Two weeks out from our November trailer shoot, and something’s shifted in how I’m thinking about this entire production. What felt like a setback has become our secret weapon. Kevin (our DP) and I sat down this week to dive deep into the creative look and feel of Concrete River. But the real revelation […]
This past weekend, we had a memorial service inside a rented space called Catalyst Ranch. It’s normally a space reserved for ad agency meetings and weddings. And it was my late brother-in-law’s wish that everyone celebrate in a way that was lively. I was struck by just the number of people that were there to […]
We’re deep into the creative heart of pre-production now. Week 7 has been defined by one of the most crucial creative and logistical documents of any film: The shot list. It’s the bridge between vision and reality, between the film I see in my mind and the one we’ll actually be able to create with […]
We are currently filling out our crew positions and making progress on casting. We’ve been working with a list of actors we want to pursue and our casting directors are checking availability and interest. We took some big swings like going after Yara Shahidi and Nico Parker. They are all (obviously) booked so we are […]
Watching the election results pour in that November night, I saw America lay its soul bare. One candidate offered a simple continuation of the status quo, the other a rally cry for white supremacy laid out in Project 2025. By voting or not voting at all, the nation decided that a return to white superiority […]
This week brought one of those unexpected moments that reminds you why independent filmmaking is equal parts art and alchemy. Chris, Anna and I sat down with JQ and his childhood friend/music producer (Tubbyoung) at Sweetsalt in Toluca Lake to discuss the sonic landscape of Concrete River. Because it’s a film that will be experienced both visually […]
We are building what I like to describe as a creative organism. We are in the process of adding people to the team for this film who will all support each other and provide creative energy. Depending on how you form it, it can either be invigorating or destructive. We’re officially in the thick of it […]
There’s a moment in my life I’m not proud of. I used to work at a rental facility, and I witnessed directors younger than me frequently checking out equipment. One evening, I stayed late at work to help with a production shooting at our facility. I watched a filmmaker who I felt “wasn’t doing it […]
I will admit something: I never used to think about my audience. I thought about them in a very transactional way. Will they like this idea? Will it be popular? But mostly, I thought of what I would be receiving from them. And it left me feeling unfulfilled. There is a lot of emphasis on the audience […]