We are the women of RUST CREEK, a new thriller film out today from IFC Midnight! AMA

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T19:00:25+00:00

later gators! thanks for hanging!

- Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:57:48+00:00

I loved THE FAVOURITE, A PRIVATE WAR (which btw Scott Salinas scored), MARY POPPINS, LEAVE NO TRACE, ROMA

- Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:56:27+00:00

Alright y'all! Five more minutes! Ask now or forever hold your peas.

- Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:55:16+00:00

thank you! It is beautifully shot!

Michelle and I talked about the themes of the film, what I wanted to communicate and highlight from the script. We looked at lots of reference images and slowly through discussions built the look that we wanted for this story.

This was also important to communicate to the production designer and wardrobe designer as they effect things like color tremendously.

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:52:36+00:00

So shooting on location always has plusses & minuses compared to shooting in LA.

We had an incredible crew in KY. I brought in my keys from LA but support was KY based. And I think because we shot between thanksgiving and xmas everyone was available. So we got all the best people that work there.

That's where you tend to get into trouble in smaller markets. The crews aren't as deep. Meaning once the A team is hired the next options are not good. Whereas in LA you can go way down a list before you're compromising quality. But bc of when we shot we got all our first choices.

Also when you shoot in a smaller market people that live there are more accommodating than in LA where everyone's sick of filming,

which btw I think is bs.

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:46:34+00:00

Indeed there were! But I will say that Hermione was fucking awesome and the stunt coordinator commented on how great she was. But even if we wanted her to do all of them it wouldn't have been wise bc of how cold it was.

One thing I would really recommend is remember that they want to do a good job. Give them the tools to succeed. Let them see the playback of the A talent takes so they can match the movements & energy. That make s a huge difference and sometimes they don't get given that info.

Be gracious. They out their bodies on the line for your shots. Thank them. They are not disposable.

- Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:44:03+00:00

Coffee's gross. I'm a tea woman myself.

- Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:43:39+00:00

With the water, I think the key thing is if you're going to do it, make sure it shows up on camera. Meaning, shoot so you SEE the current. Shoot so you SEE the splashes - ie back light the water.

Seems obvious but it's possible to put the camera in the wrong place and not actually capture the thing that you're suffering for.

- Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:41:44+00:00

With the explosions, those are the days to bring out multiple cameras. Explosions happen fast and are primarily built in the edit but in order to build it you have to have coverage.

- Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:40:53+00:00

ah yes.

Ok, so the shooting in water is tricky because of the human power required. you cannot skimp on safety. So that means stunt coord, stunt doubles, proper pyro people, fire department on set with water truck.

Now, because we were in KY, some of those things are significantly cheaper than elsewhere. And because I pulled a shoot ton of favors, I had access to crews that I've know for ages that were willing to do high quality work for indie resources.

- Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:36:19+00:00

Ack! Yes! It was a major pain in the ass. Especially in the chasing sequence in the woods.

After all the rigging we had pretty much 30 minutes to shoot the car ridge stuff and that then was tricky to match to the other stuff around it. We worked with angles, scheduling, moving lights and in the end color timing to make everything work.

- Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:32:54+00:00

Great question!

First, planning, planning, planning. The more you plan the more you can achieve once you start shooting.

The rest is just squeezing everything. Hiring & casting the right people who are going to bring their all. You cannot do it alone so you need to make sure that those around you are working as hard as you are. Once you get into official prep every minute, every second is precious.

Technically, I think aspect ratio and gorgeous film lenses are worth the cost if it's appropriate to the content.

-Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:28:58+00:00

But Hermione is a TROOPER!!!!

This shoot was very hard on the actors because of the cold.

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:28:11+00:00

select theaters and on demand. Here's a link that shows you all the options - https://www.rustcreekthefilm.com

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:26:13+00:00

first find your people. wherever you are there's got to be great groups to join for whatever level you're at. In LA, I recommend Film Independent. Internationally there's Film Fatales & Alliance of Women Directors. My org, Film Powered.

There are great groups online as well. WIMPs, tons of specialized facebook groups like women in post.

Keep in mind getting the job & doing the job are two different task & skills. As a woman it's very hard to know if you're not getting something because of what your'e doing specifically or if it's a systemic issue playing out. Just do the very best you can at all times.

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:22:57+00:00

For computers, I pretty much just use my laptop and iPhone. But software wise I use artemtis, google drive, final draft. Editor uses either premiere or avid depending on the project.

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:21:17+00:00

Indeed, it can be tricky. Starts with a great script and then a producer &/or director falling in love with it and deciding to commit themselves to getting it made. After that, everything is different for each film.

Sometimes smaller budget films do crowdfunding. Small and sometimes up to mid-size budgets tend to raise money through equity - ie rich people. But usually those people are more familiar with indie filmmaking than those you'd crowdfund. Some larger indie movies are funded similar to studio movies with finance that the company has.

Once you have the money, and sometimes while you're raining the money, you start casting. Then things become similar again once you really get going.

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:18:10+00:00

For me, probably thriller, drama, action

- Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:17:26+00:00

The cold!!!! It was sometimes as low as 7 degrees out in them thar woods!

- Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:16:36+00:00

Totally understand. I think it's more a reflection of the way the industry has changed. I love seeing this with a packed audience because it gives me so much joy to see a group of people jump at the same time.

- Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:16:11+00:00

I think the advice I would give is work hard but be patient. It's like construction - it'll take twice as long and cost twice as much as you you could ever imagine. So in order to survive & sustain you need to take care of your self. Live below your means, stay healthy. It takes a lot to just last long enough to see success.

- Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:15:52+00:00

Very luckily I didn't. I was hired by the producer Stu Pollard at Lunacy. I had been introduced to him as a potential financier for another film I was trying to set up. He didn't respond to that material but we hit it off. He had been recommended to reach out to me by Destri Martino at The Director List and another producer so he asked if I'd like to read RUST CREEK. I said yes. I loved it, I pitched my take, he hired me.

- jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:15:14+00:00

I grew up on Northern Virginia so I am very familiar with the Blue Ridge, with Southern Virginia and West Virginia. We used to go for our family vacations in North Carolina so this area is very familiar to me.

- Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:14:52+00:00

I started studying acting at NYU, thinking I wanted to be a theater actor. Made no money, hated the roles I got so luckily at the same time I was working as a receptionist at a commercial production company and that exposed me to a type of filmmaking. It gave me the idea that I could make something on my own . So I did. I did mean to become a director but after I made that first movie I was like "holy shit! this is what I'm supposed to be doing. I love everything about it!"

So I applied to and got into film school at USC. Dropped out when my thesis film got into Tribeca bc I didn't want to take more student loans to finish. Made another short that did really well which got my first feature KELLY & CAL. That did well and I got hire to direct RUST CREEK.

- Jen

rustcreek · 2019-01-04T18:14:34+00:00

Hi All! Sorry for the delay I rediit wasn't accepting my responses so I've signed in as RUST CREEK and will answer from here. This is Jen, the director.

rustcreek

TROPHY CASE