Ed Solomon's debut film as a director, Levity, stars Billy Bob Thornton as an ex-con seeking redemption for a murder he committed. After being released from jail he's staying in a homeless mission run by foul-mouthed preacher Morgan Freeman. Billy has an unorthodox affair with Holly Hunter, the older sister of the young man he killed. She's not aware of the connection, yet. Wild child Kirsten Dunst crosses paths with Freeman and Thornton on her road to clearing the fog she's in. All of these lost souls are looking for a better life.

Levity has some major movie stars and it's unusual for a brand new director (a writer for Men in Black and Charlie's' Angels) to assemble such a strong cast. Director Solomon recruited Morgan Freeman by making a cold call on his agent. "I'm a huge fan so I asked him to read the script and he did. Billy Bob and I got together because about 12 years ago I'd written a script in which he auditioned multiple times. My new agent asked him to read the script and Billy remembered that I had fought for him. He read it overnight and committed the next day."

Ed started shooting the film, even though he was still looking for financing, by using his home as collateral. Folks, this is how independent films are made even when you have name talent. If a film asks you to think and doesn't fit the Hollywood formulas, financing can be elusive if not impossible. Because of scheduling with the actors, Ed had to use them or lose them. It was high stress and although he's glad he did it, he would not necessarily do it all over again. It also puts into perspective the commitment between making a movie and reviewing one. It's sort of like the difference in the investment a chicken makes between allowing you eat a scrambled egg or having some McNuggets.

Levity has a message but does not preach to us. Ed says this is not a "…message or agenda film. I believe that your actions matter, …human being to human being. Often we think we don't make any difference…I wanted to make a film that showed that what you do, be it negative or positive, matters." Ed recognizes that "We all are preoccupied with our own selves, and our personal struggles become the filter through which we see the world. If you want to relieve some of your own burden, you do so by helping other people relieve theirs." In particular, Ed's not trying to make a religious point with the film, though Morgan Freeman presents a caustic portrayal of a man of the cloth.

Hollywood films are fine but its refreshing to see movies made by people who don't spend their lives in and out of limousines. Some of the best films play only on a few screens for a short period of time. Levity is such a film that you should not miss.