Last weekend I got a little cold.

Nothing major. But it definitely required some R&R.

So I found myself sipping hot tea and watching an action movie.

(Yes, even while sick, I obsess over filmmaking.)

The action movie was a huge Hollywood production filled with real life explosions, CGI, and A-list stars. The behind-the-scenes footage was thrilling and impressive. I dream about being a part of something like that one day.

That being said, in my humble opinion, the characters lacked depth. Especially for a film that’s longer than two hours. It was disappointing to spend so much time with flat characters. (Since I wasn’t feeling well, that could be on me. I should watch again when I’m feeling better.)

Either way, the experience got me thinking about our upcoming film AK.

It’s SUPER easy to be a critic.

It’s MUCH harder to make something that meets your own standards.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the struggle of a creative person. It’s an endless cycle of honing your craft. (If you’re lucky.) So you make peace with the creative process, fears, and outcomes as best you can. Part of that, for me, is writing about the process and sharing it with you here.

My latest struggle? It feels tough to introduce you to these characters and make them dynamic in such a short amount of time. I’m a little nervous if I’ve done it justice; however, I’m absolutely confident it’ll work out.

Once I get to this stage of making a movie – with so many people invested and excited about it, the shoot date right around the corner, and a BTS crew capturing everything – the train starts to leave the station. I can’t hold up the production because of my own weird hangups as a director. The film has taken on a life of it’s own. I’ve gotta keep moving with it.

Filmmaking is a weird, wonderful process!

Oddly enough, the struggle of introducing the characters quickly is not a new challenge for me.

It’s much like the start to an improv scene.

In the beginning, the improv scene might be about anything in the world – until, suddenly, it’s not. It’s actually about these specific characters, and why this specific day is different/special. The faster you draw those conclusions – for you, your team, and the audience – the more time you have to play within that world. That’s why bits of information shared on stage during an improv scene are gifts. It’s a ton of fun.

This is true for improv, and it’s true for film.

This is good news.

It helps me remember that this ain’t my first rodeo, so I can lead my team with conviction. It helps me recognize, again, that the constraints as an indie filmmaker will make me a better storyteller, so I can embrace that big budget like a boss when the time comes. It helps me realize that I’ve had a lifetime of acting, so I can use those experiences to better support my cast.

In other words, it reframes all of the nervous thoughts into really positive feelings.

It helps me stay “in the moment” while making the film, and more appreciative of the entire filmmaking process and all of its wonderful weirdness. It helps me realize how far I’ve come as a self-taught filmmaker who hustled to learn every lesson. It makes me walk on set and know “we’ve got this” because the unknown is a lot less scary when you’re got such a great team.

Reframing a situation is a really handy thing to have in your back pocket – no matter your experience level, expertise, or industry. It’s a great thing to practice throughout life because it truly living it more enjoyable. Truly.

So if you’re going through something, pause long enough to reframe the situation.

You’ve got this.

I can’t wait to hear about it!

WANT TO HELP?

If you want to help with this film, we’d love to welcome you to the team.

There’s a long post here about what we need most, including a means to provide cash for the production.

All contributions go towards the making of AK, and you’ll be listed in the end credits as a thank you.

We’ve even created custom sponsorship options, so use the comments below if you want to collaborate.

Telling your friends about it is super helpful, too!

Thank you all for the support, going on this journey with me, and making movies together. It’s such an incredible experience. I see big things ahead for us all. Thanks for being here!

PS: If you’re new here, it’s helpful to know that I don’t actively do improv comedy right now. I spent about 10 years studying and performing. It’s life-altering stuff, so I’d recommend improv classes to anyone.