Back on the Horse
We’re already about halfway through December and while the holiday season is always a crazy, exciting time, planning our first official shoot for a client adds a whole new layer to that mix. That means shotlisting, equipment rental, location scouting… all things I haven’t dealt with since leaving film school.
I’ve always felt more comfortable working on films from in front of a computer screen compared to the hectic whirlwind that is being on set, so it makes a lot of sense that I ended up with a focus on animation and post-production by the time I graduated. But with such a small team, it’s all hands on deck and for whatever reason getting back into the swing of things with the upcoming shoot has me eager to be on set for what might be the first time since I was a wide-eyed college freshman who couldn’t wait to get up at 4am to be a grip (for, get this, a gritty post-apocalyptic short film set out in the woods. With fake blood and guts. This was some next level stuff). After that, whether I was a boom-op or the director on a project, call sheets quickly began to give me anxiety as I progressed through school. But that’s not something I’m feeling now.
Maybe becoming so cynical about student film sets has set me up to not take it too seriously in my post-grad life, or maybe it’s just more enjoyable and fulfilling since we’re getting paid for it instead of just doing it for the love of the art (funny, I thought it was supposed to be the other way around. Shows where my priorities are I guess). Whatever the reason, I’m definitely looking forward to being back out there, which is a good feeling to have.
I still love animation and post, and don’t foresee myself discovering a genuine passion for being on set, but for now it’s an integral part of the process and I wouldn’t want to miss out on it.