{{Short description|2017 American film by Terry Ross}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Carving a Life | image = File:Carving a Life Poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Poster | director = Terry Ross | writer = Lisa Bruhn | producer = Evette Betancourt | starring = {{Plainlist| * Tyler Bruhn * Karenssa LeGear * Aaron Landon Bornstein * Lisa Winans * Sandi Todorovic * Jay Jee * Laura Bohlin * Navid Negahban * Tiffany Espensen }} | cinematography = Oscar Velázquez | editing = Janna Reznik | music = Edna Alejandra Longoria | studio = Life In Reels Productions | distributor = Indie Rights | released = {{Film date|2017|10|13}} | runtime = 83 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = }}
'''''Carving a Life''''' is a 2017 American romance drama film directed by Terry Ross and written by Lisa Bruhn. The film stars Tyler Bruhn and Karenssa LeGear.
==Plot== Mitch (Tyler Bruhn), a woodworker struggling with alcoholism after the death of his mother, begins a relationship with Lauren (Karenssa LeGear), a local elementary schoolteacher. His past trauma and difficult relationship with his father strains his romantic relationship with Lauren.
==Cast== {{div col}} *Tyler Bruhn as Mitch *Karenssa LeGear as Lauren *Aaron Landon Bornstein as Stephen *Lisa Winans as Rebecca *Sandi Todorovic as Eric *Jay Jee as Dr. Johnson *Laura Bohlin as Mary *Navid Negahban as Dr. Kasem *Tiffany Espensen as Veronica *Lindsay Kaye Sainato as Lyndsey *Marla Bingham as Rehab Psychologist *Kathleen Holt as Nurse Mary *Max Baroudi as Young Mitch *Samuel James Pfoser as Young Eric *Kellen Rose as Kid at beach *Mark Benjamin as Ethan *Frank Papia as Gordon *Lizet Benrey as Rehab Counselor {{div col end}}
==Production==
It was the debut film of director Terry Ross.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Katie |date=2017-10-13 |title=Review: Indie drama 'Carving a Life,' about addiction, means well but is ineptly made |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-capsule-carving-a-life-review-20171013-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013215626/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-capsule-carving-a-life-review-20171013-story.html |archive-date=2017-10-13 |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Principal photography took place in North County of San Diego, Anaheim and Julian, California.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sherman |first=Lola |date=2015-12-03 |title=Films coming back to county |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-lola-sherman-karenssa-legear-2015dec02-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916210917/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-lola-sherman-karenssa-legear-2015dec02-story.html |archive-date=2018-09-16 |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Release==
The film was presented at the American Film Market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Ann Reilly |date=2015-12-03 |title=One Step Back, Two Steps Forward: Catching Up with 'Carving A Life' |url=https://ramonajournalarchives.com/one-step-back-two-steps-forward-catching-up-with-carving-a-life-p7353-288.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613081506/https://ramonajournalarchives.com/one-step-back-two-steps-forward-catching-up-with-carving-a-life-p7353-288.htm |archive-date=2022-06-13 |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=Ramona Journal}}</ref> The film had a screening in San Diego,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-07 |title='Carving a Life' premiere screening happening Tuesday - |url=https://www.kusi.com/carving-life-premiere-screening-happening-tuesday/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722104128/https://www.kusi.com/carving-life-premiere-screening-happening-tuesday/ |archive-date=2018-07-22 |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=KUSI |language=en-US}}</ref> a limited theatrical release in Los Angeles and was distributed by Indie Rights.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shepherd |first=Wendy |date=2017-10-13 |title=Life in Reels Productions Releases Award-Winning Film : Carving A Life {{!}} Movie Vine |url=https://www.movievine.com/news/life-in-reels-productions-releases-award-winning-film-carving-a-life/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109025739/https://www.movievine.com/news/life-in-reels-productions-releases-award-winning-film-carving-a-life/ |archive-date=2017-11-09 |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=Movie Vine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-11-12 |title=Carving a Life (2017) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Carving-a-Life |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120004503/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Carving-a-Life |archive-date=2017-11-20 |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=The Numbers}}</ref>
==Reception== The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics. Katie Walsh at ''Los Angeles Times'' described it as well-intentioned but amateurish, calling it "the kind of DIY indie film that tries very, very hard but completely misses the mark."<ref name=":0" /> Adam Keller at ''Film Threat'' scored it 1 out of 5 stating it was "stream-of-consciousness mush."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keller |first=Adam |date=2018-05-09 |title=Carving A Life {{!}} Film Threat |url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/carving-a-life/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510034246/http://filmthreat.com/reviews/carving-a-life/ |archive-date=2018-05-10 |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=Film Threat |language=en-US}}</ref> Chris Olson at ''UK Film Review'' scored it 4 stars calling it "genuinely moving [...] tender and engaging."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Chris |date=2017-12-12 |title=Carving a Life indie film |url=https://www.ukfilmreview.co.uk/post/carving-a-life-indie-film |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927014542/https://www.ukfilmreview.co.uk/post/carving-a-life-indie-film |archive-date=2020-09-27 |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=UK Film Review |language=en}}</ref> ''Occhi Magazine'' rated the film 3 stars and said it would've been better with an "expanded plot and more focus on the characters."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-05 |title=Review: 'Carving a Life' is an Enjoyable Film Written by Lisa Bruhn |url=https://occhimagazine.com/review-carving-a-life-is-an-enjoyable-film-written-by-lisa-bruhn/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613085001/https://occhimagazine.com/review-carving-a-life-is-an-enjoyable-film-written-by-lisa-bruhn/ |archive-date=2022-06-13 |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=Occhi Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References ==
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==External links== * {{IMDb title}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes}} * {{Letterboxd title}}
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Category:2017 romantic drama films Category:American romantic drama films Category:Films shot in San Diego Category:Films set in San Diego Category:2017 directorial debut films Category:2017 films Category:Films about alcoholism Category:Films about grief Category:Films about father–son relationships Category:Films directed by Terry Ross Category:2017 English-language films Category:2017 American films Category:Films about educators Category:English-language romantic drama films