Strangers We Remember
CO-Director | Producer | Editor
LOGLINE: When five young adults find solace in a hotel lobby during a storm, their forced proximity brings each unique individual together in ways they wouldn’t have expected.
BUDGET $10,000
Production Timeline
An in-depth look at process from creation to completion.
GOALS
Tell a story of friendship from varied perspectives
Cast comfort
Foster a clear understanding of respective characters and create a supportive environment on set
Calm and controlled atmosphere on set
If problems arise, handle them between the producers and director without involving the rest of the crew.
Trust your crew
allow everyone to focus on their job without micromanagement
Financing
Goal: raise $10,000 to fund a 6-day shoot with a crew of 36 while maintaining the creative vision. We took a multilateral approach centered on crew contacts, local fundraising events, and launched a crowdfunding campaign for our project (Indiegogo):
Promo video to communicate the project to our donors
Short 2-day shoot: rented equipment for 1 day of character sneak peeks, 1 day interview
Mostly silent shoot to keep costs low
Launched an Indiegogo campaign utilizing the promo video
Pitched as a coming-of-age story drawing on experiences with various people throughout college, intentionally created mystery and intrigue around who the characters were
Each crew member shared Indiegogo with 3 potential donors
Indiegogo spread to 300+ potential backers. Early donation success boosted site visibility
Local fundraisers
Valentine’s Day Event
Live music show
Bake Sale
Met with department heads once a week to discuss vision and budget
Created pitch deck
Created detailed character and atmospheric boards for
Hair and makeup
Gaffer/DP lighting inspiration
PD inspiration
Met with actors 4 times to rehearse and clarify aspects of the story
Traveled to several locations during the scouting phase, had meetings with various location managers
Edited Indiegogo promo video
Personally negotiated price and budget for various PD items at antique stores and local donation venues
Continued to edit script based on location and cast
Managed updates and communication with cast and crew as dates and meetings changed and approached
Organized and managed fundraising/pre-production alongside a full academic load, requiring strict timeline management and focusing on efficiency over ideal solutions. This came down to prioritizing the look and feel of characters and atmosphere while negotiating on location.
Development
PRODUCTION: Problem-solving and decisions
BUDGET EMPHASIS ON GEAR/CREW LIMITED LOCATION FLEXIBILITY
Chose to prioritize visual clarity over location variety: edited script and consolidated scenes into more controllable environments, adjusted blocking to maximize production value.
Maintained visual consistency without exceeding the budget.
UNEXPECTED $1200 LOCATION DAMAGE COST
Absorbed cost without compromising core production needs: re-allocated remaining funds to minimize non-essential spending and tighten post-production budget.
Maintained full production scope despite financial setback
EDITOR MISSED DELIVERY DEADLINES IN POST-PRODUCTION
Transferred project files between software and corrected DIT discrepancies. Hired an assistant editor to support personal absorption of post-production responsibilities. Established a short-term rough-cut timeline with the assistant editor before taking on responsibility for fine and final cuts.
Completed post-production despite setbacks
WAREHOUSE MISHANDLING: A MISSING LENS CONVERTER HALTED PLANNED SHOTS
Used time to re-order the shooting schedule to accommodate new time constraints and rehearse with the cast; coordinated cast and crew in real time to adapt the set for day-for-night scenes, requiring tighter on-set communication and pacing.
Successfully recovered lost time without extending the schedule
CREW AVAILABILITY SHIFTS DUE TO ACADEMIC SCHEDULES
Built flexibility into roles and responsibilities, re-assigned positions and replacements quickly with clear expectations.
Maintained continuity without disrupting the flow of production
Directing and Approach to LeadershiP
Co-developed the story, shot list, and overall creative direction. Led rehearsals and worked with actors to establish tone and style, balancing specific direction with flexibility for exploration. Managed production planning, crew coordination, and communication with producers throughout development and execution, while contributing to fundraising outreach and campaign promotion.
Directing and producing responsibilities were shared across pre-production and story, but our roles diverged on set and in post-production. I focused on translating the visual plan into execution—working closely with the DP and gaffer, managing lighting setups, ordering gear, and blocking —while my co-director focused more heavily on performance notes as an actor within the project. Additionally, I remained actively involved in shaping performances throughout rehearsals and production.
In post-production I took primary responsibility for editing, shaping the final narrative and pacing of the film. When the initial editor failed to meet deadlines, I replaced them and restructured the workflow to complete post-production. Additionally, I also edited promotional materials to support distribution and fundraising visibility.
Working with actors of varying experience levels required adapting my directing approach. Two performers came from a stage background, and early takes leaned more theatrical than intended. Despite time constraints, I prioritized aligning performance tone early on and used specific, minimal notes to reinforcing effective choices. This better guided them toward a more naturalistic style without over-directing.
On set, I prioritized maintaining a focused and professional environment. I kept problem-solving contained within leadership (myself, the AD, and co-director), addressing challenges privately and communicating clearly with the crew when adjustments were needed. This approach allowed us to maintain morale and momentum despite production constraints.
