Yesterday was the final day of shooting for my first film project. I have so many things I want to say about this experience and yet I’m sitting here struggling to articulate any of it. I wrote last week that this whole thing started off as a “hot mess” but this past weekend it ended much differently.
Saturday was hands down our best day of filming. We flew through scenes left and right. Leading up to that it helped that my costar and I rehearsed through all the scenes. I love film and I understand the nature of the beast in that when it’s film day it’s all about getting the shot. There is no time for rehearsals, you show up ready to work. So I am very much thankful to my partner that we could again put in the time to get the work done beforehand. Through that we were able to knockdown multiple scenes in multiple takes on Saturday.
It’s also very apparent to me how unwieldy a project can become to manage when there are too many people or highly involved set locations. A skeleton crew with two principal actors works really well. Granted more people are necessary for bigger shots and productions, and I would never wish to not have filmed with my kids, but the more people the more complexity. This business demands organization and problem solving for when the inevitable change comes to pass. An actor must be extremely adaptable. If one is lucky enough they will have the great fortune to work with another actor that is willing to prepare and work before hand.
Sunday was a lot of fun as well. We moved out to more locations and added on some more actors and extras. It was a surreal day. I didn’t want it to end. The last shot was the most surreal of all. I think it worked out really well in the sense that what I was feeling as Tyler meshed up nicely with what my character Chris was feeling. How do you explain the feeling of seeing your kids 10 years later (after having progressed into a much better life and car, which the thought behind is still funny to me) after having abandoned them? How do you explain the feeling of wrapping up a movie in which these people who started off as strangers have now become like family, or having made such a strong and unique bond with a fellow actor?
It’s hard to just say “that’s a wrap” and then go your separate ways. As it is, this is of course not goodbye—I’m no good with goodbyes anyways—but a look forward. There is already talk of future plans and projects. The networking has begun and for that I am really glad. While I am very sad that it is all over I am truly elated and humbled to have taken part in this small independent short film. We created art, we did the work, and I have made lifelong friends and memories. However this turns out after post will be secondary to the experience of creating this.
I will definitely be glad to share my work with those that are able to watch it but that will be another blog post for another time. For now “that’s a wrap” for my first film project but it’s a beginning to so many other things. I am truly blessed to be doing what I’m doing.