The Global Search for Education: How Gone Explores Teen Friendship, Loss, and Safety

Posted By C. M. Rubin on Mar 4, 2025

This month on Planet Classroom, audiences can screen Gone, directed by Hunter Nickless. This film is curated for Planet Classroom by the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival.

Gone is a compelling coming-of-age drama that resonates with today’s youth, addressing themes of friendship, grief, and responsible decision-making. The film follows Luca, played by Nickless, as he adjusts to life in a new town while maintaining virtual friendships—until tragedy strikes. Featuring a talented cast including Ali Ghasemi and Lindsey Stein, Gone delivers an emotional narrative that raises awareness about teen mental health and the consequences of drinking and driving.

The Global Search for Education is pleased to welcome Hunter Nickless.

Hunter, what inspired you to tell this powerful story of friendship and loss?

The inspiration for Gone came from a project in my weekly acting class, where we were tasked with writing a script and acting in a film with partners. Since the class was held on Zoom, we faced the unique challenge of creating a short film remotely. I live on the East Coast while my partners were on the West Coast, adding to the complexity.

We aimed to make emotional trauma the film’s central theme while also exploring the idea that we are never truly aware of what others are experiencing in their lives. Gone carries the important message that you may not always know what someone is going through, and it’s crucial to reach out and offer support.

How did real-life events influence the emotional depth of Gone?

While I haven’t directly experienced the trauma of incidents involving drinking, driving, and death, I have felt misunderstood by my peers. My personal experiences influenced the emotional depth of Gone, allowing me to relate to the feelings of being misunderstood and translating those emotions into the film.

How do you hope this film impacts conversations around teen safety?

I hope this film sparks meaningful conversations around teen safety by highlighting the emotional trauma and coping mechanisms following such events. It also emphasizes the devastating effects of drinking and driving, particularly on those who are left behind. At the film’s conclusion, I encourage viewers to support Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) by making a donation.

What was the biggest challenge in directing a film tackling such deep themes?

The biggest challenge in directing a film with such deep themes was capturing the internal emotions of someone who has experienced a traumatic event. I aimed to convey these emotions through acting and music. Music, in particular, was the hardest part because the lyrics can significantly influence the film’s meaning.

Additionally, I faced time constraints, with only two weeks to complete the entire project. Coordinating across two different time zones for the Zoom scenes added complexity. As the lead actor, I also had to direct my parents on camera shots, which was another unique challenge.

Thank you, Hunter!