the Planet Classroom Network. This film is curated for the Planet Classroom Network by KIDS FIRST! Film Festival.

Amelia (the Twin) is a short film about a 5th-grader named Amelia (played by Emery Gordon) who receives an assignment to write about one thing that makes her unique. So begins Amelia’s journey of self-identity to make herself different from her identical twin sister, Jane.

This story from directors Ethan and Luke Montgomery is about the struggles faced by Amelia as she tries to fit in, and in the process discover why she is truly special.

The Global Search for Education is pleased to welcome Ethan and Luke Montgomery.

How is Amelia (the Twin) inspired by your own experience growing up as identical twins? Can you tell us something from that experience that isn’t in the film?

Our whole lives, people have frequently asked us, “What’s it like to be twins?” The question always seemed kind of funny to us – how would we know? What’s it like not to be a twin? In the process of writing this film, though, we realized that being twins has dramatically shaped our lives. The biggest thing we learned was that we’ve been almost subconsciously trying to be more different from each other our entire lives. In many ways, we’ve hated being perceived as identical, and that’s led us each to try to make ourselves more “unique” by changing who we are. Of course, the more we try to change ourselves, the further from our true selves we get. That’s what this film is about, and we hope it resonates with more people than just other twins.

How do you work as co-directors? Who does what in your creative process and why do you think it works?

We both are drawn to the same things, which is mostly a huge blessing. We sit down and write together, we plan out shoot days together, and we talk to actors together. This allows us to delegate tasks really easily when we need to because we trust each other with creative decisions. Somehow, we are able to share a specific vision for the projects we work on. It must have something to do with having the same DNA! Sometimes we disagree, but only in small ways that ultimately lead to more creative choices.

What do you hope people connect with and “take away” after watching your film?

There are a lot of pressures in our world, at all stages of life, to be somebody you’re not. We hope people are reminded of their own inherent value and encouraged to humbly sing their own song, even when it doesn’t make people notice you.

So what are you guys working on next?

We just completed a brand new short film about 2 clarinet players competing for first chair in a college-level band. We’re excited to start rolling that one out to festivals, and while that’s happening, we’re working on another film that will be shooting in February! There’s a lot happening, and we hope it doesn’t ever slow down. You can keep up with us on Instagram.

Thanks Guys!