About a year ago, actually Halloween night 2011 to be exact, I went to a meet-up organized by a then-new website called The Hairpin, which was run by and written by some really interesting and funny women. I have never been one for groups, and for the most part I keep to myself, but when I saw that this meet-up was to be just down the block from me, I decided to go. I had a feeling that I was meant to go, that for some reason it was important that I show up and meet the people whose articles and comments I had been reading, and to whom I so strongly responded. I heard myself think (as one can) I am going to meet someone who I will work with.
So I went to the event and talked to a number of really charming and funny people, and was actually about to leave when I found myself talking to this girl about writing and how I wanted to write a screenplay and make a movie, but that I had no idea how to go about doing so. And she said to me, “I wrote a screenplay that I want to make into a movie.” Without a beat, I said, “You should send it to me. I’ll give you notes. I’m really good at that.” (If I did say so myself…) That girl was Bodine Boling and that was, for me, the beginning of Movement + Location.
Over the next year, Bodine would send me drafts of a constantly evolving script and I would send her notes. And every time I did, I’d think, well, that’s the last I’m going to hear from her, because if someone gave me notes that called for the changes that I suggested, I would run away. But every single time, she was back, and I’m talking within weeks, which, to me, was extraordinary. She just had something in her that needed this story to be realized. I’ve frankly never seen anyone work so hard on anything in my life.
Now I’ve never produced a movie before, but every time I would correspond with Bodine and we would discuss the reasons and the rhythms of the characters (and I was not the only one to do this, for sure) I would feel like I knew that what I was telling her was right. Between us, I felt a sense of conviction that I have honestly never felt about anything before, and it was incredible.
We went through a couple of readings, after which she made some final tweaks – the results of which, by the way, had me on the edge of my seat as I was raeading the final draft, that’s how much she had honed this script into a tight, lean story which actually made me want to be an actor and say the lines, they were so good – and suddenly (if a year’s work can be sudden) we had a final draft. (I want to add exclamation marks at the end of that sentence because I still find it exciting.)
At this point, I didn’t know what was going to happen. I had always thought of this as a side project, something that I loved doing, but the reality of which was elusive. But then I got an email from Bodine asking me to produce it.
We set up a meeting, so that we could discuss the possibility of all this with her husband Alexis, who she said would shoot and direct it. I had met Alexis at a reading of the script which he was recording, and I was struck by how focused he was on making sure the audio equipment and all else was right. I just saw this guy without an ego who whole-heartedly was supporting his girl in an endeavor that was really important to her, and I was really touched by that. Then after the reading, I listened to what he said and how he responded to her and I just liked him more. Not to mention he agreed with me on a couple of points, so I figured he must be extremely smart.
On the morning of our meeting, however – and neither Alexis nor Bodine knew this – I was sort of preparing my speech about not being able to produce it because I’m so busy and I don’t know my schedule and blah blah blah. All those things – fear, laziness, complacence – that can keep one, and certainly had kept me, from pursuing one’s dreams, were at play in my head.
So I walked into their apartment and without much fanfare said, “Ok guys, what do you want to do. What is the movie you want to make?” And Alexis just started laying out his vision, his desire to shoot with a really high-end camera, and how he would shoot, and what aesthetically was important to him, and immediately I knew I was in. Any resistance I had, any fear about not knowing what to do, or being overwhelmed, just completely disappeared. I knew in that moment that I was going to make this movie with two incredible talented and dedicated people for whom I not only have a ton of respect and admiration, but whose company I really enjoy.
And that’s where we are today, just over a year later, on the eve of the launch of our fundraising campaign. All of us in, excited and inspired, and all hoping to make Movement + Location the movie it is meant to be.
-serena
It’s easy to worry obsessively over how much we have left to do. Let the worry grow and grow and flower into panic. Back in September, when we decided to shoot in February, it really sounded like enough time to leisurely make a movie. Hahahaha. “Leisurely” + “make a movie” = hahahahaha. The time between Thanksgiving and New Years passes so quickly it basically doesn’t even happen. CUT TO FLOWERING PANIC.
So I’m going to take a deep breath and think about the stuff that is coming together, things that remind me to be grateful. I want to fill all the loose spots in my jittery brain with reasons to feel calm and ready.
1 – Serena Hedison.
This woman is very largely responsible for the fact that any of this is happening. She’s a treasure. I treasure her.
2 – My family.
My parents. My aunt Anna Marie. My sister-in-law Megan (who is currently selling the finest letterpress calendar it it possible to buy, for a ridiculously low price). My parents-in-law. My cousin Stuart. My cousin Cathleen.
My mom offered to cook meals for crew. My dad-in-law offered legal services to form the LLC. I am buoyed and deeply moved by the ways my family supports this effort. I’m hearing a lot of “I’m so excited for you, how can I help?” from people who mean it, and this is a well I draw from when things seem literally impossible.
3 – Seed & Spark.
More on this soon, but I truly believe that this is the model everyone will be using. This is the future of independent filmmaking.
4 – Imani Coppola.
