Glee fans know Chris Colfer as the fabulously fashionable and morally righteous Kurt Hummel. This year, in Struck By Lightning, Colfer shows off related but slightly different sides of himself. First off, he co-wrote the film, which shows his creative chops extend beyond hitting those high notes. He also plays a high school character not quite as lovable as Kurt.

Colfer explained that, in Struck by Lightning, he wanted his character to be more realistic and less obedient to teen movie cliches. "Many films targeted toward the teen audience these days are all about partying and promiscuity," he told Tribecafilm.com. "I wanted to tell a story about a teen with aspirations, whose energy and focus is all dedicated to his life after high school, and not the typical quest for popularity. Carson isn’t after anyone’s approval, and not an ounce of him is living in the present; he’s all about setting himself up for the future."

The originality and emotion in the film, in which Colfer's character abruptly dies (in case the title weren't a big enough hint), are what Colfer sees as a huge draw. "I'm kind of biased, but I think that Struck By Lightning is the type of movie that really makes you feel," he said. "It's funny, it's sad, it’s original, and I hope people connect with it… and that it inspires them to wear rubber-soled shoes."

For showtimes and more information, click here.

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