Ever since this process started, I’ve had a hard time separating the roles of director and producer. Real life directors get to live in the moment, and lose themselves in their film. They’re insulated from practical, real life issues and they get to focus on the artistic side of the production.
Producers, on the other end, can’t afford that “luxury”. When things are wrong, they’re the one tasked to come up with solutions. When things go right, they still need to worry about potential future crisis. It’s a thankless but necessary job.
Today I had one of these moments: following two intense days of filming, Assistant Director extraordinaire Caitie Collier announced the infamous “wrap” on principal photography. While it doesn’t mean that production is over (reshoots and pickups are still needed), it is a milestone worth celebrating and taking a moment to reflect upon. However, my brain was clouded by hundreds of things to do, bills to pay, errands to run.
Maine Mayhem is truly living up to its name. While it shook up my life completely and made me put everything else on hold for months, it did allow me to pursue a filmmaking dream I couldn’t have reached otherwise.
And while there is still a ton of work to do, I want to take a moment to thank everyone who participated in this labor of love… the incredible cast I was lucky enough to direct, the relentless crew, the supporting friends/family, and everyone who donated to the campaign. Thank you! ❤
Homecoming - Maine Mayhem 2020 