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Im the director of the low-budget psychological thriller Room (2005), which premiered at Sundance and had its international debut in the Directors Fortnight at Cannes in May. Room was produced by The 7th Floor along with Jim McKay and Michael Stipes C-Hundred Film Corp. Our four-week, twenty-fourday production was equally divided between two weeks in Texas and two weeks in New York City. The film centers on the mid-life crisis of a bingo hall employee and mother of two in her late 40s who leaves her family to follow migraine-induced, debilitating visions. Lessons learned:
1. Lie to yourself constantly that everything will be OK. Rodney Evans (Brother to Brother, 2004) gave me the best advice before going into production: pray. Once pre-production and financing is more or less in place, whats the use of staying up late worrying the night before the first day of shooting? Pray to your God-or the Gods of Cinema-that all will be well and admit that its mostly out of your control once the ball starts rolling. It will rain, snow, and sleet. Actors will cancel the day (the night!) before their scenes are to be shot. You cannot freak out. You must remain calm. You are acting the part of director as much as your actors are acting the part of characters, and they are depending upon you to play your part well. So, just pray, meditate, enjoy each act of the circus that is filmmaking.
2. Cast your crew well. Cast crew like you would cast actors-interview them intensely, especially keys. Are they socially compatible? Are they creative and bright people with interests that mesh with your own, or can they add a level of contradiction that will keep you honest? Are their references from trusted sources? Its cliche but true that you are building a small army to go into battle, so having a combined sense of mission (and a good sense of humor) will carry you all through the long hours that lie ahead. During the rush of production, when my energy level was well past...