Cameron Kincaid, a rebellious teenager, constantly getting into trouble, is at odds with his mother and his constantly deriding harsh stepfather. Cameron's a fanatical film buff who longs to be an important filmmaker, but seems more likely to end up in prison than on a film set. Cameron pursues his filmmaking dream when he enters a prestigious student competition, set up over Christmas vacation, which offers the winner a scholarship to the Los Angeles film school.
Cameron enlists the assistance of a reluctant retired gaffer named Flash, the only surviving crew member from the legendary film, Citizen Kane. Flash taps into the unused talent of his elderly retired filmmaker friends at the Motion Picture Retirement Home, persuading them to help Cameron with his film.
Among Flash's friends is Mickey Hopkins, a forgotten, geriatric retired screenwriter, living in a squalid, rat-infested home for the aged. Flash approaches Mickey to write the screenplay for Cameron's new movie, but an excited yet terrified Mickey fears that he has lost his magic touch with story. Mickey's confidence is restored when Cameron comes to him for help and shows Mickey how he has not been forgotten on IMDB.
Cameron's new surrogate family and unlikely senior citizen production team winds up filming an award worthy documentary about the plight of the nation's elderly. During the course of the filming, Cameron's life has been transformed through his mentor and friend Flash, who in turn, rediscovers his dignity and can finally accept his fate peacefully.