“In the Middle of Something” is screening as part of the Narrative Shorts Program on:
Saturday, July 18, 2026
3:00 PM
AMC Williamsport 11, Williamsport, Pennsylvania
By Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 6/20/26 – Some films arrive with grand ambitions. Others quietly slip into your heart by speaking an honest truth. In the Middle of Something, directed by Lauren Adams and inspired by the music and experiences of musician Julian Velard, falls firmly into the latter category.
The short film, which screens at the River Valley Film Festival on July 18 at 3 p.m., offers a thoughtful, funny, and surprisingly moving examination of what it means to navigate midlife as an artist, a parent, a partner, and a human being still searching for meaning.
During a recent interview with The Hollywood Times, Adams described the project as emerging from her and Velard’s shared experience of being artists in their 40s. The film evolved from Velard’s album In the Middle of Something and a live stage show the pair created together before adapting it into a short film.
“We’re both artists in sort of a rocky business and world,” Adams explained. “It’s very interesting to come into your midlife and your midlife crisis, and it looks a little different than it did when we were kids.”
Click below for our exclusive interview:
That authenticity permeates every frame of the film.
Set largely within the vibrant atmosphere of Los Angeles’ Elysian Theater, the story explores a performer confronting the reality that life rarely unfolds according to a neat timeline. Dreams evolve. Priorities shift. Success takes unexpected forms. Yet rather than treating these realities as failures, In the Middle of Something asks viewers to consider whether there might be beauty in simply being where they are.
The film’s greatest strength is its balance of humor and vulnerability. Adams assembled an impressive ensemble of comedy talent, including Nicole Byer, Paul Scheer, James Adomian, John Milhiser, Will Miles, and Giovanni, all of whom bring warmth and authenticity to the project.
Rather than relying on broad comedy, the cast grounds the film in recognizable human behavior. Their performances feel lived-in and natural, reflecting the collaborative environment Adams cultivated on set. She spoke about allowing performers room to experiment beyond the script, noting that some of the film’s strongest moments emerged organically during production.
One particularly memorable example involved Paul Scheer suggesting that a scene become a walk-and-talk rather than remaining static. Adams embraced the idea, reworking the blocking and camera setup to better serve the character dynamics. The result is a film that feels spontaneous while remaining carefully crafted.
Equally impressive is the musical backbone provided by Velard, whose original songs serve as both narrative framework and emotional guideposts. Adams shared that one of the production’s biggest challenges centered around the film’s climactic musical sequence, where artistic priorities between sound and visuals briefly collided.
As a musician, Velard prioritized capturing a live performance. As a filmmaker, Adams focused on preserving the visual integrity of the scene. Through compromise and collaboration, they achieved both. The final result is a beautifully intimate sequence that exemplifies the film’s larger themes of balance, adaptation, and creative partnership.
What makes In the Middle of Something resonate so deeply is its refusal to offer easy answers. Instead, it embraces uncertainty.
Connection, or the lack thereof, becomes one of the film’s central themes. Adams noted that while the story originated in live theater, a medium she considers inherently connective, it evolved into a film that uses cinematic tools to explore the universal longing for understanding and belonging.
The title itself becomes a mission statement.
By the film’s conclusion, viewers are reminded that life is rarely about arriving at a final destination. More often, we find ourselves navigating the space between where we’ve been and where we’re going.
As Adams beautifully summarized during our conversation: “Sometimes the middle is an okay place to be.”
It’s a deceptively simple observation, yet one that gives the film its emotional power.
For anyone who has ever questioned their path, wondered if they’re behind schedule, or struggled to reconcile ambition with reality, In the Middle of Something offers reassurance wrapped in humor, music, and heartfelt storytelling.
In a culture obsessed with milestones and destinations, Adams and Velard have created a film that celebrates the journey itself.
And that’s something worth experiencing.
