When Tom Rice was in the fourth grade, he stood in front of his class and boldly announced what he wanted to be when he grew up: a film director.
Growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, Rice always leaned toward the creative. But in a school culture focused heavily on sports, that wasn’t always easy.
“I didn’t play sports, but I still wanted to feel like I belonged,” he said. “So I became the school mascot — my way of adapting to a world that didn’t quite fit.”
While his peers bonded over touchdowns and team rivalries, Rice was dreaming up stories. And like the lead character in his newest film, he was quietly trying to figure out where he fit in and who he wanted to be.
That character is Duncan, a quiet 14-year-old at the heart of “The Way, Way Back,” Rice’s latest film project as co-founder of Sycamore Pictures. Starring Steve Carell, Toni Collette, and Sam Rockwell, the indie film follows Duncan on a transformative summer vacation with his mom and her controlling boyfriend. It’s a heartfelt, coming-of-age story packed with emotional depth, humor, and nostalgia — echoes of Rice’s own journey to self-discovery.
The all-star cast also includes Allison Janney, Maya Rudolph, AnnaSophia Robb, Amanda Peet, and newcomer Liam James as Duncan.
The film made waves at Sundance, where Fox Searchlight acquired it for $9.75 million — one of the festival’s largest deals in recent memory. The film was penned by Jim Rash and Nat Faxon, who previously won an Oscar for “The Descendants.” Rice and his producing partner Ben Nearn saw the potential immediately.
“We believed in the script from the start,” Rice said. “Other studios had tried to make it for years. Then, just as we joined the project, Rash and Faxon won the Oscar — and suddenly the pieces came together. The cast came onboard, and everything aligned.”
Rice, now 39, grew up on Heritage Hill near Northside Drive in Jackson. His childhood was shaped by classic adventure films like E.T., The Goonies, Space Camp, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. His first job was delivering newspapers for “The Clarion-Ledger,” and later he worked as a video store clerk — a job that no doubt fueled his love of film.
After graduating from Jackson Prep in 1992, he attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City to study film. His first feature, “The Rising Place,” was filmed in Jackson and explored themes of race, friendship, and injustice in the segregated South.
Before launching Sycamore Pictures, Rice also worked as a writer on “American Idol.” His partnership with Nearn eventually led them to raise a $50 million equity fund for independent films — giving them the freedom to pursue passion projects like “The Way, Way Back.”
Rice sees a lot of himself in Duncan.
“Duncan has a family who loves him, but still feels like he’s on the outside,” Rice said. “He’s forced to grow and discover his identity in a new environment — just like many of us do at that age.”
The film also challenges expectations. Steve Carell plays a layered, deeply flawed character — far from his usual lovable roles. “He’s not a villain, but he’s not a hero either,” Rice said. “He’s just human. And I think audiences will relate to that.”
Rice’s sister, Mary Katherine Neely of Madison, remembers her brother’s early creative spark well.
“He was always organizing backyard plays for the neighborhood,” she said. “He’d write a script, cast all the kids, and even handle ticket sales and concessions. It was clear even then that he was drawn to all aspects of filmmaking.”
Neely calls the movie “hilarious and poignant,” and says that while Duncan searches for identity, her brother always had a clear sense of his path.
“Tom knew what he wanted from a young age,” she said. “I’m incredibly proud of the message this film shares — that we don’t have to be defined by others’ opinions, and that sometimes, the encouragement we need comes from the most unexpected places.”
