Back to the PNW

In February, a skeleton crew including Molly (lead), Justin (DP) and a few close friends grabbed some incredible shots for Giant Void. We traveled to Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula for some key scenes we couldn’t get in Denver. On day one we filmed in the middle of a storm, and on day two we ping-ponged between two light rail stations in the city.

I loved this shoot for two reasons. First, this kind of scrappy, stripped-down, no-outs filmmaking is my exact comfort zone. The smaller the team the more easily and quickly you can adapt, and this shoot demanded constant adaptation.

Second, Giant Void was born in the Pacific Northwest. When we lived in Seattle, I spent my daily light rail commute writing and listening to music. This is where Giant Void took initial shape - just a rough outline and a few song references in a beat up notebook. As those notes grew into a draft script - only a short film at the time - exploring the PNW also set the tone for the story: dark, soulful, rainy and beautiful. Returning to the place that inspired the film felt right, and the footage we got completely validates that decision.

A few shout-outs:

• Jenny Milne-Wright and Joy Martinez, who ensured we had everything we needed for wardrobe and make-up

• Eric and Margot Valdez, who flew from Colorado to take part in the film

• Jenny and Preston Cramer, who joined us in the eleventh hour for a key casting need, and were both incredibly supportive

• Alex Borton, our local fixer and production support

• Adia Stark, who set up everything from permits to extras to payments

• Molly and Justin, who after multiple shoots, meals, drinks, meetings and over ten hours in the car, are starting to feel like my film siblings