The song she wrote for the film is finished and it’s wonderful. Alexis and I have kept it on a loop for days. I know that Imani is a gifted songwriter and one of the most creative and interesting performers in the world, but this song still exceeded my expectations by miles and miles and miles. It’s called “Don’t Skip A Beat,” and it will be on every party playlist I make for the rest of my life.
The song will be a donation perk when we fundraise, and also plays during a sweet and pivotal scene in the film itself. I use a piece of it in the teaser. It is the anthem of this movie and of this project. Oh my god, it’s good. I can’t wait for everyone else to hear it. I feel like I’m hoarding something beautiful, but as of December 1st, it will be gloriously unleashed on the world.
WOW. We’re making a movie. I’m so fucking excited to make this movie.
-bodine
As part of our fundraising page on Seed & Spark, we need to have a video. Many videos on kickstarter pages have an interview with the creative team, but I wanted to see if we could do something a little more interesting. So I wrote a 2ish minute short that works in tandem with the feature, but is totally separate content. Like a DVD extra.
This past Wednesday, Alexis and I borrowed a camera from the very nice guys at Toy Closet Films and asked some favors of a few actor friends. We shot it all out in about four hours.
I asked the unbelievably talented and kind Claire Coffee to star in the short. She has read more that six versions of the script over the past year, and has given me desperately needed encouragement and consistently great advice. Do you even know how unreasonable it is to ask someone to read your feature script multiple times? That is a straight up ridiculous thing to do to someone. But Claire was always gracious and totally cool about it. More than once, her feedback pulled me back from a ledge of self-doubt and anxiety. This girl is the type of friend we all want to have and hope we can be to others.
Did I mention she’s on Grimm on NBC? Fridays, 9pm EST. Watch it. It’s awesome.
The other part of the short involves a young family picnicking in Prospect Park. I asked my friend Kim Griffin, who I’ve known since we were 16 and Cherubs at Northwestern’s summer acting program. She is a brilliant actress, and is about to star in the feature A LOTUS TIL RECKONING. Her husband, Brendan Griffin, just wrapped Clybourne Park on Broadway. Their son Liam is the cutest fucking thing in the world.
This shoot reminded me that I’m a fool for not having more roles for women in my film. My next script will rectify this, I promise.
The teaser goes live on Dec 1st when our fundraising page launches! There is so much about this film that I cannot wait to share.
-bodine
I’ve been a fan of Imani Coppola since Legend of a Cowgirl, which I played on repeat through much of high school. Through the unlikely magic that is New York City, she’s actually now a good friend. When writing the script, I put in a character named Gema Fund, a pop star from 300 years in the future. Gema doesn’t make an appearance in the film, as it takes place entirely in modern day Brooklyn, but she’s referenced repeatedly, and the Rachel character at one point sings part of a Gema Fund song. I also imagined a real, produced version of that song playing during the closing credits. When picturing Gema, I always saw Imani.
When I boldly asked Imani if she’d be up for writing a song for the film, she said yes (because she’s not only talented and beautiful, she’s also deeply, extraordinarily kind). She suggested a trade – would I edit one of her music videos? I said HELL YES I WILL LET’S DO THIS.
She’s still working on the song for the film, but here’s what I cut together for her:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqOSDiHOjQc]
One of the things I’m most excited about with this project is the opportunity to collaborate with artists I admire. I could not be happier that one of the most stylish New Yorkers is part of our team.
-bodine
A little less than a week ago, Hurricane Sandy made a mess of things in New York and New Jersey. The lucky ones – like Alexis and me, in a high-ground part of Brooklyn – have felt stranded, subway-less, our lives put on hold. Then there’s lower Manhattan, where Serena lives, which was without power or water for days. And of course Staten Island and parts of New Jersey are still in desperate straits.
This is when asking people for money, or preparing to ask people for money, to make a film feels… Ridiculous. Offensive.
And yet – I have to believe that this is the point of art. To exist in the face of misery and give people something else to look at. And this is a story about Brooklyn, which will be fully shot in Brooklyn, hiring New York City locals, eating food from Brooklyn restaurants, renting equipment and uniforms and picture cars and whatever else from this area.
I’ve lived in this city for 12 years, and I love it. I love it. That is something that New Yorkers all have in common: we want to be here. We have to want it, it’s too hard to live here for it to be an accident, and for most of us, that required coming from somewhere else. We were all drawn to this place because it is magnetic and difficult and worth loving.
So I wrote a New York story. And I still intend to tell it.
-bodine
When I decided to write this film, I had no doubt that I would also then make it. So from the very beginning of the process, about a year and a half ago, I’ve known that I would at some point(s) need to ask a ton of favors. Because with pretty much no exceptions, you cannot make a feature film alone. It takes the support of many, many other people. Best case scenario, you’re going to load down some friends with absurd impositions, borrowing their afternoons or living rooms.
But with gratitude that staggers me, I would like to mention that I’m gathering collaborators who believe in the film and want to be involved in making it, which is the highest compliment I could imagine receiving. We plan to shoot in February 2013 over three weeks. The creative team (Serena, Alexis and me) will be updating this blog in the meantime, during and after.
WordPress as my witness, this will be a beautiful film. I hope that you like it, and I sincerely believe that you will.
-bodine