Cynematik

This weekend, we went to Colonia Juarez in Chihuahua, Mexico. As we drove into the canyon, Pamela Jo said, “This is the dugway.” I had seen photographs (like the one above) of the colonists wheel-locking their wagons to prevent them from literally tumbling into Juarez. They had the same situation navigating the steep, narrow mountain trails between the colonies of Pacheco, Cave Valley, Chuichupa and Garcia.

As we neared the canyon floor, I found myself thinking that filmmaking was a lot like traveling the dugway. I had been thinking a lot about the process of making films. We were nearing the end of the third (3rd) day of our Mexico shoot and the entire crew was exhausted. Still, everyone was pushing hard to get everything the project needed. Tempers were short, misunderstandings were causing upsets and the fear of NOT finishing was amplifying everyone’s apprehension. “Why,” I thought, “would anyone want to do this for a living? More importantly, why do I love it so much?”

I spent a lot of time pondering that thought. (Anyone who has made a film knows that time on the set is comprised of lengthy periods of interminable tedium punctuated by moments of frantic action … so I had plenty of time to ponder.) I was surprised at some of the thoughts that came to mind upon reflection. Few of the things I had were positive. Filmmaking is not for the faint of heart. If it were easy, everyone would do it. It’s hard work with more opportunities for failure than success. It’s risky. It’s frustrating. It’s a team effort so the project is only as strong as its weakest link. So, why?

I ended up thinking that making films is a lot like pioneering. Every film is distinct. Even if you’ve made a film before, THIS film is different. With each film, you are going into new territory. The story has to be carved out, the characters established, the conflict provides the growth and maturity that makes the whole tale worthwhile. Filmmaking is like building a city in the middle of nowhere. There’s no one who can tell you what to do, you just have to figure it out and make it work. Success or failure, live or die, it’s all up to you. At the end of the day, you can create a project the has a meager existence or a flourishing, inspiring success.

Everything depends on your ingenuity, creativity, determination, planning, cooperation and ability to think under pressure because, like those wheel-locked wagons, a film production is BARELY CONTROLLED CHAOS. The horses can barely hold themselves back. Gravity is pulling the wagon, trying with every step to get it rushing headlong into the abyss. It’s like that making films. Everything is always threatening to run out of control and come crashing to brutal ending. You’re always trying to adapt to whatever is happening to avoid the crush of the chaos. And me, when I’m making films, I feel like one of those guys trying to hold that wheel in place, trying to keep everyone moving in the right direction — safely — so we can get to the end of the path with everything and everyone intact. And, if you do it right, the results can be amazing. The footage is breathtaking. The performances are powerful. The story is compelling and satisfying.

This weekend, I realized how much I love making films in other countries or remote regions. I love capturing things that very few people have seen. I love the challenge of bringing your “A” game to the set every day because you have no idea what may come up, what may fail or what may need to be handled. I love working on creative projects with a group of equally committed souls, people who value and understand the purpose for sharing the story AND are willing to commit their time and life energy to giving tangible form to the tale. Filmmaking, to me, is snatching a moment in time and preserving it so that others can share in it … now and in the future. Giving tangible form to something snatched from the ether requires every ounce of my attention, every fiber of my being, my complete concentration and that of my compatriots. It engages me like nothing else on Earth. I guess that’s why I love it. It takes all of me and demands even more.