Ain’t no magic

With just a few hours before the first day of production, the Homecoming team is hard at work to complete all the tasks so that we can be efficient and productive on set. I’ve been thinking a lot about my time on a short film titled “Begin Again” a year ago, where I served as key grip across production. That was my first real set, and I remember how I would romanticize about the “movie magic”, which is what I called that moment when so many things lined up to create the perfect few seconds for the camera to capture.

How naive of me! A year later, I can confidently say that there is no magic involved. Every single element of this million pieces-puzzle needs to be thought out, discussed, researched. This “magic” is nothing else than hundreds of phone calls and emails, long spreadsheets, late night trips to supermarkets and convenience stores, and the stubborn dedication of a handful of people. 

As a director and producer I have to constantly balance two very different mindsets. I need to think creatively about a scene, while at the same time crunching numbers and filing contracts. But it is an incredibly empowering process that puts the destiny of my film in my own hands. This is why so many creative minds, even amid success, forego the “studio” route and pursue the treacherous but wonderful indie scene.

This weekend, we will be filming in a variety of conditions. We’ll spend all first day in one apartment location, an intimate and cozy environment for one of the lighter scenes in the film. On Sunday, we will be split between two locations, and the entire shoot will be outdoors. 

A lot of emotions are fighting to take over as we approach the first day of production, but I’ll try to clear my mind as much as possible and enjoy the process. I know I’ll miss it when it’s gone.