Mason Parrish was a natural storyteller. His gift emerged early and he quickly understood the elements of good storytelling. When he passed away at the age of ten from Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, or DIPG, a rare form of pediatric brain cancer, he left behind dozens of notebooks filled with imagined original characters, drawings and stories. The only thing Mason loved more than telling storie
s was his family and helping others. Mason thought of the idea for “Thrill Ride” after seeing the movie “Night at the Museum” with his father, Chris Parrish, a screenwriter with credits in film and television. Mason thought the movie was good but museums are boring. “Why couldn’t it have taken place in an amusement park?” He asked. Mason also thought that a kid should have been the hero. Chris loved the idea and the two immediately began brainstorming. It was an activity they engaged in frequently. Neither one were big athletes. Fathers and sons play catch, but for Chris and Mason their catch was pitching ideas to each other for stories. They kept doing that even when Mason became ill. Mason once asked his father, “When I grow up, can we make movies together?” Chris said, “Of course.” Making “Thrill Ride” is Chris’ way of keeping that promise. In December of 2013, the first few scenes were shot and production will resume in November of 2014 with the generous support of executive producer and Chicago-area philanthropist Vincent Foglia. Proceeds of the film will go toward The Mason Parrish Foundation, which will fund DIPG research, rentals of handicapped-accessible vans for families dealing with DIPG and Cartoon-Comics Inc., an after-school program designed to bring Mason’s passion for cartooning and storytelling to grade-school students. Mason’s family has also established Mason’s Movies, a production company with the goal of supporting the foundation through films.
