Two Aiken residents teamed up for a short film about faith and family during the holiday season.
“My inspiration was my grandmother. She was the rock of my family,” said Molay Magwood, who wrote “Under the Lights,” which will premiere at 6 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Aiken Community Theatre, 126 Newberry St. Destin Freeman directed the film.
“Under the Lights” is a short film about a family working through grief at Christmas.
“Two months before Christmas, a grieving father gives his three grown children—two daughters and a son—letters their late mother wrote before she passed. As they open them, the family’s fractured bonds are tested, leading to new discoveries, deep emotions, and a renewed love for the holiday season,” is the official synopsis.
Shot in Aiken and Augusta, the film is the first completed project for Magwood. He and Freeman are teaming up for a full-length project called “Greed” that should be released in 2026. Freeman has worked on several projects including playing the role of Too Tight in the 2022 film “Till.”
“Under the Lights” is a dream come true for Magwood who has always wanted to be a filmmaker, inspired by the Black filmmakers who came into the forefront in the 1990s and early 2000s.
“I pulled from Tyler Perry and Marlon Wayans,” said Magwood.
The film viewing on Dec.14 is only one part of the evening.
“It’s going to be a night full of joy and putting God first. We want people to bring their families out and have a good time,” he said.
Freeman said there will be a watch party, a time of prayer, an ugly sweater competition and a Q&A with him and Magwood.
For tickets, go here.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named Augusta Magazine’s best local writer in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
