We’re 19 days out from our November trailer shoot, and this week has been a master class in the reality of independent filmmaking:

 

Sometimes the best creative decisions are forced upon you.

 

While the creative elements continue coming together beautifully – we’ve found our Noelle in singer Xazmine, locking in our color palette of oranges and browns with intentional indigo blue accents, and secured a locations manager finding incredible spots – we’ve had to make a significant timeline adjustment.

 

Our $300K budget remains the same, but the funding we thought we had in hand is lower than previously estimated. This means bringing on additional investors and pushing our main production to early next year.

 

Initially, this felt like a punch in the gut.

 

But here’s what I remembered: my original instinct was to shoot early next year anyway. And this pivot has created an unexpected luxury most films never get.

 

THE REALITY CHECK

 

What’s Working: The creative momentum hasn’t stopped despite the timeline shift. Xazmine (@iamxazmine) brings both acting chops and an incredible voice. She was just signed by CAA as an opening act for a major tour. Our locations manager has been volunteering and finding amazing spots. Everyone on the team remains committed and excited about seeing this through.

 

Most importantly, we’re getting something rare in independent filmmaking:

 

The chance to test our approach before full production.

 

The Challenge: What I didn’t anticipate was how long the legal agreements would take. Starting an LLC, creating investor agreements, crew contracts, location agreements – there’s a mountain of paperwork required to execute a feature film properly.

 

For example, we’re currently drafting agreements for Xazmine and music producer Calvin Frazier to create 2-3 original songs. We need to outline exactly how profit shares and royalties will be handled down the line. These are the types of legal elements that can get very messy if not ironed out early in the process. It’s essential work that prevents giant headaches down the road and ensures everyone’s on the same page with no surprises later, but it’s taking longer than expected.

 

The Creative Opportunity: We’re shooting all of Xazmine’s scenes in November along with a few others to build a trailer and refine our look. This means Kevin (our DP) and I are diving deep into the visual minutia – finalizing our color palette with those West African indigo blue accents that connect to Travis’s synesthesia, getting props and wardrobe locked, and recording the song that drives the narrative.

 

We need everything ready by November 2nd, so while we’re not launching the full film, there’s still intensive planning happening.

 

Strategic Advantage: Chris, our Executive Producer, is taking the trailer to AFM (American Film Market) in November to explore pre-sales opportunities. This could significantly impact our distribution strategy and final financing.

 

Lessons For Fellow Creators

 

  • Always be prepared to pivot. We have ideas about how things should work out in our heads.But have to be ready to adjust to reality while maintaining momentum. The ability to adapt quickly without losing team morale is crucial for surviving the grind that is independent filmmaking.
  • Treat your trailer shoot as seriously as the full production. We’re maintaining communication with everyone involved, keeping them informed and engaged for the full production. This ensures the team stays excited and committed when we shoot the rest of the film. Don’t let people feel like they’re working on something “lesser.”
  • Take time to feel disappointed. It was disheartening to push our timeline, and I allowed myself space to feel that fully. This is exactly the type of setback that Travis wouldn’t have been able to handle properly. He experienced disappointments, just tried to keep going without processing his emotions and it broke his life. He thought he should simply continue as-is and deal with whatever comes. Rather than taking a moment to reassess and see what life actually had in store for him. Which honestly, is not something that men of color are given the luxury of doing in America. We are taught to grind ourselves to death and taking any time apart is a weakness. Which is even more important to show as a message.

 

LOOKING AHEAD

Next week we’re diving into song recording, breaking down our shot list and visual style for both the trailer and full film, and final preparations for November 2nd.

 

We’ve secured a partnership with The Multiracial Association of Southern California, which allows investors to receive tax deductions instead of straight investments while still participating in film profits. This creates a win-win: investors get immediate tax benefits without waiting for recoup.

 

The extra time until our main production will allow us to refine the creative even further and continue our search for the perfect Alice if needed. Sometimes constraints create the best opportunities for excellence.

 

Community Ask: If you or anyone you know would benefit from a tax-deductible investment opportunity that also participates in film profits, please reach out. We’re actively bringing on additional investors for this unique structure.

 

Production Stats:

  • Days until November shoot: 19
  • Budget status: $300K target, seeking additional investors
  • Team morale: High energy, viewing this as an opportunity
  • Biggest win this week: Finding Xazmine and her incredible voice for our soundtrack