(Paul Dano): Sammy's practical, scientist father who views filmmaking as a mere hobby.

(Seth Rogen): Burt's best friend and a constant presence in the family's life.

: Encouraged by his artistic mother, Mitzi, Sammy begins making his own home movies using his father's 8mm camera. He recreates train crashes, directs his sisters in "monster" movies, and eventually makes more ambitious films for his Boy Scout troop.

(Gabriel LaBelle): The young protagonist and aspiring filmmaker.

The story follows , a young boy growing up in post-World War II America who becomes obsessed with cinema after seeing his first movie, The Greatest Show on Earth . Plot Overview

: Ultimately, the story highlights how film acts as a way for Sammy to process reality and find his truth, culminating in a fateful meeting with a legendary Hollywood director that sets him on his future path. Main Characters

: As Sammy enters adolescence, his family moves from New Jersey to Arizona and later California. Through the lens of his camera, he accidentally discovers a shattering secret—an emotional affair between his mother and his father’s best friend, Bennie.