Full disclosure ahead, this will be a “Part 1” of a 2 part article based on the 2 productions I am currently working on. Both have been unbelievable and deserve their own words. These productions and films have been the best and biggest thing I’ve done yet, and there is no doubt the effort, outcome and importance of both films are amongst the proudest things I’ve ever done in my life. Alongside the birth of my podcast, these are the other 2 reasons why I quit my day job to live the life of an artist. They are the encapsulation of passion, they have my heart, soul and plenty of blood, sweat and tears. So here’s Part I, it’s about a Film I worked on called “Triple Threat”. Enjoy!
Often I get asked about what it is I “do”. Which is a weird question because it makes me have to drag them into a very confusing subject that most people don’t even consider a “real job”. “I’m a filmmaker” I say. Then I tag on, “And a photographer, but photojournalism, not really portraits… But my dream is to be a documentarian, but I am working a lot in narrative film work as we speak.” Either thinking I’m working for Spielberg or Netflix they ask, “Oh, narrative? What’s your role?!” Im then forced to paint a spider web of inter-tangling titles and roles as I try to explain the Indy Film Industry. “I really kinda do everything, as I like to call myself a one man production team”, this normally ends the conversation after a “Good luck”, and “Can’t wait to see your finished work”. To their credit, I think the idea of it not being a real job to some, stems from the fact that in inner workings of the industry are a bit difficult to understand. The film industry is funny, especially when you take into consideration of unions, titles, and positions. Have you ever stayed after a movie was finished and read the credits? Why are they so long? And what the hell is a “Best boy”… Really? “Grip?!” That’s not real. “Why is “Catering” going to get there own credit?” To all these questions people have based off the scroll let me just say a few things. YES, the actors are numero uno. Their names deserve to be on the front cover. But the back bone? The foundation? The real reason you just enjoyed that movie is because of the crew. Its because the catering was there to feed the 18 hour manual labor days the Grip had to work for the Best boy. So yeah, it may be a long scroll with a lot of people but if it weren’t for all those people, you wouldn’t have just seen Avengers for the 5th time. So next time you’re watching the Oscars I hope you can realize “Best actor” is greatly deserved, but you can tell how great they are by watching the movie. But when those weird one off acceptors came up and are given a fraction of the time everyone else is? Think about how earned and deserved their time up in that spotlight is because I’m sure you wouldn’t know who that person is just by their name on some scroll 10 minutes after everyone’s left the theater, praising how good looking Gosling is.
In previous articles I’ve touched on the subject of passion projects and working for free. Last winter I found myself on a small, one off, low budget, streamable mid-series episode of a show I doubt anyone has ever heard of. Now did I ever think anything but experience and knowledge were to come from this small production with an early call time in New Jersey.? Nope. But! What did come out of it was a connection I made through networking with the director, which led to a job that has changed my life. This director was a young woman and I could tell this shoot was below her pay grade. By just her vision and what she wanted, but humbly expected from the actors, I found my self enamored by how she saw the scene. I knew that she was better than this shoot just by the way she worked and just by the direction she gave the actors. Not really knowing anything about directing, I knew she was worth studying and remaining in contact with. So after the shoot that’s exactly what I did and that led me to this unbelievable, humbling, beautiful production I find my self working in as we speak. What do you get when you have 3 best friends who after ten years of development, the musical that they have created is flying towards Broadway. But now thirty, Gus wants a baby. As opening night approaches, Chloe reluctantly donates an egg, Maggie signs on as surrogate, and relationship lines become irreversibly crossed? Well you get “Triple Threat”. A feature length narrative, directed by the writer and star Stacey Maltin. She along side the other 2 main actors are just a few people who make up the production company, “Besties Make Movies”. And funny enough, that’s exactly what this film has been. Best friends, making movies together. Living out their dreams and passions, together! Supporting and fulfilling each out every day for the same goal, same outcome. Being on set and working with this crew reminds me of a quote I often share: “It won’t fail because of me”. This seemingly self involved philosophy means, if everyone on the team has the same goal, then working together the project will succeed. And that’s this film. To me? That alone would make this movie worth watching for me, but where will you watch it? Its an Indy film so I doubt it’s going to have the overwhelming distribution plan Disney has modeled right? Well that’s the thing. This is where “blood, sweat and tears” and “passion project” find their examples. What Stacey and Besties have done is truly unbelievable, and this isn’t even their first attempt! They’ve done this already, completed a other films and a feature called “Landing up”, which is on ITunes! And they’re doing it again! And this time? Its bigger. And it’s going to be better, and succeed beyond their belief because, “It won’t fail because of me”. They might not know this quote, or tell themselves this as the days get long, and your putting in extra hours loading the van, staying later than everyone else has left to go home and sleep after a 14 long day, but they don’t have to. It’s in their blood, it’s in their souls. As a family, this bond, driven by passion and love for the art is evident and eminent. And this is why I do what I do. I get to see a glimpse that I am not alone in these ideals, that my ideology and approach to art is shared. And there is a family with arms wide open. Ive been told Ive made the family by a couple key players in this production, and if fucking feels awesome. Not just being acknowledged or respected for your work and ethic, but supported because I know this dream I have. And this life I live won't be a failure, because of them.
So like I said this will be a 2 parter, and if this passion talk and love for art is what you’re into then stay tuned because next week's article is about a production I’m also working on that has my heart and soul. Listed below is all the links to the film and Besties’ website where you can see/more on them. Also, if you can please, please, please donate to this project. This film will be amazing and honestly it’s something that truly means so much to me. So thanks for reading and I’ll see you for round 2 next week!
https://www.seedandspark.com/fund/triple-threat#story