What Inspires you about filmmaking?

Ahhhh....The joy of being back on a film set cannot be overstated; it simply never gets old. Oh sure, they are long days (10 hours Thursday, followed by 12 hours yesterday...and another anticipated 11-hour shoot scheduled for tomorrow). Definitely filming in COVID times and under all the new safety protocols has its challenges and changes the ability to fully connect with cast and crew the way we could pre-pandemic (and hopefully will again at some point in the future).

But even the worst day on set is still a quite magical experience for me. The creative energy. The challenges of storytelling. The emotional arcs, and even the failed attempts to be completely genuine and authentic in a given situation. There's almost nothing better!

And each film set is different. Although I can't say much about this project at this point, the uniqueness of this cast and crew stood out for me. On the cast side, this was an experience of finally (and rather serendipitously) working with several actors I'd met previously only virtually during the pandemic. And to be honest, until the call sheets went out, I'd not realized they were on the project, too. So, that was a wonderful surprise! The crew was amazing, as well...professional, skilled, and incredibly artistically creative.

As an actor, my early days on film sets were somewhat oblivious to the undeniable talents of the dozens of professionals involved in the cinematography, sound engineering, set design, lighting, script supervising, and all the other critical departments that must move in harmony to make a movie (or television show). Over the years, though, my awareness of their work, their unbelievably creative problem-solving talents, and their dedication to their craft has grown immensely, and often I find myself spending more and more time on set observing and trying to soak in some of their creativity. Sure, they refer to us actors as "the talent" on a film set. But that's certainly a misnomer that downplays or flat-out ignores how vital every team member behind the camera is to the ultimate success of the film.

So, to be on a set where everything is pre-planned (yet flexible), down to the minutest detail, where the talents of the Director, the Director of Photography, all the camera operators, the gaffers, and the sound engineers work seamlessly to adjust to new ideas or changing conditions, is such a privilege and a complete joy! That was the case on this set....and in the end, it makes the job of the actors so much easier. And a truly competent and innovative team of filmmakers allows the Director to fully express his or her vision, which inevitably goes well beyond what's written on the script. Again...it makes my job as an actor that much easier, even in cases, like on this project, when the storyline is dark, emotional, and really challenging.

There are a handful of filmmaking experiences that I hold as "special," that combine entertainment value with true artistry, creativity, and impact (from a social perspective). Not all movies have to have all of these things, but those that do leave an indelible mark on me as an actor, and they fuel my fire to seek out more of the truly inspiring projects out there! "Landline to God" did this for me...And I can't wait to find another film that will push me like this one did (in a good way), that will inspire me as this cast and crew did, and that will excite me in quite the manner that it did!

What projects for you have left such a mark? If you're an actor or filmmaker, what made the experience so inspiring for you? Was it the subject matter, the script, the particulars about the cast and crew? And if you're not an actor, what examples from your own life have engaged you to your maximum potential....and what was it about that specific event that gave you such a lift?