The day had finally arrived … the first day of production. The first of twenty scheduled. Yes, this first day is always special, a real high you’d like to ride all the way through production. You can feel, sense, and even at times, see all the potential this film could be. Because at this first point, pulling it all together for the very first setup of the very first shot of the whole film, you have not made any definite decisions yet. It’s still just words on paper, black on white, and in the imagination of the writer’s head, and now the director’s, as we pull the assembled team together to actually realize a three-dimensional scene for a two-dimensional medium. Once those decisions are made as to how a particular scene looks and plays out, then the writer’s, and the director’s, imagination goes out the window. Since now, you actually do have the real elements to create a ‘hardened and final’ scene, and eventually a complete whole film, as you travel through all those production days.

Now everyone is busy doing their part, energetic bodies hustling around with all kinds of equipment and tools of their particular craft so they can apply their creativity to the big picture, the big vision, yet to be fully realized. But now so close to being so realized. Attitudes, hopes, and energies are up and flowing. This production is now online and rolling along … ready for hard work and hard fun … and flying.

The day began at the airport in San Marcos, Texas inside an old airliner, partially gutted. But just enough seats to shoot our first scene, several traveling passengers along with two of our main characters. Time for the cast and crew to begin to see how they were going to work together. It was a tight space, as we had several extras in the seats around the main characters, as well as a stewardess passing by. An important story point to convey between these two characters, father and son, Dylan and Mason. The makings of intergenerational conflict that was about to get gradually grow worse.

The day continued as we moved to the second location, the Caldwell County Courthouse in Lockhart. A more fun scene between Mason and his uncle, Derrick, Dylan’s youngest brother. Squirting water between water pistols, a lighter moment. This courthouse, and Lockhart in general, self-proclaimed as the bar-b-q capitol of the world, has been the scene of many films over the years. The Getaway, The Great Waldo Pepper, Raggedy Man, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, A Perfect World, Waiting for Guffman, Home Fries, The Newton Boys, Second-Hand Lions, Bernie and a host of others. So this town knows films and filmmakers, and was very hospitable to us. During the course of the production we would need to come back here several times.

The day finished in Lockhart at another location, a private residence that doubled as Dylan’s home office in San Francisco. Before he gets that call that changes his life, and the life of everyone close to him. You have to see the film, ‘cause I’m not telling you. Anyway, we finished on schedule that first day, and everyone was happy when we wrapped our first day. Aahh, that felt good.

After our feel good Day One the mood seemed to be that we were itching to get moving. And move we did, to a new location for the whole day. Two Wishes Ranch, over 300 acres of a very picturesque piece of property between Lockhart and Neiderwald. Green pastures, rolling hills, a creek, and a couple scenic ponds. This was going to be fun, right?

On the schedule were scenes between Dylan and his (sort of) girlfriend Mariah. A conversation highlighted by a special recitation, then a spontaneous action (can’t reveal too much), and then a walk and talk argument shot with a Steadicam. And then an intimate story point that takes place later in the script, which I also can’t reveal. But hell, we didn’t get all that shot. We ran out of daylight before we could finish one of these pieces. Hhhmmm…

I must admit I was a bit bummed because after two days we were already behind. Oh well, we had to buck up, and get ready for Day Three, because nothing was going to get any easier. I tried to find the silver lining, and I did. Getting to direct an indie film that I had written was something I get to do, not have to do. And not everyone does, so suck it up Deal, and move on to the future … ‘cause it was coming at us!