Tomorrow is the first day of filming.
Yesterday my mom arrived to cook for the crew for the duration of production. I met with the costume designer, Lindsay Kleinman, and the two actors playing police officers for their costume fitting. Last night I rehearsed with three of the other actors and was reminded that they are not only so gifted (so, so gifted) but they’re all also perfectly cast. Today, Lindsay and I get to distress a batch of clothing and make two sweatshirts look bloody. Alexis and Serena are meeting with the Parks Department right now to secure our shooting locations next week.
This morning was the first time I woke up feeling excited and joyful and not just worried about all the things not yet done. The people around me are killing it. They’re extraordinary and kind and capable, so capable, and I’m feeling beyond grateful most especially for Lindsay and Sara Walsh (our miracle-producing production designer) and Dan Keezer (our intrepid AD, my sanity-maintainer) and Serena (who is getting shit done like nobody’s business) and Brendan Swift (our AC, who is also doing two hundred other necessary things with a smile and charm) and of course my husband, dear Alexis, who is going to shoot and direct the hell out of this movie.
It’s almost the day of the show y’all.
One of the main characters in the film is a police officer named Rob Sullivan. He’s one of the two love interests for Kim, and he represents the potential for what she can have in this time if she’s able to let down her guard.
Because I wrote this thing, Rob and his lines are super deeply etched in my brain. I feel like I understand him so innately—what he wants, why he pursues Kim, what that relationship brings him—that it would be a matter of finding someone to say the words in a way that matches how I hear it in my head. But that’s totally not it at all. What happens when you’re lucky, unbelievably lucky, is that during an audition someone walks in and nails it so perfectly that it rewrites your expectations and you get washed over with the feeling of, OH! This is who the character is supposed to be.
I present to you Brendan Griffin, our Rob:
Brendan is beyond talented, and he makes it look effortless. We’ve had one rehearsal so far and I left feeling elated. This guy! There’s no way this film won’t be awesome with him involved.
He’s done a ton of film and TV, but what really took my breath away was seeing him in Clybourne Park on Broadway. It was probably the most nuanced, moving and hilarious theater production I’ve ever seen, and that had a lot to do with him being part of its dynamic and amazing ensemble cast.
I could not be happier that he’s part of this project.
-bodine
The enormously charming Matthew Bowers interviewed Alexis, Serena and me for his podcast, Wrong Opinions About Movies.
We talk about what it’s like to make the film, how we like working with Seed & Spark for fundraising, what got us into filmmaking, and what it means to us to work together. We’re so grateful to Matthew for taking the time. If you’ve never heard me chatter excitedly, this is for sure your chance.
-bodine
The central character in the film, Kim Getty, has a roommate named Amber Reynolds. Amber is a beautiful late 20s blonde who is funny and smart and happens to be living with someone who is sort of insane to have to live with. Kim is doing her best, but she would be a trial as a roommate. It’s a craig’s list matchup that works well enough but man, I have nothing but sympathy for Amber’s character. Her scenes are meant to be funny and break tension, and Amber was written with a very specific funny person in mind:
I’ve planned to include Anna Margaret in this film since the very first draft. We acted in a play together in 2009 that was written by the incredibly talented Michael Yates Crowley and oh boy it’s been love ever since. She’s going to kill this role and I am so, so excited to get to act with her again.
She stars in “Social Butterfly,” which will be at Sundance in a few weeks. Other wonderful projects you should absolutely see her in are the features, “Small Beautifully Moving Parts” (SXSW, Hamptons Film Fest), “Gayby” (SXSW, BAM Cinemafest), “Somebody Up There Likes Me” (SXSW), “Slacker 2011,” “The Romance of Loneliness,” “The Color Wheel,” “The Brave One,” and the short “Adelaide” (over 50 festivals, including Gen Art, Woodstock & Austin).
She is charming in everything without exception but I especially love the bumpers she did for SXSW last year.
-bodine
Serena and I met at a Hairpin meet up and that site was and remains our favorite on the internet. This is how Hairpin describes itself, and I can vouch that this is accurate:
You know how having cocktails at a friend’s house can sometimes be more fun than the Big Party you go to afterward? And not because the Big Party isn’t fun, but just because hanging out with select lady friends is sometimes unbeatable? This site hopes to be a little like that — a low-key cocktail party among select female friends.
Yes. Exactly. It’s never too cool and the commenter community isn’t mean. The advice columns sometimes have the tough love vibe of an older sibling who is just exhausted by the question writer, but the whole operation makes me feel like their priority is that I learn about things that are interesting and that it’s within me to have a better life. Ah. I love it. I love it so much. I go to parties and almost always bring up something I read on the Hairpin. This article, for example, made me laugh the first time I read it and also each subsequent time.
Serena wrote in to Edith at the Hairpin, totally cold, to let her know that we’d met through the site and how much it meant to us. And Edith ran a post about our film!
You know sometimes you smile so hard, you worry your face might freeze? That’s me since Monday.
-bodine
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
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